The U.S. Coast Guard in World War II

USCGC Campbell [200401-G-G0000-001]

World War II

Please search the image and resource galleries at the bottom of the page for images, articles, documents and publications detailing the Coast Guard's involvement in World War II

The U. S. Coast Guard in World War II

 

    As with all wars, World War II had a transformative effect on America's military services. In the years immediately preceding U.S. entry into the conflict and over the subsequent four years, eight months of fighting, the Coast Guard's responsibilities grew exponentially. To support the cause, the Coast Guard expanded to a record high of more than 170,000 men and women serving in uniform at one time, with nearly 250,000 personnel serving over the course of the war. The Coast Guard supported both combat and traditional service missions, including search and rescue, marine safety, convoy escort duty, troop transport and amphibious operations, port security, and beach patrol. By doing so, the U.S. Coast Guard proved itself Semper Paratus-"Always Ready"-to perform any maritime missions required by the war effort.

 

 

 

World War II Image Gallery
World War II Resources
Cover image of the Book of Valor

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD 
Book of Valor 
A Fact Book on Medals and Decorations 
[awarded to Coast Guardsmen for valor during World War II] 
PREPARED BY THE PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION, WASHINGTON , D.C. 
MAY, 1945
1945 - USCG Book of Valor...
Book of Valor
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD 
Book of Valor 
A Fact Book on Medals and Decorations 
[awarded to Coast Guardsmen for valor during World War II] 
PREPARED BY THE PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION, WASHINGTON , D.C. 
MAY, 1945 
The following is a publication issued by the Coast Guard's Public Affairs Division in May of 1945 that lists those Coast Guardsmen who were awarded decorations of the Air Medal or higher during World War II, along with their citations.  Additionally, there were three supplemental sections added to the publication to cover those who earned awards for the remaining months of the war and these supplements are included as well.  Supplemental List No. 3 included those individuals who were authorized to wear the Commendation Ribbon. 
Coast Guardsmen were awarded a total of 532 medals (these included the following medals: Air Medal, Bronze Star, Navy & Marine Corps Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Cross, and the Medal of Honor as well as awards from foreign governments).  A total of 516 Coast Guard officers and men were awarded the Commendation Ribbon while another 957 were awarded the Purple Heart. 
The publication was organized alphabetically, subdivided by the recipients' home state.  The chapter headings are as follows (click on the chapter heading to go directly to that chapter): 
Our thanks to Ms. Erma Hill for transcribing this publication.
1945 - USCG BOOK OF VALOR...
Douglas Munro Service Record
U.S. Coast Guard
Douglas Munro's CG Se...
Douglas Munro Medal of Honor Citation
U.S. Coast Guard
Douglas Munro Medal of Ho...
Douglas Munro Letters
U.S. Coast Guard
Douglas Munro Letters
USS Douglas Munro DE-422
U.S. Coast Guard
MUNRO_DE422.PDF
Edith Munro Biography
Douglas Munro's mother
U.S. Coast Guard
Edith Munro Biography (Do...
Douglas Munro at Guadalcanal by Robert Browning
U.S. Coast Guard
Douglas Munro at Guadalcanal
Douglas Munro Photograph gallery
U.S. Coast Guard
Douglas Munro Photograph ...
Douglas Munro Index
U.S. Coast Guard
Douglas Munro Index
Douglas Munro Commander Dexter Letter, transcribed
U.S. Coast Guard
Doug Munro KIA - Letter f...
Douglas Munro Award Packet 1943
U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office
1943 Douglas Munro MoH Aw...
Douglas Munro USN Release
U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office
Douglas Munro (USN Release)
Douglas Munro, Portrait
U.S. Coast Guard
Douglas Munro, USCG
Douglas Munro, baby photograph
U.S. Coast Guard
Douglas Munro (baby photo...
Douglas Munro Guadalcanal Painting
"Douglas A. Munro Covers the Withdrawal of the 7th Marines at Guadalcanal" Artist: Bernard D'Andrea
U.S. Coast Guard
Douglas Munro at Guadalcanal
Douglas Munro, civilian portrait
U.S. Coast Guard
Douglas Munro, Civilian C...
Douglas Munro, wrestling photograph
U.S. Coast Guard
Douglas Munro Wrestling
Mrs. Edith Munro Accepting Award
Douglas Munro's mother
U.S. Coast Guard
Mrs. Edith Munro Accepts ...
Mrs. Edith Munro Accepting Award
Douglas Munro's mother
U.S. Coast Guard
Mrs. Edith Munro Acceptin...