Miniature circular bronze medal with laterally-pierced lug for ribbon suspension; the face with a view of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Massachusetts under full sail at sea, traversing right to left within a ring inscribed ‘U•S• COAST GUARD • DISTINGUISHED SERVICE’; the reverse with the seal of the U.S. Coast Guard centrally, a ribbon below; diameter 15.97mm (0.63 inch); on original ribbon mounted for wear. The Medal was instituted by Act of Congress on 4 August 1949 to be awarded to serving members of the U.S. Coast Guard ‘who, while serving in any capacity with the Coast Guard, distinguish themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great responsibility’. The U.S.R.C. Massachusetts was, by tradition, the first U.S. Revenue cutter to enter active service and was based out of Boston. She was larger and more expensive than specified and more costly to run and slower than anticipated. She was launched on 15 July 1791 and sold on 9 October 1792.
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