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New training facility named for legend

CHESAPEAKE — Douglas A. Munro would likely be both proud and pleased were he alive to see the dedication of a new non-lethal and civil disturbance training facility in his honor here. Named the sole Coast Guardsman posthumously presented the Medal of Honor for his harrowing rescue of Marines at Guadalcanal, “Munro Village” will be used primarily by antiterrorism forces of Marine Corps Security Force Battalion, the Coast Guard and Navy.

Douglas Munro and his sister

Munro Village, a small urban facility, offers Marines more realistic training right in their own backyard. “Northwest” is the top training ground for Norfolk’s 1st Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team Company and Yorktown’s 2nd FAST Company. It’s also where the two companies’ Marines receive their entry-level antiterrorism training, which includes crowd control and civil disturbance training

“Before we’d just simulate a gate and buildings, but now we can train with the real thing,” said Staff Sgt. Rojelio Garza, an instructor with MCSFBn’s training company. “Now role players can jump into buildings. It adds a large element of realism for the Marines training.”

Fourth Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Antiterrorism) Commanding General, Brig. Gen. Douglas O’Dell said Munro Village will mutually benefit both serv-ices for a long time.

“Right now the Coast Guard and the Marine Corps are working more closely on maritime security than anytime since World War II,” said O’Dell, adding that it’s likely the facility will be used for at least a generation.The dedication included a live demonstration of riot control maneuvers by MCSFBn Marines. It also included a demonstration of a nonlethal shotgun that fired beanbag rounds. O’Dell, wearing one of the Marine Corps’ more dressy uniforms (service alphas) tested the range himself and even advanced while engaging the targets.

USS DOUGLAS A. MUNRO DE 422

Munro personally saved numerous Marines from certain death at Guadalcanal Sept. 27, 1942. Munro volunteered to lead five Higgins boats under heavy fire to evacuate 500 Marines. Before being mortally wounded by enemy fire, he drew fire away from other boats loaded with Marines by placing his craft with its two small guns as a shield between the Marines and the Japanese.

Memorial Service at the grave of Douglas Munro 1990

“As he was dying he asked, ‘Did the Marines get off,’” said Director, U. S. Navy Command Center and Counter Drug Division, Coast Guard Rear Adm. Jeffrey J. Hathaway, the guest speaker at the dedication.

The Flagship - March 13, 2003

Additional Sources:

www.flagshipnews.com
www.homeofheroes.com
www.pcez.com
www.wshs.org
www.desausa.org
www.guadalcanal.homestead.com
www.ussrankin.org

The actual medal was given to Douglas Munro's parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Munro of South Cle Elum, Washington, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in a ceremony at the White House on Thursday, May 27, 1943. The citation reads:

The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the

Medal of Honor

Awarded posthumously to

DOUGLAS ALBERT MUNRO, SIGNALMAN FIRST CLASS, U.S. COAST GUARD

Rank and organization: Signalman First Class, U.S. Coast Guard Born: 11 October 1919, Vancouver, British Columbia. Accredited to Washington.

Citation:

For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action above and beyond the call of duty as Office-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 signalled [sic] 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.