Wednesday's Hero: Signalman First Class Douglas Munro

This Post Was Suggested By Michael

Signalman First Class Douglas Munro
22 years old from South Cle Elum, Washington
October 11, 1919 - September 27, 1942

Douglas Albert Munro was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada but moved to the United States when his father, a U.S. citizen, moved back to the States for work. He, along with his mother and sister, became a naturalized citizen in 1922. He enlisted in the Coast Guard in 1939 after a year of collage.

Signalman First Class Munro was fatally shot when he put his boat in the path of direct fire to protect U.S. Marines they were evacuating during the Second Battle of the Matanikau. His last words were, "Did they get off?" For his action that day, Douglas Munro was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and became the only member of the U.S. Coast Guard to receive the Medal Of Honor. He has also has a Coast Guard Cutter and Naval Destroyer named in his honor.

"For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action above and beyond the call of duty as Officer-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 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 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."

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.

Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look.

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.