Douglas Albert Munro
Douglas A. Munro, Signalman First Class, U.S. Coast Guard, of Cle Elum, Washington, died heroically on Guadalcanal, September 27, 1942. He volunteered and successfully led five Higgins boats from the seaplane tender BALLARD to evacuate a detachment of Marines from a point where enemy opposition developed beyond anticipated dimensions. Munro's last words were 'Did they get off?' The Medal of Honor, the country's highest award, was [posthumously] presented to Munro in May 1943 by President Roosevelt at the White House. Accepting the award were his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Munro."
The Douglas Albert Munro Award
Given to those "special few" whose "selfless service, sacrifice and commitment to duty" with and in support of the Honor Guard makes them worthy to receive an award named for a man who paid the "ultimate sacrifice" in serving our country and supporting and defending his fellow shipmates and Americans.
It is men and women like this whom the Auxiliary Honor Guard are privileged and humbled to honor. The below award winner(s) support this noble endeavor in the highest of fashions and are hereby recognized for their superlative efforts.
Award Recipient
2024-------------TBD
2020---2023.....No Award due to the Covid pandemic and Stand-down
2018-2019...... Georgie and Rick Scheuerman
2017............... Commodore Tracy Ray Schultz, Ph.D.
2016............... The Honorable Chester Richard Bartalini
2015............... United States Coast Guard Commander J. Andrew Williamson
2018-2019 Recipients
Presentation of Award Narrative
Thank you to all for being here today. We have made tremendous progress with National regarding our SOP/guidelines/code of ethics and other protocols being considered and adapted as the National Standards. Bravo Zulu to all.
None of this would be possible without the awesome support from our Chain of Leadership, and no one is more important to that chain than our very own Commodore Wally Smith, who was the Auxiliarist of the Year in 2013 and recent Deputy National Commodore.
Our Honor Guard has far to go, and we need to perpetually train and recruit members. So, to quote Winston Churchill, our involvement with National and striving for perfection is not the end, and it is not the beginning of the end, but it may be the end of the beginning on this endless path to improving and representing our great organization and Country.
Today, we are presenting the Douglas Munro Award. It is given to that person whose "selfless service, sacrifice and commitment to duty" with the Honor Guard makes him or her worthy to receive an award named for a man who paid the "ultimate sacrifice" in serving our country and supporting and defending his fellow shipmates and Americans.
Often, we give an award and forget the man for whom it is named. Douglas Munro was a 22-year-old enlisted man who lost his life saving U.S. Marines at the battle of Guadalcanal in World War II and remains the only Coast Guardsman to receive the Medal of Honor. His shipmate that day was Raymond Evans, who was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions. Our very own Commander Williamson, who was the first recipient of the Munro Award, organized and supervised Commander Evan's funeral in 2013.
Admiral Dexter, years later, was asked who was in charge of Evans and Munro's boat, and he responded, "They both were." "In the Coast Guard, we focus on what needs to be done". So, too, does our Honor Guard.
One of the common misperceptions of Douglas Munro sacrificing himself to save others and posthumously receiving the Medal of Honor is that the whole thing is about what happened in a few hours on a single day. The reality is that what occurred would not have been successful without a great deal of training, practice, and preparation.
Preparation, training, and perfect practice do not get much recognition or glory, yet without them, we wouldn’t be who we are. That is worth remembering today and every day.
Another important reason we remember Douglas Munro is that we need to pay attention to our history and take the time to recognize that if you don’t remember where you have been, you can’t really understand where you are going.
Douglas Munro reminds us all daily of why we do what we do.
Voting for this year’s award were all honor members in good standing, DIRAUX, the District Commodore, his Chief of Staff, and the District Public Affairs Officer.
This year we had one non-Honor Guard member who received votes; our distinguished Commodore Wally Smith and six current members.
The person who won this year is the embodiment of the Coast Guard Core Values; Honor, Respect, and Devotion to duty. This person lives and practices our Honor Guard Creed. This person makes commitments. This person makes sacrifices to attend meetings and practices. This person offers support and constructive advice to all members. This person has overcome obstacles and illness to participate and perform. This person is devoted to duty. This person is our friend and a very worthy recipient of this year’s Douglas Munro Award.
This is the fourth year that we are presenting the award. I want to follow the tradition established by Time Magazine and Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year award (when they have multiple winners in one year) by announcing that the person who won this year’s award is actually two people whom we often think as interchangeable yet are invaluable to our team.....this year’s award goes to Georgie and Rick Scheuerman.
None of this would be possible without the awesome support from our Chain of Leadership, and no one is more important to that chain than our very own Commodore Wally Smith, who was the Auxiliarist of the Year in 2013 and recent Deputy National Commodore.
Our Honor Guard has far to go, and we need to perpetually train and recruit members. So, to quote Winston Churchill, our involvement with National and striving for perfection is not the end, and it is not the beginning of the end, but it may be the end of the beginning on this endless path to improving and representing our great organization and Country.
Today, we are presenting the Douglas Munro Award. It is given to that person whose "selfless service, sacrifice and commitment to duty" with the Honor Guard makes him or her worthy to receive an award named for a man who paid the "ultimate sacrifice" in serving our country and supporting and defending his fellow shipmates and Americans.
Often, we give an award and forget the man for whom it is named. Douglas Munro was a 22-year-old enlisted man who lost his life saving U.S. Marines at the battle of Guadalcanal in World War II and remains the only Coast Guardsman to receive the Medal of Honor. His shipmate that day was Raymond Evans, who was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions. Our very own Commander Williamson, who was the first recipient of the Munro Award, organized and supervised Commander Evan's funeral in 2013.
Admiral Dexter, years later, was asked who was in charge of Evans and Munro's boat, and he responded, "They both were." "In the Coast Guard, we focus on what needs to be done". So, too, does our Honor Guard.
One of the common misperceptions of Douglas Munro sacrificing himself to save others and posthumously receiving the Medal of Honor is that the whole thing is about what happened in a few hours on a single day. The reality is that what occurred would not have been successful without a great deal of training, practice, and preparation.
Preparation, training, and perfect practice do not get much recognition or glory, yet without them, we wouldn’t be who we are. That is worth remembering today and every day.
Another important reason we remember Douglas Munro is that we need to pay attention to our history and take the time to recognize that if you don’t remember where you have been, you can’t really understand where you are going.
Douglas Munro reminds us all daily of why we do what we do.
Voting for this year’s award were all honor members in good standing, DIRAUX, the District Commodore, his Chief of Staff, and the District Public Affairs Officer.
This year we had one non-Honor Guard member who received votes; our distinguished Commodore Wally Smith and six current members.
The person who won this year is the embodiment of the Coast Guard Core Values; Honor, Respect, and Devotion to duty. This person lives and practices our Honor Guard Creed. This person makes commitments. This person makes sacrifices to attend meetings and practices. This person offers support and constructive advice to all members. This person has overcome obstacles and illness to participate and perform. This person is devoted to duty. This person is our friend and a very worthy recipient of this year’s Douglas Munro Award.
This is the fourth year that we are presenting the award. I want to follow the tradition established by Time Magazine and Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year award (when they have multiple winners in one year) by announcing that the person who won this year’s award is actually two people whom we often think as interchangeable yet are invaluable to our team.....this year’s award goes to Georgie and Rick Scheuerman.