USCG to Commission 6th National Security Cutter
The U.S. Coast Guard announced Monday that the service's sixth national security cutter, Munro, will be commissioned April 1, 2017, at the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal in Seattle. The cutter, which will be homeported in Alameda, Calif., is named after the Coast Guard's only Medal of Honor recipient, Signalman First Class Douglas A. Munro. The timing of the announcement coincides with the annual memorial service for Munro, a Cle Elum, Washington-native, taking place Tuesday at Laurel Hill Memorial Park in Cle Elum. Munro died on Guadalcanal Sept. 27, 1942, after volunteering to evacuate a detachment of U.S. Marines during the battle with Japanese forces holding the Pacific Island. Each year, on Sept.
USCG Remembers 72nd Anniversary of Douglas Munro's Death
Coast Guardsmen and recruits gathered to remember the sacrifice of the Coast Guard’s only Medal of Honor recipient aboard Training Center Cape May, Saturday, Sept. 27. The crew of Training Center Cape May gathered at a statue erected in Douglas Munro’s honor to mark the 72nd anniversary of the Coast Guardsman’s death during World War II. Munro was killed at Point Cruz, Guadalcanal, attempting to rescue 500 beleaguered Marines who had come under heavy enemy fire Sept. 27, 1942. Munro led a group of five Higgins boats ashore to evacuate the Marines, and placed his vessel between the enemy and the other rescue boats in order to cover the evacuating troops. Munro’s actions drew enemy fire away from the Marines, but Munro was shot and killed during the rescue attempt.
