Assured that the 200 Marines were safe, he smiled and died

[Luigi59]

CG’s Lone Medal of Honor Recipient Remembered

The crew of Training Center Cape May gathered at a statue erected in Signalman 1st Class Douglas Munro’s honor to mark the 70th anniversary of the Coast Guardsman’s death during World War II. Munro was killed at Point Cruz, Guadalcanal, rescuing 500 beleaguered Marines who found themselves under heavy enemy fire Sept. 27, 1942.

Munro led a group of five Higgins boats ashore to evacuate the Marines. They also came under heavy enemy fire. Munro used his Higgins boat as a shield by placing the vessel between the enemy and the other rescue boats, which were heavily loaded with Marines. Munro’s actions drew enemy fire away from the Marines, but he was shot and killed during the rescue attempt.

Munro uttered his last dying words to a wounded shipmate aboard the bullet-riddled Higgins boat, “did they get off?”

“Munro’s last words demonstrate our commitment to our missions and our shipmates,” stated Capt. Billy Kelly, commanding officer of Coast Guard Training Center Cape May. “No matter the place or the mission, our graduates will continue to carry out Munro’s legacy of selfless and courageous service by protecting, saving, defending and shielding those in harm or those in need."

Kelly called the crew to attention and read Munro’s Medal of Honor citation. A wreath was placed at the foot of the Munro Statue in remembrance of his sacrifice 70 years ago. The ceremony concluded with a three-volley salute and playing of “Taps.”

Munro: The Only Coast Guard Medal of Honor Winner - By Tom Bartlett - Originally Published August 1990 in Leatherneck, a full account of the actions that day.

Although he never served in the Army, Navy, Marines or Air Corps, Douglas A. Munro posthumously received a Medal of Honor for heroism. He sacrificed his life while rescuing Marines, many of them wounded, during the battle for Guadalcanal.

When an enemy mortar round exploded next to his boat, Munro was severely wounded.

He felt the boat pull free of the beach, coxswained by another wounded Coast Guardsman. As he was being lifted aboard Bollard, Munro asked, "Did they get off?"

Assured that the 200 Marines were safe, he smiled and died.

Official Medla of Honor Citation

 

[LineInTheSand]

The Pentagon has a "Hall of Heroes" display for medal of honor recipients. When I first got to DC in 2008 I checked it out, and noticed on the outside there were seals of each service.... Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force, as well of the seal of the Dept. of Defense.

I talked to a few people in OSD-PA about the lack of a Coast Guard seal. Eventually I found the person I was supposed to talk to, made my case (as a Lt. j.g.).

The reasoning I was given was that during WWII the Coast Guard had been moved under the DEPARTMENT of the Navy... and was therefore "part of the Navy". Don't tell the Marines that, eh?

I countered that, yes the Coast Guard was under the Department of the Navy, as is the Marine Corps, and yet a Marine seal was present. I also provided the Navy's press release and the citation which both listed his service as "Coast Guard".

Things had some trouble moving, and I told my admiral and the Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard's staff. I was told that if I ran into any issues with making sure a Coast Guard seal was included that either the Commandant or Vice Commandant would go to bat (now doesn't that make a little Lt. j.g. happy?)

Eventually when I got back into contact with my Pentagon POC, I was told they were still discussing it. I lobbed the "If you think the Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard can assist in speeding this up, let me know."

Well, I guess that's all it took, because in a week or two I was told that the Coast Guard seal would be added and that the project was being overseen by a DOD SES.

And now.... you have a Coast Guard seal in the Hall of Heroes, in honor of the single Coast Guardsman who received the Medal of Honor, and know how seriously Coast Guardsmen many years later took his sacrifice.

That was my second mini-battle I won when I got to DC.

 

[usnabgo08]

And they say Pentagon's Junior Officers are just waterboys (girls) and coffeemakers....I say not!

 

[LineInTheSand]

Ah, but I didn't work at the Pentagon. CGHQ is across down in DC.

Junior officers haven't risen to the level of coffee retrievers at the Pentagon, that's reserved for O-6s and O-7s.


On a side note, I found MUCH easier to get things done over the phone when I didn't mention my rank. Let 'em assume they're working with a senior officer.

 

[usnabgo08]

From mostly observation but some experience, it is amazing how quickly things do get done when you throw a FOGO in the mix.

 

[kinnem]

From mostly observation but some experience, it is amazing how quickly things do get done when you throw a FOGO in the mix.

Thanks Luigi. I knew a Coast Guardsman had won the Medal of Honor but I didn't know the details. I'm always amazed and moved by the sacrifices these men make for their comrades. Gotta go get some tissues....