Evening star., 1943-05-27
Dead Hero S Mother
Gets Congressional
Medal, Joins 5PARS
Son Died While DIRECTING
Rescue Of Marines From
GuodoIcunuI Trup
photos on Page A-1.D

Two hours after she received
the Congressional Medal of
Honor from President Roosevelt
today in the name of her dead
hero son, Mrs. James Munro, 48.
OF South Gle Elum, Wash, was
sworn in as lieutenant q. e. of
the SPARS, Coast Guard auxil-
iary unit.
The decoration was presented to
Mrs. Munro by the President in
recognition of the gallantry shown
by her son, Douglas A. Munro, %.
a signalman, first class. In the Coast
Guard, on Guadalcanal last Sep
tember q. The son lost his life in
the action.
When Mrs. Munro was invited to
come to Washington to accept the
poSthumous award she decided she
would spend part Of her time inquir-
ing about the prospects of joining
the branch of the service in which
her son lost his life. The SPARS
readily accepted her application.
VIII Be Called in August.
She received her commission from
the hands of Rear Admiral l.. T.
Chalker, assistant commandant of
the Coast Guard. She expects to
be called into active service and
training at the Coast Guard Acad-
emy in New London. Conn, in
August. Until then she and her
husband, who accompanied her to
the White House, will visit New
York and then return to their
orator of the Milwaukee railroads
electrical substation.
Mrs. Munro was born in England
and became naturalized American
through marriage She is the sister
of 1t. Col. Francis Thrower- -Fairey,
Royal Irish Fusiliers of Canada and
Minister of Technical Education for
British Columbia.
Mrs. Muro's son lost his life while
in charge of detachment of five
boats evacuating a battalion of
marines who were trapped by the
Japs.
His father and sister, Mrs. James
3. Sheehan, were present at the
White House ceremony, which also
was attended by the Secretaries of
the Treasury and Navy and high
ranking Coast Guard officers.
Volunteered for Mission.
Young Munro volunteered for the
| mission. and the skill with which
he carried 1t out before being fatally
wounded was responsible for saw
ing far greater number of men
| than had been hoped for, his
parents were advised by 1t, Comdr.
d. H. Dexter, his commanding
officer.
His last words were: Did they
get off,"
The citation which accompanied
the award of the medal reads:
For extraordinary heroism and
! conspicuous gallantrv in action
above and beyond the call of duty.
| as officer in charge of a group of
Higgins boats engaged in the evacu-
atlon OF battalion of marines
trapped by enemy Japanese forces
at Point Cruz. Guadalcanal on Sep
tember q. 1912. After making pre-
llmlnary 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.
Drew Enemy's Fire.
"AS he closed the beach. he sig
nailed the others to land. and then in
order TO draw the enemy's fire and
protect the heavily loaded boats. he
Vallantly placed his craft. with its
two small guns, as a shield between
the beachnead and the japanese
When the perilous task of evacua-
ton 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 COM
rades undoubtedly saved the lives of
many who otherwise would have
perished, He CALAMITY gave up his
life in defense of his country