Private First Class James H. Diamond
New Orleans, Louisiana
D Company, 21st Infantry Regiment
8-14 May 1945
Mintal, Mindanao
For extreme gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond
the call of duty on May 8 - 14, 1945, while serving with Company D,
21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, in action at Mintal,
Mindanao, Philippine Islands. 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 machinegun
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. Private First Class 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.
Link: James H. Diamond - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia