Daily Blog

For 121 years, hero's reward was a grave with no name... just the number 297

12/27/2015

Back in March of this year I brought readers a little of the story of Master Sergeant Charles E Husking Jr. He ran away from home as a youth, came to Canada and though under age, joined the Army when his US Army rejected the under-aged youth. He was soon caught, released and sent home, only to again run, and again get caught.

He finally was allowed to join the US Coast Guard, but soon left due to illness. But then he would again later emerge as a soldier with the US Army and began a very distinguished career culminating with the awarding of the Medal of Honor while giving his life to shield others from a grenade attack.

For more than 40 years Master Sergeant Husking's grave marker did not include his hero status as a MOH recipient. But then along came Don Morfe, a fellow member of the MOH Historical Society of the US.

Over many, many years Don has traveled across the US, and beyond, and taken well over 2,000 photo's of MOH recipients final resting places. He has also led the charge of the society and others in the identifying of markers that fail to tell the story of the deceased's military heroism by finding these graves.

Family and cemeteries are consulted and then a movement started to have the proper authorities...or others if need be... funding the making of, and transport of new stones to the cemetery and having unveiling ceremonies to duly commemorate these heroes.

The Master Sergeant is shown above, as are the old marker and the new marker that Morfe and others arranged in 2013.

Now let me tell you about a fellow that was simply known as #297 for over 12 decades. This fellow was not just a soldier, whom, like all soldiers, was due more respect, but a hero who's story touches on one of the most famous sea battles of the entire Civil War.

That of the USS Monitor and the so called Merrimack, usually misspelled as Merrimac. Trouble is, even that is not right. The correct name was the CSS Virginia. But from the stone above, everyone who saw it was robbed of the true story. As was this fellow's family.

But our American friend Don Morfe would fix this one too!

The famous battle of the two war ships took place on 9 March 1862 at Hampton Roads Virginia and became the first battle in history between two iron clad warships. The four hour battle left both still floating and a virtual stalement so both went off to their own corners... if you will.

But the day before, the CSS Virginia destroyed the Union's fleet on hand by sinking the USS Cumberland and the USS Congress and grounding the USS Minnesota. It cost the union navy over 100 men, but only two for the Confederates. The first being a Canadian from New Brunswick. Many Canadians fought on both sides in this battle both on ship and land.

Within days the British government and others around the world stood up to take notice, with the Brits immediately ordering the stopping of all construction of wooden hulled vessels. The rest of the world would soon take note.

But getting back to #297, his name was Luke M Griswold and he was a navy man from Springfield Massachusetts. and serving on the USS Rhode Island. On 31 December 1862 the Monitor was caught up in a very bad storm and became waterlogged and therefore without steam and dead in the water. Griswold's Rhode Island was tasked with saving the crew who had to bale out.

He and a handful of others made two trips out into the gale in a small craft to make the rescue but on the third trip out, loaded with Monitor crew, got themselves blown off course for some 18 hours and when finally rescued by a passing ship where by then 50 miles off course.

In June 1865 he and 7 others would be awarded the Medal of Honor for this bravery. Some say It was the first time in history, by date of deed, that MOH's were awarded for actions not in the face of the enemy.

One of the men rescued was a sailor by the name of Scott, born in Montreal. One of the sailors serving on the Cumberland at the earlier battle with the CSS Virgina was James MacIntosh also from Montreal, who about 2 years later would earn his own MOH at the Battle of Mobile Bay. Yet another on the Cumberland Oliver O'Brien from St John's Newfoundland, would also earn a MOH, but more on him later.

This is quite difficult to read but I believe it says, Personal Valor, Luke M Griswold, Ordinary Seaman, USS Rhode Island, Saving crew of USS Monitor, 30 Dec, 1862.

In January 2013 Don Morfe had some great success in identifying the grave for Griswold who passed away in 1892 and was buried in his hometown of Springfield Ma.

On his efforts to get the Dept. of Veterans Affairs to help with the finances for a proper MOH marker, someone there apparently suggested that without a SIN number the department could not help. How could one be obtained? The concept was not even invented till 44 years later. DAAAAh!

The good folks at the MOH Foundation jumped in to help out and financed the new stone unveiled in 2013. And here it is...

Now the family and the world can become aware that a great hero rests at their feet.

There is more to this story but it is getting long so I will leave the rest till next Sunday.

See you then.
Bart

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The Americans are coming... the Americans are coming !

12/20/2015

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Sorry for stealing your lines, Paul Revere. Actual they were not his lines, as past blogs in this space told you, but the line works anyway.

More on this in a few minutes, but first...

As you can see from the column to the right, stories dedicated to the Canadians, and those with Canadian connections that earned the American Medal of Honor have appeared in this space for just over three years now.

Over 330 blogs have brought forth massive amounts of information on these heroes, the medal in general, other interesting cases that touch on the subject and more than a handful touching on our Canadian Victoria Cross recipients to boot.

Throughout this journey many of you have brought me tips and stories and information that had eluded me, and some have held my feet to the fire re my terrbllelelellele spelling, grammar and facts.

Some have even offered some wonderful words of encouragement.

Please continue to join me in a hopefully long journey of story telling in a way often not covered in the press of Canada. This is really shameful. And we could learn so much about honouring our heroes by paying close attention to the work in this regard done by those of you south of the 49th parallel.

Help me celebrate the 3rd birthday by reaching out to some of your military friends or those interested in the military, and even the press and keep their feet to the fire re this subject and go further, by asking them to follow us in our journey by keeping an eye on these very blogs. Many have told me how they enjoy the search function on the site, so please also pass that along.

It is doubtful that any member of the press either in Canada or the US would find any site anywhere that has more than this site on the Canadian connection to these stories.

I would also appreciate it if you could pass the site URL along to any you know in the genealogy world as I am always on the search for more on any of the Canadian recipients. In particular...where are their medals and how can images be obtained.

A few days ago I was doing some research and while looking for information about some other incident I found this page.

It is from the Norfolk (Virginia) Post in 1865 and a copy of the 4 page newspaper could be picked up at the press office for just a nickle.

What intrigued me was the pin in then haystack..way down at the bottom right. (highlighted yellow)

As you can now read, it mentions that Mary Walker was pushing for a commission as an officer but was refused. Instead President Abraham Lincoln offered her the Medal of Honor. It was so ordered but was left to be action by his successor after Booth had his way.

Interesting that Walker's MOH is dated November 11th, something that should be noted by the women's movement every year.

But this article is not the full story...

When I talk about the MOH work I due I often mention that when searching old newspapers, you ought to also scan the whole page you find. Often there are other great stories on the very page. Sometimes even more interesting than what you were looking for.

And thus... just two stories above Walker's I found this warning for Canadians that...indeed the Americans were probably coming, as so noted in today's title.

Here's that story...

Read between the lines and note all the history in this article. It refers to Canada as a Province, as it indeed was at the time with a Canada East and a Canada West. Read also about the TOWNS of Montreal, Quebec etc..such massive cities of today.

And don't you just love knowing that out troops would be paid a whole 25 cents for risking their lives for us back in 1865. At the very time that the US troops were making about triple that, and perhaps double at the beginning of the Civil War.

Hmmm!

Moving along, Christmas is coming in a few days and as we gather around our friends and family, we also need to give thanks for those who are off doing their best so that we can sit at home in piece and the comfort of our own fires.

A great friend from Halifax and a loyal supporter of this blog since day one, and for years before that with other work I did, sent me an email a few weeks back that so moved me that I decided to share it with you for Christmas.

Heck, it is as important on any day of the year.

Please enjoy this and pass it along to those who are important to you.

I have no idea who went to the trouble to create this fabulous reminder for us all to appreciate our military families, past, present and future for all that they do so that we may sit in our comforts of today.

Merry Christmas to all in, and out of uniform.

And again a special thanks to a Haligonian for sharing this with me.

It is your turn to share it with others...

Bart

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Yet again some good news and some bad!

12/13/2015

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First, with the bad!

It was 121 years ago yesterday that Canada lost it's 4th Prime Minister, the Right Honorable Sir John S.D. Thompson. He was Canada's first Roman Catholic PM and had only served a short time when summonsed to Windsor Castle to have an audience with Queen Victoria. He would be made a member of the Queen's Privy Council but ill health took its toll and he died on 12 December 1894 while still in England.

Thousands no doubt lined the street for a state funeral in London for Thompson, pictured above. His body was then returned to Canada for a service in Halifax Nova Scotia, his place of birth. He was transported with an escort on-board the HMS Blenheim, painted black for the occasion, and also shown above.

Here you can see the Thompson funeral procession as it travels along a portion of Barrington Street in downtown Halifax. At the time this section was known as Pleasant Street. A few blocks away lay the cemetery and probably large crowds awaiting the arrival of the procession.

The Cemetery was... and is called the Holy Cross Cemetery and within it is the historic Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrow. Back in August of 1843 between 1 and 2,000 volunteers shown up one bright morning to build the chapel and by day's end it was done. The cemetery would be the first for the Catholic faith in the city.

The Chapel only holds mass once a year and can seat 70. It is the smaller building to the right. (The taller one took longer to build.) While many of its artifacts are safely stored away, some of its windows contained stained glass images remain in place and go back to 1661.

There are over 25,000 who lay at rest at the cemetery. Unfortunately many years ago old records were lost and some of the graves have not been properly identified or located.

But above at left is the well marked grave of the former Prime Minister. At the front of this grave is a graveled pathway that travels left to right. The right leads off to the city street... a few dozen feet away. To the left the pathway takes you deep into the cemetery. There are grave markers on both sides of the pathway. And within probably less than a dozen feet directly to the front of the PM's grave is a small marker for Charles Robinson who lived in Halifax for about 30 years, raised a family and he died there. He was a Medal of Honor recipient for bravery in the US Civil War. His story had been oft referred to in this space and the above was taken a few years back when I visited the cemetery.

Charles is not buried there, but at some unknown location in the cemetery. The marker was laid by several folks, including PEI born Charles MacGillivary, another Medal of Honor recipient, whom I hope you have read much about at this site. The above Robinson marker, and five others were the first ever of this type, designed in part by MacGillivary whilst President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, and being installed outside of the United States.

This cemetery made news this week, but for all the wrong reasons. It was the victim of vandalism, and not for the first time. About 70 stones and markers have been damaged and /or pushed over. Some falling on others causing yet more damage. One stone, over 100 years old is probably unreplaceable. Same and even more so probably for one said to be about 200 years old.

Those now tasked to repair all of this stupidity will take upwards of two years and tens of thousands of dollars if not more to do what they can to repair the markers.

Surprisingly they want to educate the violators rather than tack them to the closest tree from ahigh!

These hooligans need to be taught that vandalism aside, they are destroying history that sometimes can never be fixed.

When caught, they should be made to go into every pubic and high-school in the city and give talks about the damage they did and why these sorts of antics must come to an end. And when not so talking, they should be at this site and others in their grunt clothes and helping the tremendous volunteers that will have to come forward to right these wrongs.

The press should pursue this on a regular basis.

And while on the topic of press I would like to note that every story I can find on this act of violence tells of the historic site and mentions the grave of our great PM. But none of the press, and for that matter, others that have come forth and been quoted, have bothered to mention the incredible history that Charles Robinson had.

I guess it is because his marker is about a whopping handful of feet way from the PM's marker, and, as they say, out of site, out of mind!

And my good friend Tony in Halifax has contacted me to tell me that the Robinson marker remains undamaged.

That is good news, and I have more, also involving wonderful Nova Scotia, my home of many years.

Here's a math question for you. What is 40,000,000 divided by 3,492. (it's 11, 454.)

About 40 million have served in the US forces back to day one. 3,491 men and one woman have been awarded a Medal of Honor. 19 got two. Even when you don't add about a thousand that were rescinded illegally, and duly noted repeatedly on this site, that leaves the 11,454 soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and coast guard members that had to serve for every one Medal of Honor awarded. One in about 11.5 THOUSAND.

See how rare the medal is!

A recently acquired resource tells me that between the end of the Civil War and 1905 there were about 88 MOH's awarded for navy men who saved others from drowning. Several of these came to Canadians.

Yet another source tells me that 74 black men from Nova Scotia served in the US Navy in the Civil War. I believe the number is very low and was more likely in the hundreds. Many hundred even. And from the low list, I am told these men served on no less than 58 different war ships.

The records suggest they mostly came from the Halifax and Guysborough areas, but this is very questionable. They would be an average of about 25 years old, and enlist for terms from 1 to 4 years. Enrolling at Boston and NY, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Baltimore, Hartford, Main Masachussetts and even Chicago.

Canadian military experts all know the names of Smokey Smith and William Hall, but I suspect few also know the name of Joseph Benjamin Noil. He was one of the 11.5 THOUSAND above mentioned who had to serve. Yet his name is pretty much unknown in Nova Scotia, and Canada, ... where he was born.

But in the United States, if he walked into the White House, it would be customary for the President to salute him.

Records are difficult to obtain, but it is suspected that Noil was born about 1841 at Nova Scotia's Halifax, Liverpool or possibly the Annapolis Valley. He served during the later part of the Civil War and continued for many years thereafter in the US Navy.

It would be on December 26 1872, whilst at Norfolk Virgina that Noil, heard the screams of a shipmate whom had fallen overboard. Grabbing a rope he dove in to try and rescue the fellow. He was pulled under at least two times and when a third sailor jumped in to assist both were able to save the man. His commanders would later say that man would have surely died if it not for their bravery. The following day he was nominated for a Medal of Honor.

His ship, the USS Powhattan, is shown above and was a flag ship for Admirals on several occasions throughout its life. It was an ocean going double sided paddle wheeling steam frigate, that could also use sail.

About 100 years later the navy used several heroes depicted on poster for recruiting drives. Canadian Noil was one of these heroes, as shown here. He was a black man, and while several notes suggest there were three different Canadian Blacks earning the MOH, Noil actually is the only black recipient.

Here is his citation back in the 1870's...

Note that the recommendation was supported by the flag officer, a Rear Admiral, and forwarded to the Secretary of the Navy who also approved it, then it went presumably to the Secretary of War and finally the President before being approved.

Joseph Noil served many more years with the navy and when finally taken ill was sent to the military hospital at DC. He died there in 1882 and was laid to rest with thousands of others in a large cemetery complex on the grounds of the St Elizabeth's Hospital.

For unknown reasons his name was spelled NOEL in error. He thus laid at rest for over the century. A few years back the incredible expertise of a fellow member of the US Medal of Honor Historical Society (Don Morfe) discovered what he thought was Noil's grave. Further work from very supported staff at the hospital/cemetery, the federal government and the Chicora Foundation, (a cemetery survey firm,) all helped to put the pieces of the puzzle together and confirmed that the marker on site was Noil's, though misspelled and lacking any notification that he was a MOH recipient. I added some background info to the cause.

Many delays have complicated the move to have a new proper MOH marker mounted on site over the past few years. But that is now changing.

Just a few weeks back I received confirmation that a stone was now on site and awaiting plans for a ceremony and unveiling at DC. Here is an image of the stone to be mounted...

I will be contacting officials at Ottawa, Nova Scotia and at the embassy at Washington to advise each with the hopes that they will participate if any ceremony is arranged.

Stay tuned, and I will advise when more is learned on this.

Bart

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More American honours for Signalman First Class Douglas Munro

12/6/2015

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I left off a few days ago telling you about how the United States navy honored the Coast Guard's Douglas Munro from British Columbia, with the 1944 naming off the Destroyer escort USS Douglas A Munro. A vessel that was sponsored by Doug's mother, Edith who was serving as a Coast Guard Lt. Jnr. Grade in the SPARs.

The Coast Guard motto is Semper Paratus, the English translation being... Always Ready. Thus... the SPAR nickname! And while Edith joined it in early 1943, it was very new at the time, having just being created by the President in November of 42... and less than 2 months after Douglas was killed in action at Guadalcanal.

For the past 70 years and more the Navy, the Marines, the US Coast Guard, politicians, and veterans, the US Post, and people from many other walks of life in the United States have repeatedly given praise to Douglas for his actions back in 1942.

There is a road, a boulevard and an avenue honoring Douglas. There are plaques, monuments and statutes, buildings and a massive complex in his name. There are videos, some on utube, songs and poems, and even a 1959 Classic Illustrated comic book telling this important military story of heroism. And now there's a book on him. In 2000 the US Navy League created an Inspirational Leadership Award in his name. Not to be outdone, the Coast Guard's Foundation also have Munro scholarship program.

Seen above is the 2nd of several homes of the American Legion's post # 356 named in honor of Douglas. It is located at Lynn Haven Florida. There is also a Veterans of Foreign War Post (#1373) named for Douglas at Cle Elum Washington, his home for many years and where he lies (with other members of the family including Edith) at rest today at the Laurel Hill Memorial Park. I understand his grave has not only been declared a state historic site but also an officially declared detachment of the US Coast Guard.

Over 40,000 members of the public and military annually tour through the US Coast Guard Training Center Cape May in New Jersey. Many no doubt visit the statue of Douglas and give thoughts to the days of horror at Guadalcanal. In the immediate future there are hopes that over 1,400 names of Guardsman who lost their lives in performance of duty will have their names emblazoned on a memorial to be funded by the enlisted men's and women's guard foundation on this very site. A most worthwhile project. They and their mates going back to day one have rescued, and documented, the saving of OVER ONE MILLION lives.

I am told that Munro's signal shown above means to basically disregard the last message sent. Also at Cape May stands an administration building named after Douglas, and within this is yet another memorial which including the above picture and actual citation for his Medal of Honor.

On 27 September 1971 construction began of this very powerful looking high endurance Coast Guard cutter. The building yard had produced five previously of the same design and all were named in honour of Secretaries of the Treasury. But on this day, 29 years to the day that Douglas Munro was killed in action, his name was memorialized by this ship's carrying his name.

It is 378 ft. long, and is home for a normal crew of about 15 officers and 150 men and women. It is still a force to reckon with almost 45 years of commendable service and calls Alaska its current home.

Thousands of American ships have been named in honour of sailor and marine heroes over the years. I know of almost a dozen warships that honor Canadians.

On 5 January 2011 Coast Guard Admiral Christopher Colvin, retired MOH recipient Major Drew Dix, MOH recipient ?, MOH recipient retired Lt.Colonel Jay Vargas Ships Captain Mathew Bell and another dignitary attended a most formal event on board the Cutter Douglas Munro at its home base at Kodiac Alaska.

The Congressional Medal of Honor Society and Tri West Healthcare Alliance co-sponsored the creation and unveiling of an actual bust to Douglas, and at the ceremony above an actual Medal of Honor was placed around Douglas' neck.

A very moving u tube video of the event can be seen at... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zgafa8T4EXQ

Two other great videos on Douglas can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vdtM83f-aY and at .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj0lzdDwAE0

The gift coin set honouring Douglas was produced in limited quantities by the Coast Guard Foundation with funds going towards scholarship programs for qualifying Coast Guard family members. Noted in a previous blog, I was told at the time that my purchase was the only one in Canada. Hopefully more have come north since then.

In July of 2013 this space brought you a blog about the massive new Headquarters building for the US Coast Guard, (shown at right,) at Washington DC, and how they had received permission from Congress to name it in honour of Munro.

Below this is an image of Medal of Honor recipient Barney Barnum, a past President of the MOH Foundation, and the Coast Guard's Admiral Papp, the Commandant of the Guard. Between them at the HQ stands a 2nd bust of Douglas, this one at twice the life size of our hero.

While there are several other memorials that space precludes mention today, I must end with this...

This is a twin of what's to come... #755... and like this one..is 418 ft. long, some 4500 tones, and will carry a crew of about 110. And it was sponsored mid November and expected to be in service within about a year.

Above and standing below the bow of the Navy's Destroyer Escort Douglas A Munro is Edith Munro. She is christening the naval ship back in 1944.

At her right, and above is her Great Grand Daughter... Julie Sheehan. She too was honoured to be sponsoring another war vessel. This time a Coast Guard vessel... #755, and guess what...this one is also named after Douglas Munro, at the very time when its first one is still on duty in Alaska.

I will be returning to the Munro story as the months go on. In the mean time I would plead with you to please go to the three links given above to get further information on this Canadian born US raised hero.

Having covered many of the memorials in the US to Douglas, I would love to hear from you and your thoughts for a recognition... or many within our own country to this man and the 100 or more others covered in this space that donned the US uniform and were later awarded the Medal of Honor.

I am currently leaning towards a statue in the Vancouver area, but more on that at a later date.

Cheers till next Sunday when I will bring another major update on another hero often covered in this space.

Bart

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Wow! That break was the longest few weeks this blog has ever seen! And I'm back with a story I believe the Canadian press has yet to tell you, once again. Next week I will bring yet another scoop probably under the same circumstances.

12/4/2015

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Over the past few months I have been trying to deal with on-going health issues. In the midst of this I have had to cope with a long and drawn out move. Throw in a condominium building under major remediation, much of my living space being almost a construction site in itself, and a major computer melt-down and you can see that focus on this blog's requirements for serious research and writing has had to take a back burner.

That being said, much of the above has been somewhat lightened of late, and it is time to get back, perhaps not in a full swing, but getting back just the same. So here we are again. I've missed bringing you these blogs, and the feedback coming my way tells me many of you have missed the stories as well. So I hope today's meets with your approval. It's a long one!

The story has been well told in the United States. But not so here in Canada. It involves the senior military service, both here and south of the border. It's the navy of course. Well sort of! Actually the Marines in this case. About 500 of them. And the United States Coast Guard. Only a handful of them, but what a handful... and what a leader!

Signalman First Class Douglas Munro was that leader, and today his name is revered by everyone wearing a US Marine or US Coast Guard uniform, and most of those going before them, dating back to September 27 1942. In fact so revered, that the boot camps for both organizations for decades have made the Munro heroism part of the history that is required learning for every recruit.

Many stories have appeared in this space about Douglas, who was born in Vancouver BC. (Please use the search engine on this site to read some of these.)

The story began back during the 2nd battle of Matanikau, which was part of the Guadalcanal campaign of September 1942. It would be here that a Marine Lt. Colonel decided to move three companies of men along the coast line to a position where they could advance and push back the Japanese line... so he thought.

He turned to the US Coast Guard on site to help land some 500 marines. The CG called for volunteers and Douglas Munro stepped forward as did a handful of others and soon over a dozen small craft landed the men at the beach head. But within a few hours the men were taking heavy mortar and machine gun fire. The call then went out for a Coast Guard rescue. Munro and team raced back. But this time they were under incredible heavy fire.

Worse yet, the Guard weapons were of little match to the enemy's. And the boats like Munro's were of wooden hull. His had two air cooled machine guns but again little to counter the enemy strength and weaponry.

In very short order about 25 wounded and another 475 Marines were extracted. But the last boat had run up on the beach and could not extract itself. Munro then went in with another small craft to help the beached craft.

But as this was going on the enemy set up a MG pit in very close range with the last craft as their target. Munro then shielded his mates from the enemy by placing his own boat between the two. In doing so his craft took many hits and wounds and he received a direct hit to the scull which knocked him unconscious. When it finally returned to safe lines, he awoke just long enough to ask if all the marines got off alive. He was told they did, he then smiled... and died on the spot. It was just 2 weeks before his 23rd birthday.

One of the 500 saved was the Lt Colonel above mention. His name was "Chesty Puller" and in the years to come, would reach the rank of Lt. General and become the US Marine Corps' most decorated soldier. Had it not been for Douglas and a handful of others in the United States Coast Guard, the general may have never made it to full Colonel, or even stepped off the Solomon Island again.

Many times before, and after Douglas's bravery, the Coast Guard had..and to this day continues to save lives. Recent stats tell us that in an average year they conduct almost 20,000 search and rescue missions, and in those over 3,500 lives are being saved.

Douglas Munro's Medal of Honor was the first, and to this day, the only Medal of Honor awarded to a serving US Coast Guard member. (I say serving because, as recently noted in this space, "Snake" Hosking Jr. was a former Guardsmen, but later earned the MOH while serving in the army.)

Quite an honour indeed for both men... and about 2,000 other Guardsmen who have been awarded heroic decorations of varying grades over the Guard's 225 year history. Massive when you think they are the smallest of the country's military services. Yet the oldest!

Note also that during WWll the Coast Guard manned over 350 ships and hundreds more assault craft used for landings and rescues. During these operations they suffered more casualties, percentage wise, than any other branch of the military.

Not sure where the picture was taken, but 22 year old Douglas looks like he is on duty on a vessel and wearing a side arm.

The Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands marine rescue took place West of the Point Cruz tip seen at the top center of the sketch above. The stranded Higgins landing craft would have been to the left of this high point, (as you look at the image.)

On 27 May 1943 James and Edith Munro arrived at the White House to meet with President Franklin D Roosevelt. Edith was presented with a posthumous Medal of Honor on behalf of son Douglas's bravery. Her husband James looks on in this newspaper clipping. The day was exactly 8 months after Munro lost his life at Guadalcanal.

That very day Edith was so proud of the US Coast Guard and the way they had respected the sacrifice the family had made, that she enrolled in the Coast Guard women's reserve with a commission as a Lieutenant, Jnr. Grade. Shown above in uniform, she would served in various arenas across the US over the next few years and then retired from the service, which itself was de-activated just 2 years after close of the war.

The US Coast Guard has come a long way since its birth on 4 August 1790. The 10 vessels used to help curtail the marine smuggling, were authorized at law by George Washington himself.

Between 4 June 1989 and 4 August 1990 the Guard celebrated its bicentennial. To help with this they commissioned the official painting seen above by artist Bernard D'Andrea. And it of course depicts the bravery of the Coast Guard, and Douglas's crew at Guadalcanal.

Since Civil War days and perhaps earlier, the United States Navy has named well over 1,000 war ships after statesmen, politicians and government officials. And plenty also for their army, navy, marine and coast guard war heroes. As it should be!

This powerful navy destroyer escort was launched back in 1944. It was just over 300 ft. long and had an officer crew of 14 and 201 enlisted men. She would begin her career as an Admiral's flag ship, would provide over 16 years of most honorable service and even be awarded three Battle Stars for meritorious participation at battle.

The navy kept Douglas Munro's story alive by naming the vessel... the USS Douglas A Munro, and when launched, it would be christened by its sponsor... none other than US CG Lt, Jnr Grade Edith Munro.

A few years after it was de-comishioned, and attached to Mare Island California, it was taken to sea for one last duty... to act as a target for the navy. (Regular readers will hopefully recall past blogs about Mare Island and the possibly burial site for Newfoundland born John Neil, a Civil War navy MOH recipient. Use this site's search engine for a re-read).

Here is the ship's cap badge and shoulder flash.

I had hoped to get many parts of this story in this blog but it is already far too long. I will return on Sunday with more.

Once again my apologies to all for being away so long.

Cheers till Sunday,
Bart

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For 121 years, hero's reward was a grave with no name... just the number 297

The Americans are coming... the Americans are coming !

Yet again some good news and some bad!

More American honours for Signalman First Class Douglas Munro

Wow! That break was the longest few weeks this blog has ever seen! And I'm back with a story I believe the Canadian press has yet to tell you, once again. Next week I will bring yet another scoop probably under the same circumstances.

Author;
Bart Armstrong, C.D.,
Recipient, Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers

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Categories

For 121 years, hero's reward was a grave with no name... just the number 297

The Americans are coming... the Americans are coming !

Yet again some good news and some bad!

More American honours for Signalman First Class Douglas Munro

Wow! That break was the longest few weeks this blog has ever seen! And I'm back with a story I believe the Canadian press has yet to tell you, once again. Next week I will bring yet another scoop probably under the same circumstances.

Author;Bart Armstrong, C.D., Recipient, Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers

Archives

Categories

Author;
Bart Armstrong, C.D.,
Recipient, Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers