Signalman First Class Munro was killed in action during an attempt to evacuate a battalion of Marines that were trapped by the Japanese at Point Cruz, Guadalcanal. Munro volunteered as Officer in Charge of a group of twenty-four Higgins boats that would complete the evacuation. Munro led five of the twenty-four crafts toward the shore where the Marines were located, while under heavy machine gun fire. Munro used his own boat as a shield between his own troops and the Japanese gunfire to allow the other crafts to land ashore and carry out the rescue. Munro was awarded the Medal of Honor for his gallantry and sacrifice.