1 00:00:15,356 --> 00:00:20,796 Speaker 1: Pushkin Hello, Hello. Before we get on with our show, 2 00:00:21,076 --> 00:00:23,596 Speaker 1: I want you to know that your Pushkin Plus subscription 3 00:00:23,716 --> 00:00:27,476 Speaker 1: grants you early access to Medal of Honor episodes one 4 00:00:27,516 --> 00:00:30,556 Speaker 1: week before they were released to the public. That's one 5 00:00:30,596 --> 00:00:34,076 Speaker 1: week of exclusive access. If you want to listen to 6 00:00:34,156 --> 00:00:37,836 Speaker 1: more episodes a week before they're widely available, sign up 7 00:00:37,836 --> 00:00:41,956 Speaker 1: for Pushkin Plus on Apple Podcasts or by visiting pushkin 8 00:00:42,316 --> 00:00:50,556 Speaker 1: dot Fm, slash Plus. Now onto the episode. On a 9 00:00:50,596 --> 00:00:54,396 Speaker 1: warm day in spring nineteen forty three, a woman stepped forward, 10 00:00:54,756 --> 00:00:57,676 Speaker 1: raised her right hand and took an oath. She was 11 00:00:57,756 --> 00:01:01,636 Speaker 1: dressed in a neatly tailored uniform, sharp shoulders and insignia 12 00:01:01,716 --> 00:01:05,636 Speaker 1: pinon eche lapel. Her dark hair was carefully curled, her 13 00:01:05,676 --> 00:01:08,716 Speaker 1: mouth a slash of red lipstick. She was in her 14 00:01:08,756 --> 00:01:13,956 Speaker 1: late slim with perfect posture. Her face was lined with grief. 15 00:01:14,916 --> 00:01:17,156 Speaker 1: Just an hour before, she had received the Medal of 16 00:01:17,196 --> 00:01:19,916 Speaker 1: Honor on behalf of her only son. He had been 17 00:01:19,956 --> 00:01:22,916 Speaker 1: a member of the Coast Guard, killed in battle at 18 00:01:22,996 --> 00:01:26,596 Speaker 1: just twenty two years old. It was the middle of wartime, 19 00:01:26,876 --> 00:01:29,516 Speaker 1: so there was no big medal ceremony. She had met 20 00:01:29,516 --> 00:01:33,316 Speaker 1: with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the Oval Office. From 21 00:01:33,316 --> 00:01:37,276 Speaker 1: behind his desk, Fdr had dropped the medal into her 22 00:01:37,356 --> 00:01:42,116 Speaker 1: outstretched hand, and then she traveled three short blocks to 23 00:01:42,156 --> 00:01:45,356 Speaker 1: the headquarters of the United States Coast Guard, where she 24 00:01:45,436 --> 00:01:48,516 Speaker 1: stood and swore an oath to support and defend the 25 00:01:48,596 --> 00:01:53,276 Speaker 1: Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. 26 00:01:54,116 --> 00:01:57,276 Speaker 1: It was the same promise her son had made. He 27 00:01:57,276 --> 00:02:00,356 Speaker 1: had given his life to serve his country. Now his 28 00:02:00,556 --> 00:02:06,276 Speaker 1: mother was entering the fight. I'm Malcolm Gabwell and this 29 00:02:06,396 --> 00:02:09,876 Speaker 1: is Medal of Honor Stories of Courage. The Medal of 30 00:02:09,916 --> 00:02:13,116 Speaker 1: Honor is the highest military decoration in the United States, 31 00:02:13,476 --> 00:02:17,316 Speaker 1: awarded for gallantry and bravery in combat at the risk 32 00:02:17,396 --> 00:02:20,956 Speaker 1: of life, above and beyond the call of duty. Each 33 00:02:21,076 --> 00:02:23,996 Speaker 1: candidate must be approved all the way up the chain 34 00:02:24,036 --> 00:02:27,396 Speaker 1: of command, from the supervisory officer in the field to 35 00:02:27,436 --> 00:02:31,476 Speaker 1: the highest office in our nation. Not just approved by 36 00:02:31,476 --> 00:02:34,116 Speaker 1: the Secretary of Defense, it has to be agreed to 37 00:02:34,676 --> 00:02:38,876 Speaker 1: by the President. This show is about those heroes, what 38 00:02:38,996 --> 00:02:42,116 Speaker 1: they did, what it meant, and what their stories tell 39 00:02:42,196 --> 00:02:46,996 Speaker 1: us about the nature of courage and sacrifice. Today we're 40 00:02:46,996 --> 00:02:50,236 Speaker 1: telling the story of Douglas Monroe. Out of the two 41 00:02:50,276 --> 00:02:53,036 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty thousand members of the United States Coast 42 00:02:53,036 --> 00:02:56,196 Speaker 1: Guard who served in World War II, he was the 43 00:02:56,236 --> 00:03:00,276 Speaker 1: only one awarded a Medal of Honor. In fact, he 44 00:03:00,356 --> 00:03:02,356 Speaker 1: is still the only member of the Coast Guard to 45 00:03:02,396 --> 00:03:06,556 Speaker 1: have gotten the medal because of one simple fact. In 46 00:03:06,636 --> 00:03:10,836 Speaker 1: nineteen forty two, he saved an estimated five hundred marines 47 00:03:10,836 --> 00:03:14,996 Speaker 1: from death on the island of Guadalcanal. And yes, yes, 48 00:03:15,676 --> 00:03:21,836 Speaker 1: you heard that right, five hundred. The story of Doug's 49 00:03:21,876 --> 00:03:24,956 Speaker 1: heroism is told to every man and woman who joins 50 00:03:24,956 --> 00:03:28,836 Speaker 1: the United States Coast Guard. The Coastguard's headquarters are named 51 00:03:28,876 --> 00:03:32,196 Speaker 1: after him. A legend class Cutter ship is too. He's 52 00:03:32,236 --> 00:03:34,796 Speaker 1: the only non marine honored in the Wall of Heroes 53 00:03:35,036 --> 00:03:38,236 Speaker 1: at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, and every 54 00:03:38,316 --> 00:03:41,596 Speaker 1: year for the past five decades, the Navy League has 55 00:03:41,676 --> 00:03:45,996 Speaker 1: given out the Douglas A. Munroe Inspirational Leadership Award to 56 00:03:46,076 --> 00:03:51,076 Speaker 1: the person whose leadership and selflessness reflects the essence of 57 00:03:51,116 --> 00:03:54,796 Speaker 1: who Doug was. And there's a reason that his story 58 00:03:54,836 --> 00:03:57,556 Speaker 1: resonates so deeply. It's about more than what he did 59 00:03:57,596 --> 00:04:01,436 Speaker 1: that day in Guadalcanal. Usually, the Medal of Honor celebrates 60 00:04:01,436 --> 00:04:04,436 Speaker 1: a particular kind of leader. The lone man out on 61 00:04:04,476 --> 00:04:07,836 Speaker 1: the front lines. In this episode, I want to think 62 00:04:07,836 --> 00:04:11,156 Speaker 1: about a different kind of leader ship, a quieter kind, 63 00:04:11,396 --> 00:04:14,516 Speaker 1: one that isn't built on enforcing a hierarchy, but on 64 00:04:14,596 --> 00:04:18,676 Speaker 1: the opposite service to others and a depth of connection 65 00:04:19,476 --> 00:04:31,596 Speaker 1: that lasts for decades. The day after the attack on 66 00:04:31,636 --> 00:04:34,116 Speaker 1: Pearl Harbor, Fdr adjusts. 67 00:04:33,836 --> 00:04:40,036 Speaker 2: Congress December nineteen forty one, a date which will live 68 00:04:40,396 --> 00:04:44,996 Speaker 2: in infamy. The United States of America was suddenly and 69 00:04:45,076 --> 00:04:49,876 Speaker 2: deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire 70 00:04:50,316 --> 00:04:50,876 Speaker 2: of Japan. 71 00:04:52,036 --> 00:04:55,836 Speaker 1: Japan had launched attacks on Hong Kong, the Philippines, Guam, 72 00:04:56,156 --> 00:04:57,836 Speaker 1: Wake Island, and Midway. 73 00:04:58,476 --> 00:04:59,196 Speaker 3: It was war. 74 00:05:00,356 --> 00:05:03,916 Speaker 2: As Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, I 75 00:05:03,956 --> 00:05:07,716 Speaker 2: have directed that all measures be taken for our defense, 76 00:05:08,636 --> 00:05:13,196 Speaker 2: no no matter how long it may take us overcome 77 00:05:13,356 --> 00:05:18,916 Speaker 2: this premeditated invasion. The American people, in their righteous might, 78 00:05:19,716 --> 00:05:22,756 Speaker 2: will win through to absolute picture. 79 00:05:25,116 --> 00:05:27,676 Speaker 1: All this at the stage for the conflict Doug Monroe 80 00:05:27,716 --> 00:05:31,716 Speaker 1: would find himself in Right away. The military focused on 81 00:05:31,756 --> 00:05:35,116 Speaker 1: the Pacific Ocean. It was a race between the Japanese 82 00:05:35,196 --> 00:05:39,556 Speaker 1: forces and the Allies to dominate strategic South Pacific islands. 83 00:05:39,996 --> 00:05:44,276 Speaker 1: Because whoever controlled those would control the supplying communications lines 84 00:05:44,396 --> 00:05:48,356 Speaker 1: between the US and our allies in Australia. One of 85 00:05:48,436 --> 00:05:52,236 Speaker 1: America's first targets was the Solomon Islands, a tiny chain 86 00:05:52,516 --> 00:05:56,156 Speaker 1: one thousand miles east of Papua New Guinea, in particular 87 00:05:56,476 --> 00:06:00,716 Speaker 1: a small airfield on the biggest of those islands, Guadalcanal. 88 00:06:01,156 --> 00:06:05,156 Speaker 4: All the forces that controlled Guadalcanal command the approaches to Australia, 89 00:06:05,796 --> 00:06:09,396 Speaker 4: all mastery of the skies over the vitally important Solomon Islands. 90 00:06:10,876 --> 00:06:14,396 Speaker 1: Japanese troops were already there, gaining a stronger foothold by 91 00:06:14,436 --> 00:06:18,636 Speaker 1: the day the Americans had to stop their progress. In 92 00:06:18,676 --> 00:06:21,636 Speaker 1: the early hours of August seventh, nineteen forty two, a 93 00:06:21,716 --> 00:06:25,236 Speaker 1: fleet of more than fifty U S. Navy warships silently 94 00:06:25,316 --> 00:06:29,116 Speaker 1: converged on the Solomon Islands. As the sun rose, Allied 95 00:06:29,156 --> 00:06:33,476 Speaker 1: planes bombed the enemy, then Marines stormed ashore. Within a 96 00:06:33,516 --> 00:06:37,436 Speaker 1: couple of days, the smaller islands were under Allied control, 97 00:06:38,276 --> 00:06:42,556 Speaker 1: but not cordicanal. The Allies secured the airfield, but the 98 00:06:42,636 --> 00:06:47,756 Speaker 1: enemy soldiers just regrouped, moving back further inland. Japanese aircraft 99 00:06:47,956 --> 00:06:51,676 Speaker 1: tangled with Navy flyers overhead, dropping bombs on battleships and 100 00:06:51,756 --> 00:06:56,036 Speaker 1: transport boats. The US was losing valuable planes and warships, 101 00:06:56,316 --> 00:06:59,876 Speaker 1: so the Naval Aircraft Carrier Fleet decided to withdraw from 102 00:06:59,916 --> 00:07:03,396 Speaker 1: the battle days before they were supposed to. With no 103 00:07:03,476 --> 00:07:08,716 Speaker 1: air cover, the remaining ships were dangerously exposed bombed constantly, 104 00:07:09,596 --> 00:07:12,476 Speaker 1: so the rest of the battleships had no choice but 105 00:07:12,556 --> 00:07:16,716 Speaker 1: to retreat to safety as well. Here's the thing, the 106 00:07:16,756 --> 00:07:21,516 Speaker 1: Solomon Islands campaign was a logistical nightmare, thousands of miles 107 00:07:21,516 --> 00:07:25,436 Speaker 1: away from Allied land. When the battleships retreated, they left 108 00:07:25,476 --> 00:07:30,996 Speaker 1: so fast they took half the supplies for Guadalcanal with them, food, medicine, equipment, 109 00:07:31,276 --> 00:07:35,756 Speaker 1: the works. The remaining troops were essentially stranded. They were 110 00:07:35,796 --> 00:07:37,596 Speaker 1: going to have to make do with what little they 111 00:07:37,676 --> 00:07:43,476 Speaker 1: had for weeks. The military planners had optimistically named the 112 00:07:43,476 --> 00:07:48,556 Speaker 1: Solomon Islands invasion Operation Watchtower, but as the Marines started 113 00:07:48,596 --> 00:07:53,036 Speaker 1: scavenging for gear and food, they renamed it Operation Shoe String. 114 00:07:53,916 --> 00:07:57,756 Speaker 1: It would prove to be one of the trickiest, most disorganized, 115 00:07:58,276 --> 00:08:02,316 Speaker 1: and most lethal battlegrounds of the entire war. The Allied 116 00:08:02,356 --> 00:08:06,036 Speaker 1: forces on Guadalcanal came down with danngy fever, and dysentery. 117 00:08:06,476 --> 00:08:10,516 Speaker 1: They were clouds of malaria bearing mosquitoes, and most crucially, 118 00:08:10,796 --> 00:08:14,756 Speaker 1: they faced an enemy whose home country was much much closer, 119 00:08:15,436 --> 00:08:19,836 Speaker 1: which meant that the Japanese were constantly getting fresh troops. 120 00:08:20,436 --> 00:08:23,396 Speaker 1: If the US couldn't hold its operation together on a 121 00:08:23,476 --> 00:08:28,476 Speaker 1: logistical level, there was no chance of victory. And at Guadalcanal, 122 00:08:28,836 --> 00:08:32,836 Speaker 1: responsibility for the most important logistical question of all moving 123 00:08:32,876 --> 00:08:36,516 Speaker 1: men into battle fell to the Coast Guard, and one 124 00:08:36,556 --> 00:08:39,956 Speaker 1: man in particular, the only member of the Coast Guard 125 00:08:40,236 --> 00:08:48,396 Speaker 1: ever to win a Medal of honor, Douglas Monroe. Doug 126 00:08:48,476 --> 00:08:51,396 Speaker 1: Monroe was born in nineteen nineteen and grew up in 127 00:08:51,436 --> 00:08:55,316 Speaker 1: the little town of South clay Ellam, Washington. He did 128 00:08:55,316 --> 00:08:59,236 Speaker 1: all the usual all American kid stuff, boy scout, basketball, 129 00:08:59,596 --> 00:09:02,796 Speaker 1: trific dancer, a skinny kid would, slick back hair, and 130 00:09:02,836 --> 00:09:05,956 Speaker 1: a big devilish grin. But he was maybe best known 131 00:09:05,996 --> 00:09:10,916 Speaker 1: for one thing. His friendships had super close pals, and 132 00:09:10,956 --> 00:09:15,676 Speaker 1: that gift for connection extended to a deep sense of community. 133 00:09:15,796 --> 00:09:18,036 Speaker 1: He was in the Bugle Corps, and he volunteered to 134 00:09:18,076 --> 00:09:21,116 Speaker 1: play tops at the South clay Elham Cemetery to honor 135 00:09:21,156 --> 00:09:25,436 Speaker 1: local veterans. His oldest sister Patricia remembers it well. 136 00:09:25,956 --> 00:09:28,916 Speaker 5: And he used to go out up at the cemetery 137 00:09:28,996 --> 00:09:31,476 Speaker 5: on Veterans Day and he would go way out in 138 00:09:31,476 --> 00:09:33,796 Speaker 5: the woods and he would play the echo on the 139 00:09:33,836 --> 00:09:37,556 Speaker 5: bugle to taps, and he said he used to enjoy 140 00:09:37,596 --> 00:09:38,716 Speaker 5: doing that for the vets. 141 00:09:40,076 --> 00:09:43,996 Speaker 1: This to me is a quintessential Doug story. He's doing 142 00:09:44,036 --> 00:09:47,316 Speaker 1: something out of a sense of duty and obligation for 143 00:09:47,356 --> 00:09:50,796 Speaker 1: a group of people, but they can't even see him. 144 00:09:51,076 --> 00:09:55,556 Speaker 1: It's not about the recognition. This was during the Great Depression, remember, 145 00:09:55,676 --> 00:09:57,956 Speaker 1: and the little town of South clay Elam was hit hard. 146 00:09:58,636 --> 00:10:01,556 Speaker 1: So Doug recruited one of his best buddies, Mike Cooley, 147 00:10:01,916 --> 00:10:04,396 Speaker 1: to gather and split forward and deliver it to people 148 00:10:04,476 --> 00:10:07,956 Speaker 1: who couldn't afford it. Then he watched as the war 149 00:10:08,036 --> 00:10:10,956 Speaker 1: began in Europe. He already had the instinct to serve 150 00:10:10,996 --> 00:10:14,516 Speaker 1: his country. His mom, Edith, came from a military family. 151 00:10:14,956 --> 00:10:16,756 Speaker 1: One of her brothers had fought in World War One 152 00:10:17,076 --> 00:10:20,196 Speaker 1: and served for years as lieutenant colonel in the Canadian Army, 153 00:10:21,036 --> 00:10:24,396 Speaker 1: but the idea of her son willingly enlisting came as 154 00:10:24,396 --> 00:10:28,196 Speaker 1: a rather unwelcome surprise when Doug mentioned it one night 155 00:10:28,236 --> 00:10:31,356 Speaker 1: at dinner, she dropped her fork under her plate. He 156 00:10:31,436 --> 00:10:34,836 Speaker 1: knew enough to change the subject, but Doug was undeterred. 157 00:10:35,436 --> 00:10:37,436 Speaker 1: The only question to him was which arm of the 158 00:10:37,436 --> 00:10:38,316 Speaker 1: military to join. 159 00:10:38,956 --> 00:10:41,516 Speaker 6: So he had pals and various branches of the service 160 00:10:41,556 --> 00:10:44,836 Speaker 6: who wanted him to come with them, and he checked 161 00:10:44,836 --> 00:10:46,156 Speaker 6: it all out, and he said he was going to 162 00:10:46,196 --> 00:10:49,476 Speaker 6: join the Coast Guard because he said they saved. 163 00:10:49,156 --> 00:10:54,516 Speaker 1: Lives, saving not taking lives. That's what Doug believed in, 164 00:10:54,996 --> 00:10:57,116 Speaker 1: and that's what the Coast Guard had been doing since 165 00:10:57,196 --> 00:11:01,476 Speaker 1: nineteen fifteen. It was and still is the smallest of 166 00:11:01,516 --> 00:11:05,156 Speaker 1: the armed forces, a nimble force focused on marine's safety, 167 00:11:05,676 --> 00:11:09,356 Speaker 1: search and rescue, maritime law enforcement. If the name Tavy 168 00:11:09,516 --> 00:11:13,796 Speaker 1: ruled the seas, the Coast Guard protected them. Doug joined up, 169 00:11:14,156 --> 00:11:17,276 Speaker 1: and so did a young man named Ray Evans his Ray. 170 00:11:18,276 --> 00:11:20,676 Speaker 7: They called me back in September and said are you 171 00:11:20,756 --> 00:11:24,196 Speaker 7: still interested? We've got seven openings, and I said, yes, 172 00:11:24,276 --> 00:11:28,236 Speaker 7: I am. When I got to the Federal Building on 173 00:11:28,396 --> 00:11:32,716 Speaker 7: September eighteenth, Doug Monroe was there and that's how it started. 174 00:11:33,756 --> 00:11:37,036 Speaker 1: That's how it started. Doug met Ray, the man who 175 00:11:37,076 --> 00:11:39,436 Speaker 1: would be his best friend and the person who would 176 00:11:39,476 --> 00:11:41,636 Speaker 1: be in the boat with him the day he saved 177 00:11:41,636 --> 00:11:45,756 Speaker 1: those five hundred marines. We'll get to that after the break. 178 00:11:53,796 --> 00:11:57,076 Speaker 1: Just before his twentieth birthday, Doug Monroe joined the Coast 179 00:11:57,076 --> 00:12:00,396 Speaker 1: Guard and met Ray Evans. He and Ray were inseparable. 180 00:12:00,836 --> 00:12:03,596 Speaker 1: They were so close that everyone referred to them as 181 00:12:03,596 --> 00:12:04,756 Speaker 1: the gold Dust Twins. 182 00:12:05,476 --> 00:12:08,556 Speaker 7: In those days, the soap was called a gold Dust Twins, 183 00:12:08,596 --> 00:12:11,796 Speaker 7: you know, and the twins on the label, and that's 184 00:12:11,836 --> 00:12:14,756 Speaker 7: what they called us. And many times couldn't tell us 185 00:12:14,756 --> 00:12:16,756 Speaker 7: a part. I mean, it didn't look alike, but they 186 00:12:16,796 --> 00:12:17,836 Speaker 7: wouldn't mix us up. 187 00:12:18,756 --> 00:12:22,716 Speaker 1: The US, meanwhile, was inching ever closer to war. In 188 00:12:22,796 --> 00:12:26,276 Speaker 1: nineteen forty one, the Navy, preparing for the conflict, tapped 189 00:12:26,316 --> 00:12:29,916 Speaker 1: the Coastguard to train on their best weapon for amphibious warfare, 190 00:12:30,316 --> 00:12:34,276 Speaker 1: Higgins boats. Higgins boats had just been developed as a 191 00:12:34,276 --> 00:12:37,036 Speaker 1: new way to get troops and needed supplies onto beaches 192 00:12:37,316 --> 00:12:38,236 Speaker 1: quickly and nimbly. 193 00:12:39,076 --> 00:12:42,236 Speaker 8: You all know by now the nature of amphibious war, 194 00:12:42,636 --> 00:12:46,956 Speaker 8: a combined land and sea operation against the enemy. Landing 195 00:12:47,076 --> 00:12:50,876 Speaker 8: craft furnished that vital link between sea and shore, between 196 00:12:50,916 --> 00:12:52,556 Speaker 8: the transports and the enemy beach. 197 00:12:53,476 --> 00:12:55,676 Speaker 1: You could run them right up on the sand. They're 198 00:12:55,716 --> 00:12:58,276 Speaker 1: those boats. You see in d Day footage. They could 199 00:12:58,316 --> 00:13:01,276 Speaker 1: hold thirty six fully armed men, with a ramp at 200 00:13:01,276 --> 00:13:03,556 Speaker 1: the front to let the troops off quickly, and two 201 00:13:03,676 --> 00:13:07,276 Speaker 1: machine guns at the rear. The problem was that the 202 00:13:07,356 --> 00:13:10,356 Speaker 1: Navy crews couldn't handle maneuvering the litle Higgins's boats into 203 00:13:10,396 --> 00:13:14,836 Speaker 1: the surf. It just wasn't what they did. Coastguardsmen, however, 204 00:13:15,116 --> 00:13:18,356 Speaker 1: were the most expert small boat handlers in government service, 205 00:13:18,996 --> 00:13:22,156 Speaker 1: so in an amphibious attack, the coast Guard wasn't just 206 00:13:22,356 --> 00:13:24,956 Speaker 1: part of the battle. Without them, there wouldn't have been 207 00:13:24,996 --> 00:13:28,316 Speaker 1: a battle at all. It wasn't the most glamorous role, 208 00:13:28,396 --> 00:13:32,596 Speaker 1: of course, it's all logistics, no glory, But glory wasn't 209 00:13:32,596 --> 00:13:37,196 Speaker 1: what the Coastguard was about. Connection was Doug raised his 210 00:13:37,236 --> 00:13:39,596 Speaker 1: hand to be part of the Higgins boat training. He 211 00:13:39,796 --> 00:13:43,316 Speaker 1: always wanted to be more useful. Ray volunteered as well, 212 00:13:43,676 --> 00:13:46,276 Speaker 1: and according to Ray, Doug wasn't just great at it, 213 00:13:46,876 --> 00:13:52,276 Speaker 1: he was legendary. They called those specialized sailors. Coxin's Coxin 214 00:13:52,596 --> 00:13:55,356 Speaker 1: is spelled like it ought to be pronounced coxway, but 215 00:13:55,436 --> 00:13:58,396 Speaker 1: actually it's an Old English word. Like a lot of 216 00:13:58,436 --> 00:14:01,916 Speaker 1: old English words, It's pronounced in a totally nutty way 217 00:14:02,636 --> 00:14:03,796 Speaker 1: like Worcestershire sauce. 218 00:14:03,996 --> 00:14:04,516 Speaker 3: Look it up. 219 00:14:04,876 --> 00:14:09,636 Speaker 1: Is that how you thought Worcestershire is spelled anyway? Coxon 220 00:14:09,916 --> 00:14:14,196 Speaker 1: has an old English definition. It means literally boat servant, 221 00:14:14,796 --> 00:14:18,196 Speaker 1: and that makes sense. A coxon is the person who 222 00:14:18,236 --> 00:14:21,276 Speaker 1: steers the boat and is responsible for taking care of 223 00:14:21,316 --> 00:14:24,316 Speaker 1: everyone on the boat. It's a mix of two things, 224 00:14:24,636 --> 00:14:28,036 Speaker 1: a leader and a servant. These days, if you're in 225 00:14:28,076 --> 00:14:31,636 Speaker 1: the business world, you've probably heard it called servant leadership. 226 00:14:32,396 --> 00:14:35,196 Speaker 1: But if you were in the Coastguard world, it didn't 227 00:14:35,196 --> 00:14:37,756 Speaker 1: come with all the business branding. It was just something 228 00:14:37,796 --> 00:14:41,956 Speaker 1: that you did. I mean, here's Admiral Linda Fagen, commandant 229 00:14:42,036 --> 00:14:43,116 Speaker 1: of the US Coast Guard. 230 00:14:44,036 --> 00:14:49,756 Speaker 9: I define leadership as showing up as confidence leavened with humility, 231 00:14:50,436 --> 00:14:55,156 Speaker 9: and creating the environment where others can succeed and eliminating 232 00:14:55,156 --> 00:14:56,556 Speaker 9: any barriers to their success. 233 00:14:57,636 --> 00:15:00,676 Speaker 1: Linda Fagan is just a badass, the first woman to 234 00:15:00,756 --> 00:15:03,996 Speaker 1: lead the Coastguard. But she's not talking about barking orders 235 00:15:04,156 --> 00:15:07,276 Speaker 1: and basking in the glory. She's talking about creating an 236 00:15:07,356 --> 00:15:12,036 Speaker 1: environment where leaders so of others and create positive change. 237 00:15:12,516 --> 00:15:16,716 Speaker 1: That's the Coastguard in a nutshell, protecting people and in 238 00:15:16,796 --> 00:15:20,356 Speaker 1: doing so, making connections that become part of a lasting, 239 00:15:20,756 --> 00:15:22,076 Speaker 1: long reaching chain. 240 00:15:22,196 --> 00:15:23,036 Speaker 3: Of good works. 241 00:15:23,796 --> 00:15:26,836 Speaker 1: It's a creed that came naturally to Doug, and he 242 00:15:26,916 --> 00:15:29,836 Speaker 1: was about to have to put it to test. At Guadalcanal. 243 00:15:35,996 --> 00:15:39,396 Speaker 1: It was six weeks into the invasion of Guadalcanal. Supplies 244 00:15:39,436 --> 00:15:42,116 Speaker 1: were short and men were surviving on rice and dried 245 00:15:42,156 --> 00:15:46,036 Speaker 1: fish the Japanese troops had left behind. There were torrential rains, 246 00:15:46,596 --> 00:15:51,196 Speaker 1: swarms of black flies and mosquitoes, leeches and scorpions, crocodiles. 247 00:15:52,036 --> 00:15:55,876 Speaker 1: Doug Monro's friend Ray Evans remembers exactly how bad it was. 248 00:15:56,836 --> 00:15:59,716 Speaker 7: He ended up with malaria, and there was a lot 249 00:15:59,756 --> 00:16:04,276 Speaker 7: of dysentery and dangy fever. And it's jungle, you know. 250 00:16:05,396 --> 00:16:08,636 Speaker 7: It was a mean place. It was a mean place. 251 00:16:09,796 --> 00:16:12,876 Speaker 1: The gold Dust twins both had malaria, but it didn't 252 00:16:12,876 --> 00:16:15,676 Speaker 1: seem to slow them down. They built themselves a little 253 00:16:15,676 --> 00:16:18,716 Speaker 1: house out of scrap materials and packing boxes, one of 254 00:16:18,756 --> 00:16:21,236 Speaker 1: the only houses on the base with actual screens in 255 00:16:21,276 --> 00:16:25,476 Speaker 1: the windows. Doug was in charge of Guadalcanal's contingent of 256 00:16:25,516 --> 00:16:29,076 Speaker 1: Higgins boats and was the go to person whenever anyone 257 00:16:29,116 --> 00:16:32,796 Speaker 1: had questioned about them. The Marines loved him, how skilled 258 00:16:32,796 --> 00:16:36,556 Speaker 1: he was, how seriously he took the responsibility of protecting them. 259 00:16:37,196 --> 00:16:40,036 Speaker 1: Everyone trusted him as a leader, despite the fact that 260 00:16:40,116 --> 00:16:42,676 Speaker 1: he was only twenty two. But it was clear that 261 00:16:42,756 --> 00:16:46,116 Speaker 1: things on Guadalcanal couldn't keep going the way they were going. 262 00:16:46,836 --> 00:16:50,036 Speaker 1: The Allies worried that the Japanese forces might eventually get 263 00:16:50,036 --> 00:16:52,756 Speaker 1: strong enough to run them off the island, so that the 264 00:16:52,756 --> 00:16:56,516 Speaker 1: commanding officers decided it was time to take decisive action. 265 00:16:57,436 --> 00:17:01,876 Speaker 1: On September twenty seventh, nineteen forty two, the Marines launched 266 00:17:01,876 --> 00:17:05,756 Speaker 1: an attack on enemy held territory along the Metanco River 267 00:17:06,156 --> 00:17:07,796 Speaker 1: at a spot called Point Cruise. 268 00:17:08,476 --> 00:17:12,396 Speaker 7: The next thing I know, commanders telling us that Doug 269 00:17:12,436 --> 00:17:15,156 Speaker 7: and I that they were going to send this battalion. 270 00:17:15,196 --> 00:17:18,076 Speaker 7: I guess it was a battalion of Marines to land 271 00:17:18,236 --> 00:17:19,156 Speaker 7: at Point Cruise. 272 00:17:20,156 --> 00:17:22,996 Speaker 1: The Marines loaded onto the coast guards little Higgins boats 273 00:17:23,276 --> 00:17:26,556 Speaker 1: and they had it out. Things went sideways from the start. 274 00:17:27,116 --> 00:17:29,916 Speaker 1: The troop transports couldn't land where they were supposed to. 275 00:17:30,796 --> 00:17:33,436 Speaker 7: Unfortunately, they were supposed to land at the head of 276 00:17:33,476 --> 00:17:35,756 Speaker 7: the cove, and we found the coral would not allow 277 00:17:35,836 --> 00:17:38,316 Speaker 7: us to do that, so we had to make an 278 00:17:38,356 --> 00:17:40,476 Speaker 7: abrupt right turn and land on the beach. 279 00:17:41,636 --> 00:17:44,676 Speaker 1: The fleet of boats led by Doug dropped the Marines 280 00:17:44,756 --> 00:17:47,676 Speaker 1: and headed back to base. The men who landed were 281 00:17:47,716 --> 00:17:49,636 Speaker 1: supposed to meet up with two other of the groups 282 00:17:49,636 --> 00:17:52,836 Speaker 1: of Marines, the Fifth and the Raiders, but those two 283 00:17:52,836 --> 00:17:55,556 Speaker 1: groups couldn't make it to the meeting point. They had 284 00:17:55,596 --> 00:17:59,516 Speaker 1: been decimated and driven back by Japanese troops. Because here's 285 00:17:59,516 --> 00:18:02,236 Speaker 1: the thing, the Allies had thought there were only roughly 286 00:18:02,316 --> 00:18:05,836 Speaker 1: four hundred enemy soldiers on the whole island, they were 287 00:18:05,836 --> 00:18:10,516 Speaker 1: closer to four thousand. Marines had been dropped into a 288 00:18:10,556 --> 00:18:14,996 Speaker 1: situation that was way worse than they imagined. The Japanese 289 00:18:15,196 --> 00:18:19,076 Speaker 1: had anticipated their arrival and prepared battalions of infantry and 290 00:18:19,116 --> 00:18:24,276 Speaker 1: machine guns on the ridge overlooking their landing site. William Shanahan, 291 00:18:24,476 --> 00:18:26,916 Speaker 1: one of the Marines who was there that day, remembers 292 00:18:26,956 --> 00:18:27,876 Speaker 1: it clearly. 293 00:18:27,916 --> 00:18:32,276 Speaker 10: The Japanese had moved in behind us, between us and 294 00:18:32,356 --> 00:18:37,316 Speaker 10: the beach, so we were effectively trapped there. 295 00:18:38,636 --> 00:18:42,196 Speaker 1: Shots were coming from every corner. Motor shells exploded all 296 00:18:42,236 --> 00:18:45,956 Speaker 1: around them, blasting men through the air. Their leader, Major Rogers, 297 00:18:46,236 --> 00:18:50,036 Speaker 1: was killed instantly, and then a seemingly endless number of 298 00:18:50,116 --> 00:18:54,516 Speaker 1: Japanese soldiers was coming over the hill. Even worse, the 299 00:18:54,596 --> 00:18:57,276 Speaker 1: Marines didn't have any way to call for help. Here's 300 00:18:57,276 --> 00:18:59,836 Speaker 1: another Marine who was there that day, Mac McLeod. 301 00:19:00,396 --> 00:19:05,676 Speaker 4: We didn't bring a radio with us, and we didn't 302 00:19:05,756 --> 00:19:08,156 Speaker 4: know that the Fifth Marines code got across and the 303 00:19:09,396 --> 00:19:12,796 Speaker 4: they couldn't get a cross. So in the fact we 304 00:19:13,116 --> 00:19:17,356 Speaker 4: lay on there and before guard man and everybody without 305 00:19:17,436 --> 00:19:17,956 Speaker 4: any help. 306 00:19:18,836 --> 00:19:22,156 Speaker 1: But the Marines are nothing if not resourceful, right They 307 00:19:22,196 --> 00:19:25,836 Speaker 1: took off their white undershirts and spelled out help on 308 00:19:25,876 --> 00:19:28,876 Speaker 1: the ground, and a dive bomber flying overhead saw it. 309 00:19:29,956 --> 00:19:32,076 Speaker 1: Doug and Ray had just gotten back to the base 310 00:19:32,276 --> 00:19:35,076 Speaker 1: when they saw their commander running towards them. He was 311 00:19:35,116 --> 00:19:37,676 Speaker 1: waiting a piece of paper and yelling something they couldn't 312 00:19:37,716 --> 00:19:40,676 Speaker 1: hear over the throttle of the engines. Doug turned to 313 00:19:40,756 --> 00:19:44,556 Speaker 1: Ray with a sardonic smile and said, whatever he's yelling about, 314 00:19:44,996 --> 00:19:48,796 Speaker 1: it ain't good. The commander wanted to know would they 315 00:19:48,796 --> 00:19:51,516 Speaker 1: be willing to go back and rescue the Marines. It 316 00:19:51,636 --> 00:19:53,836 Speaker 1: wasn't an order, it was a question. 317 00:19:54,796 --> 00:19:57,636 Speaker 7: Word came down that they had to be evacuated, and 318 00:19:57,716 --> 00:20:00,356 Speaker 7: so back we go as usual. 319 00:20:00,516 --> 00:20:03,316 Speaker 1: Doug led the boats a group of about ten landing craft. 320 00:20:03,756 --> 00:20:07,756 Speaker 1: He knew exactly what kind of nightmare he was going into. 321 00:20:07,956 --> 00:20:10,436 Speaker 4: On a beach at that time. What was just the 322 00:20:10,476 --> 00:20:13,716 Speaker 4: most chaotic place you would imagine, with all the shells 323 00:20:13,756 --> 00:20:18,196 Speaker 4: falling in, the machine gun fire, water fire, and nobody 324 00:20:18,236 --> 00:20:20,156 Speaker 4: in his right mind which got a boat to come 325 00:20:20,196 --> 00:20:23,556 Speaker 4: in voluntarily to get us, But they did. They came in. 326 00:20:25,396 --> 00:20:28,556 Speaker 1: As the landing craft approached the beach, enemy mortar fire 327 00:20:28,716 --> 00:20:33,156 Speaker 1: caused giant eruptions of seawater that towered over the Higgins boats. 328 00:20:33,516 --> 00:20:36,956 Speaker 1: One hit another. Dug and Ray were in the same boat, 329 00:20:36,996 --> 00:20:40,636 Speaker 1: and they braced themselves as the water crashed down on them. 330 00:20:41,076 --> 00:20:44,316 Speaker 1: Machine gun fires strafed the hull. One of the other 331 00:20:44,356 --> 00:20:47,436 Speaker 1: boats pulled next to Dug and Ray and someone yelled 332 00:20:47,476 --> 00:20:50,916 Speaker 1: that they should return to base. Doug pointed his finger 333 00:20:50,916 --> 00:20:53,236 Speaker 1: at the beach and yelled back, were. 334 00:20:52,996 --> 00:20:55,436 Speaker 3: Not leaving them there, We're going in. 335 00:20:56,436 --> 00:20:58,316 Speaker 1: The group of boats pulled as close to the shore 336 00:20:58,316 --> 00:21:01,716 Speaker 1: as they could get. Within minutes, nearly five hundred marines 337 00:21:01,796 --> 00:21:04,116 Speaker 1: poured out of the jungle and dove into the water. 338 00:21:04,596 --> 00:21:08,236 Speaker 1: They were exhausted, dragging the dead and the wounded, and 339 00:21:08,636 --> 00:21:11,676 Speaker 1: they were well under attack from Japanese machine guns along 340 00:21:11,716 --> 00:21:15,196 Speaker 1: one side of the beach, so Doug positioned his craft 341 00:21:15,476 --> 00:21:19,476 Speaker 1: in between the incoming enemy fire and the Marines. He 342 00:21:19,596 --> 00:21:23,036 Speaker 1: pointed the boat's machine gun to shore and began firing 343 00:21:23,036 --> 00:21:25,636 Speaker 1: at the enemy and giving the Marines cover as they 344 00:21:25,676 --> 00:21:26,956 Speaker 1: swam to the waiting boats. 345 00:21:27,996 --> 00:21:31,956 Speaker 7: Doug said, we had two air cool Lowis machine guns 346 00:21:31,996 --> 00:21:35,756 Speaker 7: between us, so we elected to stay on one boat 347 00:21:35,916 --> 00:21:39,996 Speaker 7: with the two guns and act as kind of a 348 00:21:40,036 --> 00:21:42,276 Speaker 7: covering fire hill. We sent the rest of the boats 349 00:21:42,276 --> 00:21:43,276 Speaker 7: into load E Street. 350 00:21:44,476 --> 00:21:45,956 Speaker 3: Here's William Shanahan again. 351 00:21:46,396 --> 00:21:49,596 Speaker 10: There are people would have been sitting ducks going out 352 00:21:49,636 --> 00:21:53,356 Speaker 10: to the boats, and so when he engaged them, it 353 00:21:53,516 --> 00:21:57,676 Speaker 10: gave us the leeway to get the rest of our 354 00:21:57,716 --> 00:21:58,916 Speaker 10: people off the beach. 355 00:21:59,916 --> 00:22:03,036 Speaker 1: The boats were finally loaded with the rescued Marines. They 356 00:22:03,076 --> 00:22:06,196 Speaker 1: started back to base, Doug and Ray with the last 357 00:22:06,236 --> 00:22:10,476 Speaker 1: to leave, but as they turned arounded one of the 358 00:22:10,476 --> 00:22:14,036 Speaker 1: boats had gotten stuck on a coral reef. Those Marines 359 00:22:14,076 --> 00:22:16,876 Speaker 1: were back into water trying to rock it loose. Back 360 00:22:16,916 --> 00:22:19,636 Speaker 1: in the line of fire again, Doug steered his boat 361 00:22:19,636 --> 00:22:22,596 Speaker 1: over to hell. They had to move quickly. The enemy 362 00:22:22,676 --> 00:22:26,556 Speaker 1: was repositioning their guns, getting them in their sights. Finally 363 00:22:26,756 --> 00:22:27,596 Speaker 1: the boat was free. 364 00:22:27,916 --> 00:22:31,196 Speaker 7: But then I saw this line of water spouts coming 365 00:22:31,236 --> 00:22:33,796 Speaker 7: across the water, and I yelled a Doug to get down. 366 00:22:34,076 --> 00:22:35,916 Speaker 7: He couldn't hear me over the engine noise. 367 00:22:36,556 --> 00:22:39,276 Speaker 1: A stream of bullets ran across the surface of the ocean, 368 00:22:39,596 --> 00:22:41,396 Speaker 1: straight towards their boat. 369 00:22:41,956 --> 00:22:45,156 Speaker 7: And it hit him. There was one burst afire. 370 00:22:49,196 --> 00:22:51,276 Speaker 1: Doug was shot in the back of the neck at 371 00:22:51,316 --> 00:22:53,676 Speaker 1: the base of his skull. He crumpled to the deck. 372 00:22:54,276 --> 00:22:57,116 Speaker 1: Ray took the wheel and raced the boat back to base. 373 00:22:57,476 --> 00:22:59,436 Speaker 1: He drove it up on the beach, and then he 374 00:22:59,516 --> 00:23:02,636 Speaker 1: knelt down and cradled his best friend's head in his lap. 375 00:23:03,276 --> 00:23:05,116 Speaker 1: Doug opened his eyes. 376 00:23:05,716 --> 00:23:08,236 Speaker 7: He said, did they get off? And that's about all 377 00:23:08,276 --> 00:23:11,716 Speaker 7: he said. He died. I don't think he ever heard 378 00:23:11,716 --> 00:23:15,436 Speaker 7: me answer. That's sky a guy who was He wanted 379 00:23:15,436 --> 00:23:17,436 Speaker 7: to complete things. 380 00:23:18,036 --> 00:23:20,516 Speaker 1: Doug wanted to finish the mission he had volunteered to lead. 381 00:23:21,076 --> 00:23:24,316 Speaker 1: He made certain the men were ferried home to safety. 382 00:23:24,396 --> 00:23:27,236 Speaker 1: He was serving those men in his boat, the men 383 00:23:27,436 --> 00:23:30,716 Speaker 1: on the beach, Even when he couldn't stand at the wheel, 384 00:23:30,996 --> 00:23:34,916 Speaker 1: he was still acting on their behalf. The definition of 385 00:23:34,956 --> 00:23:35,756 Speaker 1: a servant. 386 00:23:35,516 --> 00:23:40,396 Speaker 4: Leader without him and the leadership that he exhibited, and 387 00:23:40,436 --> 00:23:42,916 Speaker 4: bringing all his boats in and assembling them that began 388 00:23:42,956 --> 00:23:45,756 Speaker 4: when and bringing them in, I saved a hell of 389 00:23:45,796 --> 00:23:47,996 Speaker 4: a lot of lives, including my own. 390 00:23:57,836 --> 00:24:00,756 Speaker 1: Doug Monroe saved and estimated five hundred marines a day 391 00:24:00,756 --> 00:24:04,516 Speaker 1: he died. He was two weeks shy of his twenty 392 00:24:04,556 --> 00:24:10,476 Speaker 1: third birthday. Three weeks later, on the afternoon of October nineteenth, 393 00:24:10,916 --> 00:24:13,796 Speaker 1: Edith Monroe looked out her living room window and saw 394 00:24:13,876 --> 00:24:19,396 Speaker 1: three uniformed officers, two Navy and one Coastguard approaching her 395 00:24:19,436 --> 00:24:23,676 Speaker 1: front door. They knocked. She pretended not to hear it. 396 00:24:24,596 --> 00:24:29,036 Speaker 1: Doug's father, James, entered the room. They knocked again. Edith 397 00:24:29,156 --> 00:24:32,196 Speaker 1: begged James not to open the door. She knew what 398 00:24:32,236 --> 00:24:36,636 Speaker 1: this visit meant. Edith waited until the officers had left 399 00:24:37,236 --> 00:24:40,916 Speaker 1: before she broke down in tears. She wanted to channel 400 00:24:40,956 --> 00:24:44,916 Speaker 1: her grief into something positive to honor her son's service. 401 00:24:45,876 --> 00:24:48,396 Speaker 1: In November of that year, she learned that the Coastguard 402 00:24:48,436 --> 00:24:52,836 Speaker 1: would start accepting women in their ranks. They called them spars. 403 00:24:53,356 --> 00:24:57,556 Speaker 1: Edith immediately asked to join. She was forty seven, a 404 00:24:57,556 --> 00:25:01,516 Speaker 1: grieving gold star mother. The Coastguard brosse were skeptical to 405 00:25:01,516 --> 00:25:05,076 Speaker 1: say the least, but Doug got his persistence. 406 00:25:04,556 --> 00:25:06,876 Speaker 3: From his mom. I guess she wore them down. 407 00:25:07,956 --> 00:25:11,876 Speaker 1: Within weeks, Edith was traveling across the country to Officer 408 00:25:11,916 --> 00:25:15,516 Speaker 1: Canada training at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. 409 00:25:16,076 --> 00:25:17,996 Speaker 1: She was one of the first women to show up, 410 00:25:18,356 --> 00:25:23,316 Speaker 1: and the oldest by a couple of decades. The training 411 00:25:23,316 --> 00:25:27,516 Speaker 1: included not dying military drill, seamanship, and small boat operations. 412 00:25:28,156 --> 00:25:31,716 Speaker 1: Edith's first letter to Doug's sister Patricia read pat this 413 00:25:31,756 --> 00:25:35,236 Speaker 1: would kill you and it might kill me. And then 414 00:25:35,796 --> 00:25:38,916 Speaker 1: in May nineteen forty three, the same day Doug was 415 00:25:38,916 --> 00:25:42,076 Speaker 1: awarded his Medal of Honor, she took the Coastguard oath 416 00:25:42,116 --> 00:25:45,516 Speaker 1: of Office, the same one her son had taken just 417 00:25:45,556 --> 00:25:50,876 Speaker 1: four years earlier. She was a lieutenant junior grade. The 418 00:25:50,916 --> 00:25:52,676 Speaker 1: Coast Guard was happy to have her as a kind 419 00:25:52,676 --> 00:25:57,596 Speaker 1: of spokeswoman, but Edith insisted on a bigger contribution. I'll 420 00:25:57,556 --> 00:26:00,516 Speaker 1: be surprised. She was the one who raised Doug Monroe, 421 00:26:01,236 --> 00:26:04,436 Speaker 1: so they made her the commanding officer of the Seattle Barracks. 422 00:26:04,836 --> 00:26:09,476 Speaker 1: Affectionately nicknamed the Old Lady, she established new regulation to 423 00:26:09,516 --> 00:26:12,436 Speaker 1: make it easier for women recruits. She was one of 424 00:26:12,436 --> 00:26:17,276 Speaker 1: the Coastguard's first gender policy advisers. She was way ahead 425 00:26:17,276 --> 00:26:21,796 Speaker 1: of her time. Like her son, Edith was always game 426 00:26:21,876 --> 00:26:25,236 Speaker 1: to do more. In November of nineteen forty three, she 427 00:26:25,356 --> 00:26:29,196 Speaker 1: was quoted Neela Times saying, if legislation is acted upon, 428 00:26:29,676 --> 00:26:32,796 Speaker 1: which will let spars serve overseas, I want to be 429 00:26:32,836 --> 00:26:36,156 Speaker 1: one of the first to go across. We women can fight. 430 00:26:36,836 --> 00:26:39,796 Speaker 1: We're proving that every day here on the home front. 431 00:26:40,796 --> 00:26:42,836 Speaker 1: By the time the war was over, she'd won a 432 00:26:42,876 --> 00:26:47,676 Speaker 1: Commendation Medal. And then, of course there's Ray, Doug's gold 433 00:26:47,756 --> 00:26:50,836 Speaker 1: dust twin. Ray was awarded the Navy Cross for his 434 00:26:50,916 --> 00:26:54,156 Speaker 1: actions at Guadalcanal. He stayed on in the Coast Guard, 435 00:26:54,436 --> 00:26:58,476 Speaker 1: eventually retiring as a commander. He died in twenty thirteen 436 00:26:59,076 --> 00:27:02,876 Speaker 1: at the age of ninety two. He missed Doug until 437 00:27:02,916 --> 00:27:03,276 Speaker 1: the end. 438 00:27:04,116 --> 00:27:07,436 Speaker 7: Never have had as good a friends since then. You know, 439 00:27:07,716 --> 00:27:11,716 Speaker 7: one that close. You never think about dying, even in 440 00:27:11,756 --> 00:27:15,076 Speaker 7: that situation, with the war going on, in bullets flying around, 441 00:27:15,156 --> 00:27:18,156 Speaker 7: you don't really think about it. You just knew the job. 442 00:27:18,356 --> 00:27:20,836 Speaker 7: I guess you anticipate that you're going to be okay, 443 00:27:21,356 --> 00:27:25,316 Speaker 7: and then one day one of you isn't it's pretty tough. 444 00:27:26,436 --> 00:27:28,836 Speaker 1: Ray would tell you what any member of the military 445 00:27:28,836 --> 00:27:31,996 Speaker 1: would tell you. Doug might technically have volunteered for that 446 00:27:32,036 --> 00:27:34,996 Speaker 1: rescue mission, but he didn't see it as a choice. 447 00:27:35,716 --> 00:27:39,396 Speaker 1: He and Ray were coxins there to lead and to serve. 448 00:27:40,036 --> 00:27:43,276 Speaker 1: They put themselves in harm's way because that was the 449 00:27:43,316 --> 00:27:46,356 Speaker 1: promise they had made to the men in those boats 450 00:27:46,476 --> 00:27:47,356 Speaker 1: and to themselves. 451 00:27:48,236 --> 00:27:49,916 Speaker 7: We were asked to take them over there, we were 452 00:27:49,956 --> 00:27:51,916 Speaker 7: asked to bring them back off of there, and that's 453 00:27:51,916 --> 00:27:54,556 Speaker 7: what we did. That's what the Coast Guard does. 454 00:27:55,836 --> 00:27:59,076 Speaker 1: This is the thing about servant leadership. It's not about 455 00:27:59,156 --> 00:28:03,276 Speaker 1: leading by fear or even by example. It's about protecting 456 00:28:03,356 --> 00:28:06,836 Speaker 1: the people you're leading and protecting the connection between them. 457 00:28:07,236 --> 00:28:10,236 Speaker 1: The way a coxin coordinates the action of a boat. 458 00:28:10,876 --> 00:28:14,876 Speaker 1: That's who Doug was, pointing his ship home, even when 459 00:28:14,916 --> 00:28:18,556 Speaker 1: he could no longer stand at its wheel. The long 460 00:28:18,676 --> 00:28:21,396 Speaker 1: chain of Doug's connections started even before his. 461 00:28:21,396 --> 00:28:22,396 Speaker 3: Time in the Coast Guard. 462 00:28:22,916 --> 00:28:26,516 Speaker 1: Remember Mike Cooley, the friend who gave away firewood with Doug, 463 00:28:26,596 --> 00:28:29,596 Speaker 1: joined the Depression. He served his country in the army, 464 00:28:29,836 --> 00:28:34,316 Speaker 1: and years later returned to South Glayellam. He visited Doug's 465 00:28:34,356 --> 00:28:37,516 Speaker 1: grave and was surprised and saddened to see that the 466 00:28:37,556 --> 00:28:42,036 Speaker 1: American flag flying over it was tattered. So he honored 467 00:28:42,036 --> 00:28:45,116 Speaker 1: his friend by buying a new flag and raising it 468 00:28:45,196 --> 00:28:48,676 Speaker 1: at the gravesite in the morning, lowering it in the evening, 469 00:28:49,276 --> 00:28:53,476 Speaker 1: walking six miles round trip to the cemetery twice a 470 00:28:53,556 --> 00:28:59,356 Speaker 1: day every day for forty years. He did it until 471 00:28:59,396 --> 00:29:03,356 Speaker 1: well into his eighties, inspired by what Doug stood for 472 00:29:03,836 --> 00:29:09,076 Speaker 1: his sacrifice, his caring. That to me is the essence 473 00:29:09,476 --> 00:29:13,916 Speaker 1: of servant leadership. I think maybe Mike put it best. 474 00:29:14,876 --> 00:29:16,916 Speaker 2: You know what you what I'm saying, When you do 475 00:29:16,996 --> 00:29:19,116 Speaker 2: a fair for somebody and do something good, you feel 476 00:29:19,156 --> 00:29:20,196 Speaker 2: good inside. 477 00:29:20,436 --> 00:29:22,036 Speaker 5: So that makes me feel good inside. 478 00:29:22,076 --> 00:29:32,836 Speaker 1: See Medal of Honor. Stories of Courage is written by 479 00:29:32,876 --> 00:29:37,436 Speaker 1: Meredith Rollins and produced by Meredith Rollins, Constanza Galardo, and 480 00:29:37,596 --> 00:29:40,916 Speaker 1: Izzy Carter. The show is edited by Ben Dafh Haffrey, 481 00:29:41,156 --> 00:29:45,716 Speaker 1: Sound design and additional music by Jake Gorski, recording engineering 482 00:29:45,716 --> 00:29:50,316 Speaker 1: by Nita Lawrence, fact checking by Arthur Gombert's original music 483 00:29:50,476 --> 00:29:53,476 Speaker 1: by Eric Phillips. If you want to learn more about 484 00:29:53,516 --> 00:29:56,956 Speaker 1: our Medal of Honor recipients, follow us on Instagram and Twitter. 485 00:29:57,356 --> 00:30:00,476 Speaker 1: We'll be sharing photos and videos of the heroes featured 486 00:30:00,476 --> 00:30:03,116 Speaker 1: on the show. We'd also love to hear from you, 487 00:30:03,676 --> 00:30:06,156 Speaker 1: dm us with a story about a courageous veteran in 488 00:30:06,196 --> 00:30:09,436 Speaker 1: your life. If you don't know a veteran, I'd love 489 00:30:09,476 --> 00:30:13,036 Speaker 1: to hear a story of how courage was contagious in 490 00:30:13,076 --> 00:30:16,796 Speaker 1: your own life. You can find us at Pushkin Bonds. 491 00:30:17,916 --> 00:30:19,956 Speaker 1: I'm your host, Malcolm Gamwell.