The U.S. Merchant Marine Expeditionary Award was originally authorized on 22 May 1991 for seamen serving aboard American merchant vessels who “directly participated” from 2 August 1990 until 31 December 1991 in the War Zone that is designated in Executive Order 12744. However, as the Merchant Marine assisted in subsequent U.S. military and humanitarian operations, it has been authorized by the Department of Transportation to be awarded for service in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, as well as for Operations Restore Hope (officially called Unified Task Force, 1992 – 1993, United Shield (1995), and related operations in Somalia.
On the obverse of the Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medal is an upright anchor connoting maritime and naval prowess. On the anchor’s right and left are two seahorses that appear to be supporting the anchor, imagery that suggests the use of maritime services to support the mission of a branch of the United States Armed Forces.
“Direct support” of an operation, one of the requirements for the award, includes (but is not limited to) delivering supplies and cargo used by U.S. military, Allied, and U.N. forces in an operation, as well support in supplying humanitarian cargo or transporting personnel. But individual mariners who feel they have qualified for the medal in other ways may explain the work they performed and how they feel it qualifies as “direct support.”