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Douglas Albert Munro was born on 11 October 1919 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in September 1939 and had achieved the rank of Signalman First Class by September 1942. On the 27th of September 1942, while leading a group of landing craft during the Guadalcanal Campaign, he participated in the evacuation of U.S. Marines from the beach at Guadalcanal's Point Cruz. Using his boat as a shield between the Japanese and the Marines, he enabled the operation to proceed successfully, but was killed by enemy gunfire. For his "extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry", Signalman First Class Munro was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
The escort ship USS Douglas A. Munro (DE 422) (1944-1960) was the first ship named in his honor.
(U.S. Navy photo #NH102453 from the Naval History and Heritage Command) (Photo colored by Tom Kermen) |
Navsource |
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8 March 1944: Houston, Tex. - Douglas Munro's mother, Edith F. Munro, is shown at the ship's christening. After Signalman Munro was killed in action his Mother joined the U.S. Coast Guard. |
Tom Kermen
Photos courtesy of
Dr. David Rosen,
USCG Historian
Originally supplied by
Douglas J. Sheehan,
Douglas A. Munro's nephew |
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8 March 1944: Houston, Tex. - Mrs. Munro prepares to break the ceremonial bottle of champagne that sends the ship sliding down the way. |
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8 March 1944: Houston, Tex. - Douglas A. Munro (DE 422) enters the waters of Houston Bay for the first time. |
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undated post-war photo |
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circa 1952 - 53: Hong Kong - Douglas A. Munro at anchor in Hong Kong Harbor. (Photo courtesy of Jim Sundine, former crewmember) |
Tom Kermen |
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February 1957: Pearl Harbor, Hi. - Douglas A. Munro in drydock at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. These were Gary's first view of his new home, he was amazed at how many shades of primer could be on one ship. |
Gary Hanson
DK2, 1957-1960 |
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circa 1957, 1958: Republic of the Philippines - Douglas A. Munro entering Manila Bay heading for the Subic Bay Naval Station. |
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1 February 1959: at Sydney, Australia (Photo © John C. Jeremy) |
John Jeremy |
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The gravesite of Douglas Albert Monro in Cle Elum, Washington. I took the photo a couple of years ago and have shared it with other websites. Doug is the only person from the Coast Guard to win the CMH. He was born in Canada, but grew up in South Cle Elum, Washington where his father ran the substation for the Milwaukee Road. The old Milwaukee Depot at South Cle Elum has been renovated and they have a section there to honor their hometown hero. |
Tom Kermen |
