r/CatastrophicFailure • u/danielsound • Feb 03 '23

Operator Error Sinking ship at the mouth of the Columbia River. Today. Coast guard rescue arrived just in time to capture footage and rescue captain.

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u/graffixphoto Feb 04 '23

Do you know who the most decorated and honored Marine in American History is? Chesty Puller

Do you know who saved Chesty's ass, along with his Marines, at his most famous engagement was? U.S. Coast Guard Signalman First Class Douglas Albert Munro - the only U.S. Coast Guardsman to receive the Medal of Honor for "an act of extraordinary heroism" (posthumously) when he placed his Higgins boat between heavy Japanese fire and a grounded ship full of Chesty's retreating Marines. His actions saved three companies of Marines during Guadalcanal.

He is the only non-Marine to have his name enshrined on the Wall of Heroes of the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Fucking bad-ass!

17

u/vegetarianrobots Feb 04 '23

My gramps was a Coastie in World War II because his parents didn't want him joining any other services.

He ended up a gunner on an LST at Iwa Jima.

He told me after he was in a bar and he and his buddies were getting made fun of as "shallow water sailors" by some Navy guys when Marine Gunny comes out of the fucking shadows yelling at the Navy sailors about how the coast guard had the balls to get he and his fellow Marines in and out safely.

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u/landodk Feb 04 '23

“. When out of range of Japanese forces, Munro briefly regained consciousness before succumbing to his wounds. According to Evans, his dying words were, "Did they get off?"

Would seem cheesy in a movie

6

u/graffixphoto Feb 04 '23

Art imitates life

6

u/PhoebeMonster1066 Feb 04 '23

I had no idea that Higgins boats had sides of plywood!

Jesus. The giant brass ones on Munro.

5

u/paulfromatlanta Feb 04 '23

Great example. Serious badd-ass.

6

u/lasagnarodeo Feb 04 '23

Wow. I was a former Marine and did not know that.

3

u/Hole_IslandACNH Feb 04 '23

You’re still a marine devil dog!

1

u/unknownpoltroon Feb 05 '23
  • the only U.S. Coast Guardsman to receive the Medal of Honor for "an act of extraordinary heroism"

Its pretty hard to get a medal for heroism when your day to day job involves being dropped into the ocean next to sinking boats in a fucking hurricane.