Private First Class James H. Diamond was a soldier in the U.S. Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on May 14, 1945 in Mintal, Mindanao, Philippine Islands during World War II. At the time he was serving with Company D, 21st Infantry, 24th Infantry Division. Diamond was 20 years old.
Diamond was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. 2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Diamond was born on April 22, 1925 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. His Medal of Honor is credited to Gulfport, Harrison County, Mississippi. He is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Gulfport, Mississippi.
Diamond is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 18 credited to Mississippi.
Official Medal of Honor citation
As a member of the machine-gun section, he displayed extreme gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. When a Japanese sniper rose from his foxhole to throw a grenade into their midst, this valiant soldier charged and killed the enemy with a burst from his submachine-gun; then, by delivering sustained fire from his personal arm and simultaneously directing the fire of 105-mm and.50-caliber weapons upon the enemy pillboxes, immobilizing this and another machine-gun section, he enabled them to put their guns into action. When two infantry companies established a bridgehead, he voluntarily assisted in evacuating the wounded under heavy fire; and then, securing an abandoned vehicle, transported casualties to the rear through mortar and artillery fire so intense as to render the vehicle inoperative and despite the fact he was suffering from a painful wound. The following day he again volunteered, this time for the hazardous job of repairing a bridge under heavy enemy fire. On 14 May 1945, when leading a patrol to evacuate casualties from his battalion, which was cut off, he ran through a virtual hail of Japanese fire to secure an abandoned machine gun. Though mortally wounded as he reached the gun, he succeeded in drawing sufficient fire upon himself so that the remaining members of the patrol could reach safety. Pfc. Diamond's indomitable spirit, constant disregard of danger, and eagerness to assist his comrades, will ever remain a symbol of selflessness and heroic sacrifice to those for whom he gave his life.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
What the citation records about his wounds:
When two infantry companies established a bridgehead, he voluntarily assisted in evacuating the wounded under heavy fire; and then, securing an abandoned vehicle, transported casualties to the rear through mortar and artillery fire so intense as to render the vehicle inoperative and despite the fact he was suffering from a painful wound.
Though mortally wounded as he reached the gun, he succeeded in drawing sufficient fire upon himself so that the remaining members of the patrol could reach safety.
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (May 14, 1945).
- Age at death: 20
- Resting place: Evergreen Cemetery
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Mississippi →
Timeline
- April 22, 1925Born in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana
- May 14, 1945Act of valor — Mintal, Mindanao, Philippine IslandsAge 20. Company D, 21st Infantry, 24th Infantry Division Killed in action.
- Resting placeEvergreen CemeteryGulfport, Mississippi
Biography
James H. Diamond (April 22, 1925 – May 14, 1945) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.
From the Wikipedia article “James H. Diamond”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
