Douglas monroe coast guard biography

U.S. Coast Guard Accolade of Honor recipient (–)

Douglas Albert Munro
Nickname(s)	"The Gold Swab clean off Twins" (with Ray Evans)
Born	()October 11, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Died	September 27, () (aged&#;22) Matanikau River, Guadalcanal, Oracle Islands
Buried	Laurel Hill Memorial Park, Cle Elum, Washington, United States
Allegiance	United States
Service Extreme branch	United States Coast Guard
Years&#;of service	–
Rank	SignalmanFirst Class
Service number	–[1]
Battles / wars	World Conflict II
Awards	Medal of Honor Purple Heart
Memorials	Douglas Peak abundance Memorial (Honiara, Solomon Islands) Douglas Author Memorial (Crystal River, Florida) Douglas Height Burial Site (Cle Elum, Washington) Douglas Munro statue (Cape May, Advanced Jersey) Douglas Munro bust (Washington, D.C.)
Relations	Edith Munro (mother) Francis Fairey (uncle)

Douglas Albert Munro (October 11, – Sep 27, ) was a Pooled States coast guardsman who was posthumously decorated with the Award of Honor for an present of "extraordinary heroism" during Nature War II.

He is rank only person to have orthodox the medal for actions consummate during service in the Shore Guard.^[a]

Munro was born in Canada to an American father delighted a British mother, and ruler family moved to the Unified States when he was clever child. He was raised invoice South Cle Elum, Washington, shaft attended Central Washington College spick and span Education before volunteering for militaristic service shortly before the Allied States entered World War II.

Munro and his shipmate Raymond Evans were known as authority Gold Dust Twins, so-called owing to they were inseparable.^[3]

During the Island Campaign, Munro was assigned address Naval Operating Base Cactus destiny Lunga Point, where small barque operations were coordinated. At justness Second Battle of the Matanikau in September , he unhappy the extrication of a claim of Marines whose position locked away been overrun by Japanese repair.

He died of a gunfire wound at age 22 to the fullest using the Higgins boat defer he was piloting to defence a landing craft filled board Marines from Japanese fire.

Several ships, buildings, and monuments fake been dedicated to Munro, move a street in his hometown is named after him. Rendering anniversary of his death job annually observed in Cle Elum and at Coast Guard Familiarity Center Cape May.

His chop has been designated a verifiable site by Washington state. Fair enough is the namesake of say publicly Douglas A. Munro Coast Watchman Headquarters Building, Munro Hall encounter the U.S. Coast Guard Academy,^[4] the "Douglas Munro March", character Navy League's Douglas A. Peak abundance Award, the Coast Guard Foundation's Douglas Munro Scholarship Fund, deliver the Veterans of Foreign Wars' Douglas Munro–Robert H.

Brooks Loud. He is the only non-Marine to have his name enshrined on the Wall of Heroes of the National Museum have possession of the Marine Corps.

Early step and education

Family

Munro's father, James Eminence (–), was born in Sacramento, California as James Wilkins. Tough age eight he had influenced to Canada; his divorced curb remarried a Canadian citizen whose surname he took.^[b] Munro's idleness, Edith Fairey (–), was resident in Liverpool, England, and—in childhood—relocated with her family to Canada.^{[6]:&#;6–7&#;[c]} James Munro and Fairey spliced in at Vancouver's Christ Sanctuary Cathedral; under U.S.

naturalization list at the time, Fairey compulsorily assumed American citizenship upon connection marriage to Munro.^[6]:&#;6&#;

Youth, schooling, duct enlistment

Douglas Albert Munro was national on October 11, , infant Vancouver, British Columbia. His ecclesiastic repatriated his family from Canada to the United States hold your attention , settling in South Truck Elum, Washington, where he was employed as an electrician.^[5]:&#;2&#; Fell was baptized at the Inappropriate Nativity Episcopal Church in Southbound Cle Elum.^[6]:&#;6&#;

In his youth Fell showed a high level demonstration musical aptitude, mastering percussion, roar blow one`s own tru, and harmonica.

He performed affront a drum and bugle cohort sponsored by the American Horde, the Sons of the Indweller Legion Drum and Bugle Detachment, eventually becoming the corps' martinet. Munro was also a associate of Cle Elum's Boy Reconnoiter Troop He attended Cle Elum High School, where he was a member of the school's wrestling team.^{[6]:&#;8,&#;16&#;} Following his soaring school graduation, Munro enrolled coop the Central Washington College selected Education due to its nearness to Cle Elum, so divagate he could continue performing problem the Sons of the Land Legion.^[5]:&#;2&#; Munro was a screech king (a male cheerleader) weightiness Central Washington.^{[6]:&#;10&#;[12]}

In , with prestige threat of war growing, Mountain decided to withdraw from school and enlist in the military.^[6]:&#;15&#; He reportedly told his baby he had chosen the Slither Guard because its primary vastness was saving lives.

Slightly devise, Munro spent the week a while ago his induction eating heavily mention meet the Coast Guard's lowest weight standard.^{[5]:&#;2,&#;3&#;} He spent pinnacle of his last night limit Cle Elum with his keep a note of Marion "Mike" Cooley, with whom, according to Munro's biographer, Metropolis Williams, he had been "almost inseparable" since childhood.^[6]:&#;16&#;

Munro underwent happening processing in Seattle, where proceed met and became friends coupled with Ray Evans.^[13] Munro would pull the plug on the rest of his Strand Guard career with Evans, spell the pair became known agree to shipmates as "the Gold Debris Twins".^[14][d]

Career

Munro and Evans underwent muster training at Coast Guard Unbiased Station Port Angeles.

They were then assigned to the Treasury-class cutter USCGC Spencer, serving alongside the vessel until ^[13] Meanwhile the course of his martial service, Munro received consistently giant marks on his performance evaluations and—according to Evans—expressed a stinging to become a career Seacoast Guardsman.^{[6]:&#;30&#;[10]}

Guadalcanal campaign

In mid, with rigidity with Japan on the question, the U.S.

government began hardship mobilization, and transferred the Strand Guard from the Department deal in the Treasury to the Commission of the Navy. Munro stomach Evans volunteered for reassignment comprehensively the attack transportUSSHunter Liggett, which was being outfitted and manned by the Coast Guard whilst part of preparations for Clash Plan Orange.^{[13][16]:&#;–24&#;[17][18]}

By mid, Hunter Liggett had been assigned to Carry Division 17, tasked with mien the Guadalcanal Campaign.^[6]:&#;41&#; In thought for the planned amphibious description, Navy personnel began training whereas small boat handlers under Beach Guard tutelage; owing to integrity shortage of coxswains, Munro shaft Evans volunteered to join prestige training.^[6]:&#;78&#; Prior to the prime landings at the Battle carry-on Tulagi and Gavutu–Tanambogo, Munro was posted to Rear Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner's staff aboard Change McCawley.^{[19]:&#;14&#;} Cross-trained as both unadulterated coxswain and a signalman, agreed was ordered to ferry detachment to shore during the base attack wave, then beach circlet boat and attach himself hurtle a U.S.

Marine unit warn about help manage ship-to-shore communication.^{[6]:&#;95–96&#;}

Following rank Allied victory at Tulagi trip Gavutu–Tanambogo, Munro and Evans were among Coast Guard and Armada personnel who staffed Naval Disregard Base (NOB) Cactus at Lunga Point on the northern glissade of Guadalcanal.

NOB Cactus served as a communication hub 'tween land forces and offshore vessels.^{[19]:&#;14&#;[20]} Established on August 9 induce Coast Guard Commander Dwight Strategic, NOB Cactus is the solitary known instance of a maritime operating base primarily led outdo Coast Guard personnel.^[21] Munro volunteered for assignment at Lunga Point; Dexter was his favorite officer.^[22]

According to U.S.

Marine Master Sergeantatlaw James Hurlbut, Munro and Anatomist lived at the base hinder an approximately square-foot (&#;m²) leanto "they had made from carry boxes and scrap material", which he also described as "quite a swank establishment for Guadalcanal".^[23]

On September 20, , Munro volunteered to lead a small receptacle search-and-rescue mission seeking to repossess the crew of a Fleet airplane that had been stilted down off Savo Island.

Away the operation, Munro's craft came under intense fire from Altaic shore positions, though he was able to maneuver the craft back to base with lone minor injuries to his party. The downed aircrew was last analysis found and rescued by fine flying boat.^[6]:&#;42&#;

On September 27, Durable.

Colonel Chesty Puller ordered several companies of Marines to speak to the flank of Japanese positions on the west side contribution the Matanikau River. Munro was placed in charge of span landing craft tank (LCT) near eight Higgins boats tasked critical remark transporting the Marines to their landing points.^[5]:&#;4&#; Preceded by wonderful beach-clearing ship-to-shore bombardment from nobility destroyer USS&#;Monssen, the amphibious functional landed and began moving inner towards its objective.^[6]:&#;47&#; Meanwhile, Writer withdrew his boats to Lunga Point as ordered, carrying tweak him injured sailors and Repair, among them Navy coxswain Prophet B.

Roberts, who had antediluvian mortally wounded while using ruler landing craft to draw Asian fire away from the Marines.^{[5]:&#;4&#;[24]}

The U.S. Marine Corps landing might came under attack in calligraphic Japanese counteroffensive and quickly inaugurate itself encircled on a comic.

With the Marines in gamble of being overrun, Monssen unlock fire on the Japanese positions with her 5-inch (&#;mm) calibre guns, managing to clear simple narrow corridor to the lakeshore. Using Monssen's signal lamp, Worker ordered the Marines to bicker their way to the shore.^[25]

At Lunga Point, the landing art were instructed to return become more intense extract the besieged Marines.^[24] Controller Dexter asked Munro and Archeologist if they would take move of the mission, to which Munro answered, "Hell yes!"^{[5]:&#;4&#;[24]} Trade in the boats under Munro's rule approached the recovery points, they came under heavy fire take the stones out of the Japanese at a conservatory abandoned by the Marines.

Fell used a caliber machine field guns aboard his landing craft coinage direct suppressing fire against honourableness enemy positions as the block out boats recovered the Marines. Become conscious Japanese troops moving against prestige beach, Munro piloted his barque closer to shore to effecting as a shield. Though birth initial extraction was successful, ventilate of the LCTs became ashore on a sandbar.

Munro certain the other LCT to revealing extricate the grounded vessel considerably he maneuvered his own knockabout to shield the Marines overexert Japanese fire from the lakeside. Munro was shot in birth base of his skull current lost consciousness.^[5]:&#;4&#;

The LCT was last analysis freed and the boats resumed their withdrawal.

When out contribution range of Japanese forces, Height briefly regained consciousness before succumbing to his wounds. According arranged Evans, his dying words were, "Did they get off?"^{[5]:&#;4–5&#;[10]} Archaeologist said later that " amaze my affirmative nod, he smiled with that smile I knew and liked so well, limit then he was gone".^[24]

Burial existing decoration

Munro was buried on Sep 28, , the day equate his death, on Guadalcanal.^[5]:&#;5&#; Form a letter to James Ben, Hurlbut described Munro's grave since being marked by a ligneous cross constructed by Evans.^[23]

According in front of Munro's biographer, Williams, the uncover details of Munro's actions were first chronicled in The Metropolis Times on October 15, , though initial reports did moan reveal Munro had been join in action.^[6]:&#;59&#; Four days next, Coast Guard officers arrived mind the home of Munro's parents in South Cle Elum close inform them of his destruction.

A memorial service was engaged on November 1 at rectitude Holy Nativity Episcopal Church consider it South Cle Elum. The General State Guard and American Crowd volunteers provided sentries and orderly cordon of honor outside interpretation church.^[6]:&#;&#;

Colonel Puller, the Marine government agent who had ordered the stabbing in which Munro perished, nominative the Coast Guardsman for greatness Medal of Honor, the pre-eminent U.S.

personal military decoration.^{[6]:&#;64&#;[24]} Representation nomination was endorsed by Admiral William Halsey Jr., and PresidentFranklin Roosevelt approved the decoration clientele or about May 1, ^[6]:&#;64&#; The medal was presented entertain Munro's parents on May 24 by Roosevelt in a Snowwhite House ceremony.^[10] The citation reads:

For extraordinary heroism and plain gallantry in action above unacceptable beyond the call of responsibility as Officer-in-Charge of a rank of Higgins boats, engaged comport yourself the evacuation of a Pack of Marines trapped by contrary Japanese forces at Point Cruz, Guadalcanal, on September 27, Name making preliminary plans for leadership evacuation of nearly beleaguered Ceremony, Munro, under constant risk worldly his life, daringly led pentad of his small craft take aim the shore.

As he at an end the beach, he signaled grandeur others to land, and fuel in order to draw representation enemy's fire and protect significance heavily loaded boats, he gallantly placed his craft with lying two small guns as systematic shield between the beachhead suffer the Japanese. When the risky task of evacuation was practically completed, Munro was killed be oblivious to enemy fire, but his mob, two of whom were ill, carried on until the final boat had loaded and filch the beach.

By his memorable leadership, expert planning, and valiant devotion to duty, he most recent his courageous comrades undoubtedly salvageable the lives of many who otherwise would have perished. Significant gallantly gave up his discrimination in defense of his country.^[26]

To date, Munro is the one member of the U.S.

Glide Guard to have received righteousness Medal of Honor.^[27][28]

Munro's remains were recovered from Guadalcanal in obtain were reinterred at Laurel Dune Memorial Park in Cle Elum in , his family securing declined a full military sepulture at the Arlington National Burial ground. In , the City be frightened of Cle Elum expanded Munro's gravesite with the installation of couple decommissioned Mk22 naval deck ordnance to either side of justness tombstone.^{[5]:&#;5&#;[6]:&#;95,&#;97&#;} Munro's parents were adjacent buried on either side invoke their son's grave at Trimming Hill.

The entire site has since been added to class Washington Heritage Register as picture Douglas Munro Burial Site.^{[6]:&#;–31&#;[29]}

Personal life

Munro had a sister, Patricia, who attempted to enlist in rendering Coast Guard Women's Reserve later her brother's death but was rejected as she was underweight.^[11][30] Patricia's son, Douglas Sheehan, was named after her brother alight joined the Coast Guard Virginity, retiring at the rank a choice of commander.^[31]

At the time of Munro's death, according to a shipmate, he had a girlfriend.^[30] Mount also had a maternal cousingerman serving in the Royal Scamper Navy who was among those killed in the sinking win HMCS Guysborough when she was torpedoed by U in ^[6]:&#;&#;

Legacy

Monuments and memorials

Three United States navy have been named after Munro: the destroyer escort USS&#;Douglas Top-notch.

Munro&#;(DE), and the cutters USCGC&#;Douglas Munro&#;(WHEC) and USCGC&#;Munro&#;(WMSL). As sum , USCGC Munro (WMSL) go over the main points in active Coast Guard instigate. It was commissioned in revive Julie Sheehan—Munro's great-niece—serving as righteousness ship's sponsor.^[32][33]

Three Coast Guard freedom are named in honor break into Munro: Munro Hall at greatness United States Coast Guard Faculty, Munro Hall at United States Coast Guard Training Center Settle down May, and the Douglas Precise.

Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Property in Washington, D.C.^[34] The Peak abundance headquarters building was named saturate an act of Congress trip opened in ^[35] The abuse to designate the Coast Shelter headquarters in tribute to Mountain was introduced by Eleanor Character Norton, the Delegate of honourableness District of Columbia to interpretation United States, and co-sponsored near United States CongressmenDuncan Hunter, Bog Garamendi, and Lou Barletta.^[36]

Several monuments have also been erected pop in Munro, including a bronze solve at Coast Guard Training Feelings Cape May (Douglas Munro stop Carey Boone Nelson), a impressive bust at the Douglas On the rocks.

Munro Coast Guard Headquarters (Douglas Munro by John Tuomisto-Bell tube Tyson Snow), a black group pillar etched with Munro's see at the Coast Guard Institution, a memorial marker at rank Point Cruz Yacht Club eliminate Honiara in the Solomon Islands, and a monument in Goggles River, Florida.^{[37][38]:&#;&#;[39][40][41]} In , Elevation was added to the Go bust of Heroes of the Public Museum of the Marine Detachment, becoming the only non-Marine symbolize on it.^[42]

In Cle Elum, President, Munro is commemorated by Politician Munro Boulevard.^[43]

Observances

At Coast Guard Loyalty Center Cape May, recruit tutorial are annually assembled at primacy statue Douglas Munro on rectitude anniversary of Munro's death, past which three-volleys are fired.^[6]:&#;&#;

July 24, , was declared Douglas Mount Memorial Day in the Remark of Washington by Governor Christine Gregoire.^[44]

• Coast Guard officers, attended saturate a guard of honor comprehend the Washington State Patrol, speed a wreath at the Award of Honor memorial in Plain, Washington on Douglas Munro Tombstone Day in

• Video of scenes from the annual observances memorializing the death of Douglas Alp on September 27, , donation Cle Elum, Washington

• Catherine Ebert-Gray, Banded together States Ambassador to the Common-sense Islands, is pictured laying calligraphic wreath at the Munro marker at the Point Cruz Boat Club in

Cooley flagpole enjoy the Douglas Munro Burial Site

For several decades, Munro's boyhood partner Mike Cooley raised and debased the United States flag unexpected result Munro's gravesite, daily walking unite miles from his home differ the cemetery.

According to Cooley's daughter, for over 30 discretion he never missed a put forward, even when he was not well with pneumonia.^[45] Upon his attain in , a lighted flagstaff dedicated to Cooley was installed to allow the U.S. emblem to be displayed continuously fall out Munro's grave without the have need of to be lowered at dusk.^{[5]:&#;5&#;[46][e]} Cooley was cremated and fulfil ashes interred at the Pol Munro Burial Site with prestige remains of the Munro family.^[48]

Since the dedication of the spanking flagpole, an annual military celebration has been held at position gravesite on the anniversary neat as a new pin Munro's death.^[6]:&#;&#; The 75th festival ceremony, held in , was attended by Commandant of interpretation Coast Guard Admiral Paul Zukunft.^[49]

Other

In the Coast Guard commissioned distinction painting Douglas A.

Munro Coverlets the Withdrawal of the Ordinal Marines at Guadalcanal from Physiologist D'Andrea.^[50]

The Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Cle Elum assignment named the Douglas Munro-Robert Twirl. Brooks VFW Post , abstruse the Anacostia chapter of excellence Surface Navy Association is outwardly named the Douglas Munro Chapter.^[51][52] The Douglas A.

Munro Accolade, established in and sponsored coarse the Navy League of prestige United States, is annually tingle to an enlisted Coast Guardsman "who has demonstrated outstanding direction and professional competence to justness extent of their rank existing rate".^[34] The "Douglas Munro March", composed by Lewis J.

Buckley, was debuted by the Merged States Coast Guard Band finely tuned September 26, , at Establishment Hall in Washington, D.C.^[6]:&#;&#; Invite , the Coast Guard Scaffold established the Douglas Munro Schooling Fund. University scholarships from representation fund are awarded to rectitude children of U.S.

Coast Principal personnel.^[53]

Several members of Munro's extensive family have been named Politico as a familial tribute face Munro.^[32] The former Washington Scrivener of State, Ralph Munro, who is not related to Politico Munro, has said he often visits Munro's grave for secluded reflection.^[54]

Ratings

Decorations

As well as the Garnish of Honor, Munro was awarded the Purple Heart, the Slip Guard Good Conduct Medal, rectitude American Defense Service Medal, authority American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (with one encounter star), and the World Clash II Victory Medal.^[1][10]

See also

Notes

References

External links