Honoring the Munro Family Legacy – Patricia Sheehan

Friday, December 10, 2010

Posted by: Christopher Lagan

Patricia Sheehan at the re-dedication of Munro Hall at Training Center Cape May in 1989. (Photo courtesy of CDR Douglas Sheehan, USCGR, Ret.)

Patricia Sheehan at the re-dedication of Munro Hall at Training Center Cape May in 1989. (Photo courtesy of CDR Douglas Sheehan, USCGR, Ret.)

The Coast Guard lost a true friend and a member of one of the service’s most recognizable families with the passing of Patricia Sheehan. Sheehan, the daughter of World War II SPAR Edith Munro and sister of the Coast Guard’s only Medal of Honor recipient, Douglas Munro, passed away peacefully at her home last Friday at the age of 93. Sheehan’s connection to our service went far beyond the name Munro; she was family.

Patricia and Douglas Munro as children (Photo courtesy of CDR Douglas Sheehan, USCGR, Ret.)

Douglas and Patricia Munro as children. (Photo courtesy of CDR Douglas Sheehan, USCGR, Ret.)

The Eighth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, Vince Patton, was known to call her “mom” and was deeply impacted by Sheehan’s love for the Coast Guard.

“Pat told me that, had the Coast Guard accepted women at the time she was old enough and if she wasn’t busy raising her young family, she too would have followed in her mother and brother’s footsteps. Instead, she was extremely delighted when her son, who was named after her brother, Douglas Sheehan, joined the Coast Guard Reserve, later retiring as a Commander. To Pat, it made her feel that she maintained her connection with the service that she had learned to love by both her mother and brother.”

Sheehan lived life to the fullest. She played tennis to the age of 80 and taught bridge up until two weeks before her passing. She traveled the country promoting the history of the service and the significant role the Coast Guard played in World War II. Her contributions will live on as a part of Coast Guard history. She played a pivotal role in turning Munro Hall at Training Center Cape May into a living tribute connecting the Coast Guard’s past with its future through the donation of her time, her memories, and family keepsakes from her brother and mother.

Patricia Sheehan with RADM Sally Brice-O'Hara, her son CDR Douglas Sheehan and his wife, Susanne, at the 2008 dedication of the Coast Guard Memorial in Hawaii. (Photo courtesy of CDR Douglas Sheehan, USCGR, Ret.)

Patricia Sheehan with RADM Sally Brice-O'Hara, her son CDR Douglas Sheehan and his wife, Susanne, at the 2008 dedication of the Coast Guard Memorial in Hawaii. (Photo courtesy of CDR Douglas Sheehan, USCGR, Ret.)

“She always loved the Coast Guard, and had a deep appreciation for the work and sacrifices of everyone in the Coast Guard Family,” Retired CDR Douglas Sheehan (USCGR) recalls. “All the Coast Guard people she ever met treated her with extraordinary respect, and she always tried to return the favor.  She always made a special contribution to every ceremony she attended.  We have all lost a wonderful member of our family.”

Patricia, the Coast Guard will miss you. Fair winds and following seas.

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  • Roger Jones

    Commander, you have my deepest sympathy in our loss. I had the honor of meeting and spending a week with you dear mother and you in Crystal River. She was a special person and this world and the Coast Guard are both better because of her. I am very proud of the visit and communications I had with her. You take care and remember, she lived life her way, and lived it to the fullest! May she have Fair Winds and Following Seas! MKC Roger D. Jones, USCG, Ret.

  • K. Jahnke

    CDR. I am saddened by the loss of yet another great Coast Guard supporter but honored to have served in the same Coast Guard Family as you and yours. LCDR Kurt Jahnke, USCGR, Ret-2.

  • Allen P. Hill TC1 USCGR ret

    I served on the “USCGC MUNRO” after it was moved to Seattle and feel that it should always be stationed in the 13th District. Sorry for your loss. Thank You for your service and that of your FAMILY. May you all have FAIR WINDS AND FOLLOWING SEAS.

  • CDR Raymond J. Evans USCG (Ret)

    I had the pleasure of attending several events with Patricia and am desolate that another Munro is gone. I entered the Coast Guard with
    her brother, Doug in 1939 and we were comrades on the Spencer and Hunter Liggett until his demise on Guadalcanal in my arms. A terrible day. I enjoyed the launching of the first CGC MUNRO at Black’s Shipyard New Orleans with Patricia. My prayers go with her.

  • GM3 J. Shipley

    I had the honor and privilege of not only be a recruit birthed in Munro Hall in 1999, but I also had the privilege of helping make Munro Hall’s Main Deck into what is now the museum.

  • GM3 J. Shipley

    My deepest regards to you Commander. As a Coast Guardsmen and a Gunners Mate, we were always taught to live life and to hold our Core Values of Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty in the highest regards and to never forget those that have paid the ultimate price. I wish I had the honor to meet Signalmen First Class Munro and yourself. Because if it wasn’t for both of your heroic actions, my grandfather would not have left Guadalcanal alive.