This ceremony was 10 days ago. Here are two Photos showing this year's ceremony and wreath laying at the memorial for Douglas Munro at the "Yacht Club" in Honaria, Guadalcanal (closest to the actual spot where his service earned him the MOH).







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.

I went up to Cle Elum and saw the memorial. Is it still there?. Some people would put flowers and plants on his grave. A man comes down to water the plants every day.

The memorial is still there, although it's been a few years since I've been there. Go to the link below for a lot of great information regarding this CG Hero:

MedalOfHonor.com

Yes the memorial is still there. It now has its own OPFAC. The Greater Seattle Chiefs Association teams with the Cle Elum VFW to take good care of the place. Among other things, twice a year the PCPO's clean the area.
The fellow who used to come down every day to water the flowers also raised and lowered the flag. Every day. For over forty years. A lighted flag pole is now standing guard. And Mike Cooley, the man who watered the flowers, raised and lowered the flag, and tended the site is now buried with his high school buddy.

In the spirit of Douglas Munro, I came across this picture the other day. It shows how many "Coasties" served so valiantly during WW II.



I realize Munro served and died on Guadalcanal. This just shows the scope of Coast Guard involvement.

Semper P,

Thanks for the update on the Doug Monroe memorial. I haven't been to Cle Elum in years but I'm happy to know the memorial is well taken care of

Tomorrow is the 66th anniversary of the action on Guadalcanal where SM1 Munro earned the Medal of Honor. SM1 Ray Evans earned the Navy Cross in that same action.

I don't know if they are readily available other places, but have managed to locate the articles and photos that announced the award of those decorations.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mastersmate,

Dana,

Thanks for sharing.

Irritating? Not to me.

I think anyone in their right mind to say looking at these pics is annoying is missing the value of sharing such things, and since when did military.com become such a place of fear and paranoia? I have read numerous posts of "I hope this is ok" and "I hope nobody minds this" c'mon where is the spirit of debate in this forum? If you are going to post just keep your senses I doubt the moderators wouldn't mind a stinger or two if it where well communicated. I don't know IMHO.

quote:

Originally posted by Mastersmate:
There has been some comment that it is irritating to have these old photos posted, so will leave this up for the weekend.

Please keep them up AFTER the weekend Bos'n. I know posters on both the Navy and CG Forums appreciate your contributions and keen sense of naval history.

Anyone finds them irritating can always exercise their own right to not look at them.

Respectfully,
Surface Force

Please keep them up, The Coast Guard in general is terrible at remembering it's history. Most Marines know more about Douglas Munro than the average Coast Guardsmen.

The National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico has a picture of SM1 Munro displayed along Marines who earned the Medal of Honor. I didn't take a picture of it but his Citation is displayed as well.

They also have a section on Iwo Jima that has the emblems of all who died in that campaign. Among all the Marine and some Navy emblems is a lone Coast Guard emblem. The wall also has a great feature. You can see it just standing there but if you take a flash picture, a scene of landing craft with Mount Suribachi in the background shows up in your picture. I don't know how to post a picture here but I have pics of SM1 Munro, the lone Coast Guard hat device and the picutre of the invasion on that wall all taken at the museum. If interested, I can email to someone who can post them or let me know how to do it.

If you haven't been there, I highly recommend it. The admission is free. Plan on spending a lot of time. They also have two great places to eat on location.

Training Center Cape May continued the long standing tradition of honoring the heroic actions of Signalman First Class Douglas Munro on this the anniversary of his actions. Today the mast from the WWII ear SPENCER was officially dedicated at her new home on board the Training Center, directly behind the Munro Memorial. The SPENCER Association changed their annual reunion site to be on hand for the ceremony. Additional information and pictures are located at;

http://www.uscgbootcamp.com/go/site/763/

I also vote for the picture to remain up.

Irritating photos? Of Coast Guard Heroes? Real Heroes, who did epic heroic things?

Better leave them up...maybe someone might be able to learn about leadership and heroism from them...

How is Coast Guard history going to offend anyone? I am so sick of this PC BS!!!!! Oh, sorry, didn't want to offend anyone.

The posting of the photos was meant to recognize the significance of the day. My additional comments should have been left out, did not mean for this to shear off course as it has..

Apologies

A lot of us enjoy your posts, and appreciate your knowledge of Coast Guard History.

Thank you.

MM,

Thanks for the pics. I'm going to keep the Evans pic around for those who complain about those young PO1s ... by showing them a yound CPO.

Thanks for the history