Coast Guard, Marines, Nation remember Signalman 1st Class Douglas Munro

Douglas Albert Munro, was born in Vancouver Canada of American parents on 11 October 1919, but spent his entire life before enlistment in South Cle Elum Washington. He enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in 1939. He had an outstanding service record as an enlisted man, and was promoted rapidly through the ranks to Signalman First Class.

On September 27, 1942, Munro was acting Officer in Charge of ten Higgins boats that landed Marines on a beach head on the south Pacific island of Guadalcanal. Once landed the Marines were met by an unanticipated large enemy force, and faced certain annihilation.

Petty Officer Munro volunteered to lead the boats back to the beach to evacuate the Marine force who were facing over whelming enemy fire. While in command of the boats Munro brought them back onto the beach under heavy enemy fire, and proceeded to load the Marines back into the boats. After the majority were loaded, Munro noticed that the rear guard of Marines, who had been providing cover fire for the evacuation , were having trouble getting out. Petty Officer Munro maneuvered himself and his boats into a position to cover the last group of men as they headed to the boats. In doing so, he exposed himself to greater enemy fire and suffered a fatal wound. In his last moments of life he uttered the the now famous words "Did they get off"? It also should be mentioned that one of the Marines evacuated from this situation was Marine Corp hero and icon, then, Lt Col Lewis "Chesty" Puller.

For His heroic and selfless actions in the completion of this rescue mission Petty Officer Munro was posthumously awarded the Medal Of Honor.

I only recently learned the story of Petty Officer Munro, but now having a stronger connection to the Coast Guard and after 32 years of Naval service, I have a new found respect for their accomplishments. James Michener is quoted in his book "Bridges at Toko Ri", "Where do we find such men"? The answer in short is that they walk among us the 3 percent, that are out there right now, doing what they do best. Keeping us safe and making it look easy.

Semper Paratus, Old Captain sends

 
Coast Guard, Marines, Nation remember Signalman 1st Class Douglas Munro

Happy Birthday, Puddle Pirates!

Happy Birthday Coast Guard, the oldest sea going service.

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the U.S. military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission (with jurisdiction in both domestic and international waters) and a federal regulatory agency mission as part of its mission set. It operates under the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime, and can be transferred to the Department of the Navy by the President at any time, or by Congress during time of war.
Founded by Alexander Hamilton as the Revenue Marine first, and later as the Revenue Cutter Service on 4 August 1790, it is the United States' oldest continuous seagoing service. Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton headed the USRCS, and the branch was involved in every war from 1790 to World War I.^[5] As of August 2009^[update] the Coast Guard had approximately 42,000 men and women on active duty, 7,500 reservists, 30,000 auxiliarists, and 7,700 full-time civilian employees.^[6]
The Coast Guard's legal authority differs from the other four armed services: it operates simultaneously under Title 10 of the United States Code and its other organic authorities, e.g. Titles 6, 14, 19, 33, 46, etc. Because of its legal authority, the Coast Guard can conduct military operations under the Department of Defense or directly for the President in accordance with Title 14 USC 1–3.
The Coast Guard's enduring roles are maritime safety, security, and stewardship. To carry out those roles the Coast Guard has 11 statutory missions as defined in 6 U.S.C. § 468, which include enforcing U.S. law in the world's largest exclusive economic zone of 3.4 million square miles.^[7]
The Coast Guard motto is Semper Paratus ("Always Ready").