The Medal of Honor awarded to Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Douglas Munro has been transferred to the National Medal of Honor Museum for display as part of its grand opening later this spring.
The six-month loan from the United States Coast Guard Museum will allow the museum to display Medals of Honor from every branch of the American military.
“Every Medal of Honor is a precious artifact, but being entrusted with the singular Medal of Honor awarded to a member of the U.S. Coast Guard is an extraordinary responsibility,” NMOHMF President and CEO Chris Cassidy said during the Jan. 28 transfer ceremony. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to be able to share Petty Officer Munro’s story and display his Medal when the museum opens in March.”
Munro, a signalman, was awarded the medal for his courageous actions on Guadalcanal during World War II. According to his MoH citation, Munro was serving as the Petty Office in Charge of a group of 24 Higgins boats that were evacuating a battalion of Marines trapped by Japanese forces at Point Cruz, Guadalcanal on Sept. 27, 1942.
“After making preliminary plans for the evacuation of nearly 500 beleaguered Marines, Munro, under constant strafing by enemy machine guns on the island, and at great risk of his life, daringly led five of his small craft toward the shore,” the citation reads. “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.”
Munro was killed by enemy fire when the evacuation was nearly complete, but “his crew, two of whom were wounded, carried on until the last boat had loaded and cleared the beach,” the citation continues. “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 his life for his country.”
Command Master Chief Shawn Burns, Eighth Coast Guard District, handed the Medal to Cassidy during the ceremony.
“Petty Officer Munro’s story of patriotism, commitment and sacrifice is something that every member of the Coast Guard, and every American, can look up to,” said Burns. “It is because of his efforts and giving his life for his country that we are afforded this tremendous and unique opportunity for collaboration between the Coast Guard, the Marine Corps, the National Coast Guard Museum, and the National Medal of Honor Museum.
"As the son of a signalman first class in the Navy, I’m grateful that Petty Officer Munro’s legacy will be shared even more broadly through this partnership.”
The museum will open to the public on March 25, with more than 100,000 square feet of space, including 31,000 square feet dedicated to exhibition galleries telling the history of the Medal of Honor and the stories of the American heroes who earned it.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.