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World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Signalman First Class Douglas Albert Munro USCG
The Only Member Of The United States Coast Guard To Be Awarded The Nations Highest Military Honor - May God Rest His Soul
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.
Service Record
Douglas Albert Munro, Signalman First Class, USCG
Born: 11 October 1919
Place of Birth: Vancouver, Canada
Citizenship: U.S. Citizen (parents were U.S. citizens temporarily residing in Canada at time of Munro's birth).
Date of Enlistment: 18 September 1939
Service Number: 217-739
Units Served / Date / Rate / Remarks:
CGRO: Seattle, Accepted: Seattle / 9-18-39 / A.S. /
Spencer / 9-21-39 / A.S. / Transfer
Spencer / 12-19-39 / Sea. 3c. / CR HL 9-30-39
Spencer / 1-26-40 / Sea. 1c. / CR Approved HL 2-20-40
Spencer / 9-21-40 / S.M. [Signalman] 3c. (Pro.) / CR HL 9-30-39
Spencer / 5-1-41 / S.M. 2c. (Pro.) / Cr. Pres. Bull. 41-40
Hunter Liggett / 6-23-41 / S.M. 2c. (Pro.) / Transfer
Joseph T. Dickman / 8-15-41 / S.M. 2c. (Pro.) / Transfer
Joseph T. Dickman / 11-1-41 / S.M. 1c. (Pro.) / Cr.
Leonard Wood / 11-6-41 / S.M. 1c. (Pro.) / Transfer
Hunter Liggett / 4-3-42 / S.M. 1c. (Pro.) / Transfer
USS Neville / 5-30-42 / S.M. 1c. (Pro.) / Transfer
USS McCawley / 7-18-42 / S.M. 1c. (Pro) / Transfer
USS McCawley / 9-27-42 / S.M. 1c. (Pro) / Killed in action
[Above man was transferred for temporary duty on 8-9-42 for the U.S.S. McCawley to CACTUS where on 9-27-42 he suffered fatal machine gun wounds during an enemy attack. Buried September 28, 1942, Row 22, Grave 3 at CACTUS.] AWARDS & CITATIONS Congressional Medal of Honor Purple Heart Asia-Pacific Campaign with battle star American Theatre Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Coast Guard Good Conduct Coast Guard Expert Rifle Medal
DOUGLAS MUNRO AT GUADALCANAL
by Dr. Robert M. Browning Jr.
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 over 350 ships 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. Posthumously awarded a Medal of Honor, he lived up to the Coast Guard's motto--"Semper Paratus."
Douglas Munro grew up in the small town of Cle Elum, Washington. Enlisting in September 1939, Munro volunteered for duty on board the USCG cutter Spencer where he served until 1941. While on board he earned his Signalman 3rd Class rating. In June, President Roosevelt directed the Coast Guard to man four large transports and serve in mixed crews on board twenty-two naval ships. When word arrived that these ships needed signalmen, Munro, after much pleading with Spencer's executive officer, was given permission to transfer to the Hunter Liggett (APA-14). This 535 foot, 13,712 ton ship, was one of the largest transports in the Pacific. She carried nearly 700 officers and men and thirty-five landing boats including two LCTs. In April 1942, the "Lucky Liggett" sailed to Wellington, New Zealand, to prepare for a major campaign in the south pacific.
On 7 August 1942, the United States embarked on its first major amphibious assault of the Pacific War. After the successes at Coral Sea and Midway the United States decided to counter Japanese advances in the Solomon Islands. These islands form two parallel lines that run southeast approximately 600 miles east of New Guinea. Tulagi and Guadalcanal, both at the end of the chain were picked for an assault. Guadalcanal was strategically important because the Japanese were building an airfield, and if finished would interfere with the campaign.
Eighteen of the twenty-two naval troop carrying ships attached to the campaign's task force carried Coast Guard personnel. These men were assigned an integral part in the landings--the operation of the landing craft. Many of the Coast Guard coxswains had come from Life-Saving stations and their experience with small boats made them the most seasoned small boat handlers in government service.
The Coast Guard manned transports played a prominent role in the initial landings at Guadalcanal, Tulagi and other nearby islands. As the task force gathered, Munro, now a signalman first-class, was assigned to temporary duty on the staff of Commander, Transport Division Seventeen. During the preparations for the invasion, Munro was transferred from ship to ship, as his talents were needed. The task force rendezvoused at sea near the end of July and on 7 August the Liggett led the other transports to their anchorage off Guadalcanal. Hunter Liggett served as the amphibious force command post until the Marines secured the beaches.
At he time of the invasion, Munro was attached to the staff of Rear Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner on board McCawley (APA-4). Munro made the landing on Tulagi Island where fierce fighting lasted for several days. About two weeks later Munro was sent twenty miles across the channel to Guadalcanal where the Marines had landed and had driven inland. One of the bloodiest and most decisive battles ensued. The Americans quickly seized the airfield on the island but for six months both the U.S. and the Japanese poured troops onto Guadalcanal in an attempt to gain control and force the other off.
After the initial landings at Guadalcanal, Munro and twenty-four other Coast Guard and Navy personnel were assigned to Lunga Point Base. The base was commanded by Commander Dwight H. Dexter, USCG, who was in charge of all the small boat operations on Guadalcanal. The base, situated on the Lever Brothers coconut plantation consisted of a small house with a newly constructed coconut tree signal tower. Munro was assigned here because of his signalman rate. The base served as the staging area for troop movements along the coast. To facilitate this movement, a pool of landing craft from the numerous transports lay there to expedite the transportation of supplies and men.
A month into the campaign, the Marines on the island were reinforced and decided to push beyond their defensive perimeter. They planned to advance west across the Matanikau River to prevent smaller Japanese units from combining and striking American positions in overwhelming numbers. For several days near the end of September, the Marines tried to cross the river from the east and each time met tremendous resistance. On Sunday, 27 September, Marine Lieutenant Colonel Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller embarked three companies of his 7th Marines in landing craft. They planned to land west of the river, drive out the Japanese, and establish a patrol base on the west side of the Matanikau.
The landing craft were dispatched from Lunga Base. Douglas Munro, just two weeks short of his twenty-third birthday, took charge of ten LCPs and LCTs (tank lighters) to transport Puller's men from Lunga Point to a small cove west of Point Cruz. The Marines landed with the support of the destroyer U.S.S. Monssen which laid down a covering barrage with her five inch batteries shortly after twelve o'clock. Major Ortho L. Rodgers, commanding the landing party reached the beach in two waves at 1:00. The 500 unopposed Marines pushed inland and reorganized on a ridge about 500 yards from the beach. At about 1:50, approximately the same time they reached the ridge, their gunfire support was disrupted by a Japanese bombing raid. Monssen had to withdraw to avoid seventeen high level Japanese bombers. Unfortunately, this occurred at the same time that the Marines were struck by an overwhelming Japanese force west of the river. This situation deteriorated when Major Rodgers was killed and one of the company commanders was wounded.
After the Marines landed, Munro and the boats returned to Lunga Point Base. A single LCP remained behind to take off the immediate wounded. Coast Guard petty officer Ray Evans and Navy Coxswain Samuel B. Roberts manned the craft. They kept the craft extremely close to the beach to take off the wounded as quickly as possible. The Japanese, meanwhile had worked behind the Marines and without warning a machine gun burst hit the LCP parting the rudder cable and damaging the boat's controls. After jury rigging the rudder, Roberts was struck by enemy fire and Evans managed to jam the controls to full ahead and sped back to Lunga Point Base. Unable to stop, the LCP ran onto the beach at 20 mph. Roberts later died but won the Navy Cross posthumously.
As Evans arrived at the Lunga Point base, word arrived that the Marines were in trouble and were being driven back toward the beach. Their immediate plight had not been known. The bombing raid had driven Monssen out of range to visually communicate with shore. Furthermore, the three companies of Marines had failed to take a radio and were unable to convey their predicament. Using under-shirts they spelled out the word "HELP" on a ridge not far from the beach. Second Lieutenant Dale Leslie in a Douglas SBD spotted the message and passed it by radio to another Marine unit. At 4 P.M. Lt. Colonel Puller, realizing that his men were isolated, embarked on Monssen to direct personally the covering fire for the marines who were desperately trying to reach the beach.
The landing craft had meanwhile been readied at Lunga Point Base. Again, virtually the same boats that had put the Marines on the beach were assembled to extract them. Douglas Munro, who had taken charge of the original landing, volunteered to lead the boats back to the beach. None of these boats were heavily armed or well protected. For instance, Munro's Higgin's boat had a plywood hull, it was slow, vulnerable to small arms fire, and was armed only with two air-cooled .30 caliber Lewis machine guns.
As Munro led the boats ashore the Japanese fired on the small craft from Point Cruz, the ridges abandoned by the Marines, and from positions east of the beach. This intense fire from three strong interlocking positions disrupted the landing and caused a number of casualties among the virtually defenseless crews in the boats. Despite the intense fire Munro led the boats ashore. Reaching the shore in waves, Munro led them to the beach two or three at a time to pick up the Marines. Munro and Petty Officer Raymond Evans provided covering fire from an exposed position on the beach.
As the Marines reembarked, the Japanese pressed toward the beach making the withdrawal more dangerous with each second. The Monssen and Leslie's Douglas "Dauntless" dive bomber provided additional cover for the withdrawing Marines. The Marines arrived on the beach to embark on the landing craft while the Japanese kept up a murderous fire from the ridges about 500 yards from the beach. Munro, seeing the dangerous situation, maneuvered his boat between the enemy and those withdrawing to protect the remnants of the battalion. Successfully providing cover, all the Marines including twenty-five wounded managed to escape.
With all the Marines safely in the small craft, Munro and Evans steered their LCP off shore. As they passed towards Point Cruz they noticed an LCT full of Marines grounded on the beach. Munro steered his craft and directed another tank lighter to pull it off. Twenty minutes later, the craft was free and heading to sea. Before they could get far from shore, the Japanese set up a machine gun and began firing at the boats. Evans saw the fire and shouted a warning to Munro. The roar of the boat's engine, however, prevented Munro from hearing and a single bullet hit him in the base of the skull. Petty Officer Munro died before reaching the operating base, but due to his extraordinary heroism, outstanding leadership and gallantry, Munro posthumously received the Medal of Honor.
The Coast Guard continued to provide valuable service in all theaters of the war. The Coast Guard's motto "Semper Paratus" provided inspiration and guided other men to perform heroic acts demonstrating that they were indeed "Always Ready."
A photo of Douglas Albert Munro that was placed in his USCG personnel file, probably taken on 18 September 1939, the day he enlisted in the Coast Guard. photographer unknown.
His life and actions are taught to all cadets here as an important part of Coast Guard history. Just before he did from his fatal wound, his last words were, "Did they get off?"...referring to the Marines. This is another way that Douglas Munro's unselfishness is displayed. Several years after being presented with her son's Medal of Honor, Mrs. Munro in turn presented it to the Coast Guard Museum which is currently located at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. As part of the summer indoctrination, each member of the incoming class of cadets is taken up to the museum to view the Medal of Honor and ask themselves what Honor and Devotion to Duty, two of the Coast Guard's Core Values, mean to them. Douglas Munro also has a 368' Hamilton-class cutter named after him, sharing the honor with the likes of Alexander Hamilton , who is considered to be the Father of the Coast Guard. Sixty years after his death, Douglas Munro continues to create lasting impacts on the Coast Guard. 2/c Julie Miller
Signalman 3/c Douglas Munro, USCG.
"To Coast Guardsman Douglas A. Munro in death went the Congressional Medal of Honor for 'conspicuous gallantry in action above and beyond the call of duty.' The country's highest decoration was presented by President Roosevelt to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Munro of South Cle Elum, Washington, at ceremonies in the White House. This Coast Guardsman, shown in a treasured family snapshot, gave his life while engaged in evacuating a Marine battalion trapped by the Japanese on Guadalcanal."; date and photographer unknown, probably 1940.
Douglas Munro, soon after his promotion to Signalman, Third Class.
US Coast Guard in World War II
Two hundred and thirty one thousand men and 10,000 women served in the Coast Guard during World War II. Of these, 1,918 died. The Service sustained its first casualties on 8 December 1941 when the Leonard Wood was bombed by Japanese aircraft at Singapore.
In 1790 a predecessor of the U.S. Coast Guard was established by the First Congress of the United States. This newly formed maritime force did not have an official name. Rather, it was referred to simply as "the cutters" or "the system of cutters." This small force was to enforce national laws, in particular, those dealing with tariffs. At the time, these cutters were the only maritime force available to the new government under the . After all, the Continental Navy had been disbanded in 1785. Thus, between 1790 and 1798, there was no United States Navy and the cutters were the only warships protecting the coast, trade, and maritime interests of the new republic.
United States Coast Guard Rank Insignia
United States Coast Guard Service Ribbons
Coast Guard Academy's First African American Graduate Honored
African Americans in the United States Coast Guard
First African American Flag Officer in U.S. Coast Guard History
The Coast Guard Cutter Taney in Honolulu Harbor on December 7, 1941
Follow these links to find out more...
The Coast Guard At Pearl Harbor
Coast Guard Units In Hawaii, Dec. 7, 1941
USCGC Taney Museum
Coast Guard's World War II Combat Victories
Sinking of the Cutter Escanaba
Coast Guard Makes First Capture Of Nazis
The Coast Guard & the Greenland Patrol
The Coast Guard & the Women's Reserve in World War II
Training merchant Mariners For War
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