USCG Medal Of Honor Recipient Douglas Munro

[oldcoastie6468]

Please read.

Greetings All!
 
Today, the 27th of September is the 66th Anniversary since the crossing over the bar of Douglas Munro, he was just 23. On September 27th 1942 Signalman First Class Douglas Munro was the Officer-in-Charge of a group of Higgins Boats in Guadalcanal that were evacuating 500 Marines. Petty Officer Munro, under constant risk of his life, daringly led five Higgins Boats toward the beach. As he closed the beach, he signaled the other boats to land, and then in order to draw the enemy's fire and protect the heavily loaded boats with Marines, he valiantly placed his craft with it's two small guns as a shield between the beachhead and the Japanese. When this dangerous task of evacuation was nearly over, Munro was killed by enemy fire, but his crew, two of whom were wounded carried on until the last boat had loaded and cleared the beach.
 
Petty Officer Munro is the only member of the U S Coast Guard to have received the "Medal Of Honor".
 
Two ships, The C G Cutter Munro (WHEC-724) and the Navy's USS Douglas A. Munro (DE-422), as well as a barracks building located at the USCG Training Center Cape May, New Jersey (Munro Hall) were named in his honor.

I was fortunate enough to be stationed on board the 378 footer Cutter Munro between 1983 and 85.

BRAVO ZULU
SEMPER PARATUS
 
BMCS Jack Crowley USCG Retired and proud member of Amvets Post 1939 Fl.

Gone but never forgotten, and an inspiration to Coast Guard men and women everywhere.

    

Title Revsion ... Buoy

[1110]

 

 

Thank you for the reminder oldcoastie. SALUTE!

Title Revsion ... Buoy

[oldcoastie6468]

I cannot take credit for it, because I received it from a reunion member. I'm just glad I was able to post it, on this, the anniversary of Munro's death.

Title Revsion ... Buoy

[BuoyJumper]

Milcom Post
by Bosun Dana:

MastersMate

Tomorrow is the 66th anniversary of the action on Guadalcanal where SM1 Munro earned the Medal of Honor. SM1 Ray Evans earned the Navy Cross in that same action.

I don't know if they are readily available other places, but have managed to locate the articles and photos that announced the award of those decorations.

 

From all of us Bosun Dana ..... THANKS ... Buoy

[JerryM]

Thanks for posting those.
CDR Ray Evans was my CO at COTP Houston 1962-1963.

 

[BuoyJumper]

News Release
Date: September 27, 2008
CG District 5

Coast Guard Training Center Cape May
Remembers Signalman First Class Douglas Munro

 

CAPE MAY, N.J. - Members from Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, the U.S.S. Spencer Association, and local veterans groups salute Signalman First Class Douglas Munro (left above) on the 66th anniversary of his heroic actions at a dedication and remembrance ceremony today, Sept. 27, 2008 in the training center's gymnasium.  As part of the new recruit cirriculum modernization members of company Juliett 180 (above right) conduct pugil stick exercises Sept. 27, 2008 at Training Center Cape May.  (U.S. Coast Guard photos/Chief Warrant Officer Veronica Bandrowsky)

Many thanks to Master Chief Bruce Bradley
for posting a link to this article ... Buoy

Original Article

[BuoyJumper]

Milcom Post by
  SCPO Davis:

armyjunk

This ceremony was 10 days ago. Here are two Photos showing this year's ceremony and wreath laying at the memorial for Douglas Munro at the "Yacht Club" in Honaria, Guadalcanal (closest to the actual spot where his service earned him the MOH).

 



The Coast Guard's first major participation in the Pacific war was at Guadalcanal. Here the service played a large part in the landings on the islands. So critical was their task that they were later involved in every major amphibious campaign during World War II. During the war, the Coast Guard manned 351 Navy warships, 288 Army vessels, 802 cutters and hundreds more amphibious type assault craft. It was in these ships and craft that the Coast Guard fulfilled one of its most important but least glamorous roles during the war--that is getting the men to the beaches. The initial landings were made on Guadalcanal in August 1942, and this hard-fought campaign lasted for nearly six months. Seven weeks after the initial landings, during a small engagement near the Matanikau River, Signalman First Class Douglas Albert Munro, died while rescuing a group of marines near the Matanikau River.

DOUGLAS MUNRO'S MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION

Awarded posthumously to

DOUGLAS ALBERT MUNRO, SIGNALMAN FIRST CLASS, U.S. COAST GUARD

"For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action above and beyond the call of duty as Office-in-Charge of a group of Higgins boats, engaged in the evacuation of a Battalion of Marines trapped by enemy Japanese forces at Point Cruz, Guadalcanal, on September 27, 1942. After making preliminary plans for the evacuation of nearly 500 beleaguered Marines, Munro, under constant risk of his life, daringly led five of his small craft toward the shore. As he closed the beach, he signalled [sic] the others to land, and then in order to draw the enemy's fire and protect the heavily loaded boats, he valiantly placed his craft with its two small guns as a shield between the beachhead and the Japanese. When the perilous task of evacuation was nearly completed, Munro was killed by enemy fire, but his crew, two of whom were wounded, carried on until the last boat had loaded and cleared the beach. By his outstanding leadership, expert planning, and dauntless devotion to duty, he and his courageous comrades undoubtedly saved the lives of many who otherwise would have perished. He gallantly gave up his life in defense of his country."

The Medal was presented to his Mother by Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States. Douglas is buried at the Laurel Hills Memorial Park in Cle Elum, Washington.

From all of us Senior Chief Davis ..... THANKS ... Buoy

[Bill]

Thanks for the post, keeping the memory alive is important.

[BuoyJumper]

Members of the Spencer Association, including seven WWII veterans, pose for a picture Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008, in front of the mast from the CGC Spencer W-36 at Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, N.J.  The Spencer Association formed after the final trip from New York to Baltimore when the cutter was decommissioned in January 1974. 
(U.S. Coast Guard photos/Petty Officer 3rd Class Ann Marie Gorden)  CLICK ON PHOTO FOR ENLARGEMENT

Original Article

[Acaciavet]

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