Douglas A. Munro, U.S. Coast Guard

Hero Card 36, Card Pack 3
Photo credit: National Archives Catalog

Hometown: South Cle Elum, WA
Branch: U.S. Coast Guard
Unit: U.S. Coast Guard Ship Transport Fleet
Military Honors: Medal of Honor, Purple Heart
Date of Sacrifice: September 27, 1942 - KIA at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
Age: 24
Conflict: World War II, 1939-1945

Signalman First Class Douglas A. Munro is the first Coast Guardsman to receive the Medal of Honor.

On September 27 of 1942, Munro was tasked with leading a group of small Higgins boats to drop a Marine battalion at a beachhead known as “Point Cruz,” near the Matanikau River on the island of Guadalcanal. The plan was for Marines to drive enemy Japanese forces from the river and establish a patrol base further inland. But the Japanese were prepared and countered with heavy fire. With the Marines trapped, Munro volunteered to lead six boats back in a rescue mission. As the small Higgins boats could not evacuate 500-some Marines all at once, Munro and his fellow Coast Guardsmen made multiple dangerous trips under heavy attack.

Under continuous intense fire, Munro positioned his boat as a shield to draw enemy fire away from the other boats and the Marines evacuating from the exposed beach. Saving hundreds of Marines and fellow Coast Guardsmen, Munro was struck down by enemy fire.

For his bravery, Munro was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, which President Franklin D. Roosevelt presented to Munro’s parents in May of 1943. The citation reads:

For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action above and beyond the call of duty as petty officer in charge of a group of 24 Higgins boats, engaged in the evacuation of a battalion of marines trapped by enemy Japanese forces at Point Cruz, Guadalcanal on 27 September 1942. After making preliminary plans for the evacuation of nearly 500 beleaguered marines, Munro, under constant strafing by enemy machine guns on the island, and at great risk of his life, daringly led five of his small craft toward the shore. As he closed the beach, he signaled 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 instantly 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 his life for his country.

In a personal letter written to Munro’s parents, commanding officer Lieutenant Commander D. H. Dexter wrote:

He was among the first to volunteer and was put in charge of the detail. The evacuation was as successful as could be hoped for under fire. But as always happens, the last men to leave the beach are the hardest pressed because they had been acting as the covering agents for the withdrawal of the other men, and your son, knowing this is so, placed himself and his boat so that he could act as the covering agent for the last men, and by his action and successful maneuvers brought back a far greater number of men than had been even hoped for. He received his wound just as the last men were getting in the boats and clearing the beach. Upon regaining consciousness his only question was, ‘Did they get off?’ and so died with a smile on his face and the full knowledge that he had successfully accomplished a dangerous mission.

Three ships have been named in Douglas Munro’s honor: Navy destroyer escort USS Douglas A. Munro (DE-422), along with Coast Guard Cutters USCGC Douglas Munro (WHEC-724) and USCGC Munro (WMSL-755). Munro Hall at the United States Coast Guard Academy (New London, CT), Munro Hall at the United States Coast Guard Training Center (Cape May, NJ) and the Douglas A. Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Building in Washington, D.C. are all named to honor the brave actions of Signalman First Class Douglas Munro.

His final words “Did they get off?” are a lasting symbol of devotion to duty and selfless sacrifice, and Munro’s heroism is taught to Coast Guardsmen in training to this day.