The only Coast Guardsman to receive the Medal of Honor for his wartime service.
In short: Douglas Albert Munro was a young Coast Guardsman who sacrificed his life during the Guadalcanal campaign to save nearly 500 Marines. His act of extraordinary heroism remains a singular event in military history, making him the only member of his service to ever be awarded the nation's highest honor.
Born in 1919 in Vancouver, Canada, Munro moved to South Cle Elum, Washington, as a child. He enlisted in the Coast Guard in 1939, driven by a desire to save lives. By 1942, he was stationed at Naval Operating Base Cactus on Guadalcanal, a unique facility primarily managed by Coast Guard personnel. Munro quickly earned a reputation for his dedication, often working alongside his inseparable shipmate, Ray Evans.
On September 27, 1942, during the Second Battle of the Matanikau, Munro led a daring rescue mission to extract a battalion of Marines trapped by Japanese forces. As the landing craft approached the shore, Munro maneuvered his boat to act as a shield, drawing heavy enemy fire away from the Marines. He was mortally wounded in the base of his skull while ensuring the safe evacuation of the troops. His final words, asked of Evans, were simply: "Did they get off?"
Munro's legacy is deeply embedded in American military culture. He is the only non-Marine honored on the Wall of Heroes at the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Numerous buildings, scholarships, and awards bear his name, including the Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C. His gravesite in Cle Elum, Washington, serves as a place of annual remembrance, where his boyhood friend Mike Cooley faithfully raised the flag for over 30 years until his own death in 1999.
The Medal of Honor was presented to Munro's parents by President Franklin Roosevelt on May 24, 1943. While his remains were eventually returned to Washington state in 1948, his story continues to be a cornerstone of Coast Guard identity. His life and death are commemorated through statues, music, and the naming of active-duty vessels, ensuring that his sacrifice remains a touchstone for generations of service members.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Douglas Albert Munro
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