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Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company D, 21st
Infantry, 24th Infantry Division. Place and date: Mintal, Mindanao, Philippine
Islands, 814 May 1945. Entered service at: Gulfport, Miss. Birth: New Orleans,
La. G.O. No.: 23, 6 March 1946. Citation: As a member of the machinegun
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 105mm.
and .50 caliber weapons upon the enemy pillboxes immobilizing this and
another machinegun section, he enabled them to put their guns into action.
When 2 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.
This data was extracted from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973)
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