The coordinates will bring you to the final resting site of Signalman 1/c Douglas Munro. While serving in the USCG, SM1c Munro died heroically on Guadalcanal on 27 September 1942. Having volunteered to evacuate a detachment of Marines who were facing annihilation by an unanticipated large enemy force, he succeeded in safely extricating them and in doing so was mortally wounded. His final words were "Did they all get off," referring to the 500 marines that he saved.
Douglas Albert Munro was born in Vancouver, Canada, of American parents on 11 OCT 1919 but spent his entire life previous to his enlistment in South Cle Elum, Washington. For his heroic and selfless actions in the completion of this rescue mission Munro was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. He was also posthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal. His other decorations included the American Defense Service Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.
While all Coast Guardsman know the story of Douglas A. Munro, as you now do, fewer know that he is not the only one in his family to have served in the Coast Guard. His mother, Edith Munro, served as a LT in the USCG Women's Reserves in WWII. She too is buried at this gravesite. In order to find the final location of the geocache, you must do some simple math with her age.
The final is located at:
47° 11.ABC’ N
120° 57. DEF’ W
To calculate ABC multiply all the digits in both the day and year of her birth together. From this number subtract 1436. To calculate DEF multiply all of the digits in both the day and year of her death. From this resulting number subtract 769.
As always please remember that this is a cemetery. Please pay your respects and take a moment to honor the dead who lie buried here. The cemetery is only open from Dawn til Dusk. Please do not enter the cemetery after hours. The final is not located on Cemetery grounds.