Merchant_Marine_Mediterranean-Middle_East_War_Zone_Medal Knowpia

Merchant Marine Mediterranean-Middle East War Zone Medal (Bar)
Merchant Marine Mediterranean-Middle East War Zone Medal (Bar)
	Merchant Marine Mediterranean-Middle East War Zone Medal obverse (left) and reverse
Type	Individual Award
Awarded for	Service in the Mediterranean-Middle East War Zone.
Presented by	United States Maritime Administration
Eligibility	Merchant Marine seamen
Campaign(s)	Second World War
Established	May 10, 1944
Total	150,184
	Merchant Marine Mediterranean-Middle East War Zone Bar
Precedence
Next (higher)	Merchant Marine Atlantic War Zone Medal
Next (lower)	Merchant Marine Pacific War Zone Medal

The Merchant Marine Mediterranean-Middle East War Zone Medal (Bar) is a decoration of the United States Merchant Marine established by an Act of Congress on May 10, 1944.

Conditions edit

The decoration is awarded to officers and men of ships operated by the War Shipping Administration for service in the Mediterranean-Middle East War Zone between December 7, 1941, and November 8, 1945. This theater of operations comprised the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean west of eighty degrees east longitude.

Design edit

Prior to 1992, the Merchant Marine Mediterranean-Middle East War Zone Medal was a ribbon-only decoration; otherwise known as the Merchant Marine Mediterranean-Middle East War Zone Bar.

On May 19, 1992, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced the availability of new medals for civilian merchant seamen, in recognition of their service in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. The medals are being issued to supplement war zone ribbon bars previously awarded to civilian mariners who supported the nation's armed forces in these wars.^[1]

The new medal design consists of:

The shield and anchor symbolize a strong maritime service. The palms suggest the Mediterranean-Middle East area while denoting victory and achievement.^[1]