SM1 Douglas Albert Munro

USCIS Headquarters Building, Washington DC

Signalman First Class Douglas Albert Munro was born on October 11, 1919, in Vancouver, British Columbia, and became a U.S. citizen in 1922 when he moved to South Cle Elum, Washington, with his parents and older sister. He enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard on September 17, 1939, as an apprentice seaman and went on to serve in the Second Battle of Matanikau, part of the Guadalcanal Campaign in the Pacific.

On September 27, 1942, Signalman Munro was in charge of a detachment of boats that delivered Marines to Point Cruz. Upon returning to his rally point, the officer in charge gave the detachment a sobering update: the Marines were under attack by a large Japanese force and needed to be extracted immediately. Signalman Munro volunteered to lead the boats back to the beach for the evacuation. His boats were not heavily armed or well-protected, with plywood hulls and only two .30 caliber machine guns on deck, but they were the only craft able to navigate close enough to facilitate a rescue mission.

After making preliminary plans for the evacuation of nearly 500 beleaguered Marines, Signalman Munro, under constant strafing by enemy machine guns on the island, daringly led his small craft toward the shore. As he closed the beach, he signaled the others to land. 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.

Signalman Munro led the boats ashore in waves to avoid concentrated fire, escorting them to the beach two or three at a time to pick up the Marines. All the Marines, including 25 wounded, managed to escape, but Signalman Munro was hit by Japanese fire and was killed. His fellow servicemen reported that he remained conscious long enough to say his final words: “Did they get off?”

Signalman Munro posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his heroism. His citation, in part, reads:

“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."

He is buried at Laurel Hill Memorial Park in Cle Elem, Washington.