One of the problems merchant mariners faced during wartime is the fact that unlike servicemen in the uniformed Army and Navy, the general public had no way of recognizing the merchant marine when they were not on ships. Because the merchant marines had no official uniform, seamen who were in between ships were often left out of the public’s appreciation for servicemen who were out fighting the war. The U.S. Maritime Commission sought to remedy this issue by issuing identification pins to merchant mariners who had sailed in a combat zone. The pins were distributed to eligible seamen in New York by SCI at 25 South Street. Additionally, a Distinguished Service Medal was created for mariners, and service flags were distributed to families of seamen who were on ships contributing to the war effort. [see The Lookout 1942 August; 1942 November; and 1942 December]