WASHINGTON — The Coast Guard designated its new headquarters building on the West campus of St. Elizabeths the Douglas A. Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Building in a ceremony held here Wednesday.
Munro was engrained in the fabric of Coast Guard history for actions that earned him the Medal of Honor. As a signalman first class during the battle of Guadalcanal in September 1942, he volunteered to lead a detachment of landing craft attempting to evacuate nearly 500 Marines pinned on the beach under heavy fire. All were evacuated but the Marines who had stayed back to cover the withdrawal. Munro positioned his landing craft between the Marines and enemy guns to lay covering fire allowing the last of them to get off the beach. He was killed in the effort.
A bust of Douglas A. Munro – created by John Tuomisto-Bell and sculpted and molded by Tyson Snow – was unveiled at the dedication ceremon November 13, 2013. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Patrick Kelley
“Petty Officer 1st Class Munro’s selfless service and sacrifice epitomizes our core values of honor, respect and devotion to duty. His enduring legacy has, and will always continue to, shape future generations of Coast Guardsmen,” said Adm. Bob Papp Jr., Coast Guard commandant. “We are honoring that contribution to our service by dedicating this building to him.”
In attendance at the naming ceremony were retired Coast Guard Reserve commander Doug Sheehan, family friend of Munro; Raphael Borras, Department of Homeland Security, acting deputy secretary; and U.S. Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton.
The Coast Guard began transitioning from their previous headquarters at Buzzard Point to the historic St. Elizabeths Hospital site in August and completed the move in November. The state-of-the-art, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified facility is part of a consolidated Department of Homeland Security campus plan to be phased in over the next several years.
