[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 96 (Monday, July 8, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1023]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  THE INTRODUCTION OF A BILL TO NAME THE U.S. COAST GUARD HEADQUARTERS

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, July 8, 2013

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing a bill, at the 
request of the U.S. Coast Guard, to direct the General Services 
Administration to name the new U.S. Coast Guard headquarters, on the 
St. Elizabeths West Campus, the ``Douglas A. Munro Coast Guard 
Headquarters Building.'' Signalman First Class Douglas Albert Munro is 
the U.S. Coast Guard's only Medal of Honor recipient. Signalman First 
Class Munro died heroically on Point Cruz, Guadalcanal after succeeding 
in his assignment, for which he had volunteered, to evacuate a 
detachment of Marines that had been overwhelmed by the enemy.
  On September 27, 1942, after making preliminary plans for the 
evacuation of nearly 500 beleaguered Marines from Point Cruz, 
Guadalcanal, Signalman First Class Munro, under attack by enemy 
machineguns on the island, led five small boats toward the shore. As he 
closed onto the beach, he signaled the other boats to land. Then, in 
order to draw the enemy's fire from a western attack and protect the 
boat heavily loaded with the Marines, he placed his boat as a shield 
between the beachhead and the enemy. When the evacuation was nearly 
completed, Signalman First Class Munro was killed by enemy fire. Due to 
his outstanding leadership and willingness to sacrifice his own life, 
Signalman First Class Munro and his fellow members of the U.S. Coast 
Guard undoubtedly saved the lives of many service men that otherwise 
would have been killed in the line of duty.
  Signalman First Class Munro was educated at South Cle Elum Grade 
School in Washington state, and graduated from Cle Elum High School in 
1937. He attended Central Washington College of Education for a year 
and left to enlist in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1939. He had an 
outstanding record as an enlisted man and was promoted rapidly through 
the various ratings to a Signalman First Class. In addition to being a 
Medal of Honor recipient, Signalman First Class Munro was also 
posthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal, and was eligible for the 
American Defense Service Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign 
Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.
  The new U.S. Coast Guard headquarters building, which I propose to be 
named for Signalman First Class Douglas A. Munro, will be 1.1 million 
square feet and will house up to 3,700 U.S. Coast Guard employees. The 
U.S. Coast Guard headquarters building represents the first phase of 
the eventual consolidation of 4.5 million square feet of office space 
scattered around the National Capital Region to the West Campus of the 
old St. Elizabeths Hospital, located in the Anacostia neighborhood of 
Washington, D.C. The Department of Homeland Security headquarters 
consolidation construction project marks the first time the federal 
government will locate a federal agency east of the Anacostia River.
  I believe that Signalman First Class Douglas A. Munro's outstanding 
service to his country and his unique status as the only member of the 
U.S. Coast Guard to earn the Medal of Honor ensure that it is 
particularly fitting to name the new U.S. Coast Guard headquarters the 
``Douglas A. Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Building.''

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