Америка сарбазы Лиланд Даймондтың өмірі мен қажырлы қызметі

American soldier

Leland "Lou" Diamond (May 30, 1890 – September 20, 1951) was a notable member of the United States Marine Corps. He fought in France during World War I, served in China during the interwar period, and fought in the Guadalcanal campaign as a master gunnery sergeant during World War II in the 1st Marines Division, before retiring in 1945. Diamond was born in Bedford, Ohio, and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1917. He saw action in World War I with the 6th Marine Regiment, participating in various battles. After the war, he briefly returned to civilian life but re enlisted in 1921. He served in China and helped design a new infantry pack during the interwar period. In World War II, Diamond was an expert in mortars and made significant contributions to battles on Guadalcanal, receiving a commendation from General Alexander Vandegrift. He was evacuated due to physical disabilities and later became an instructor in the U. S. He retired in 1945 and died in 1951. Diamond's legacy includes an episode on the television series Cavalcade of America and being the namesake of Filipino American actor Lou Diamond Phillips. His decorations include the Navy Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, and various other awards for his service.

Diamond was born in Bedford, Ohio. His parents, Herbert Caleb Diamond (1864–1932) and Mima Ellenor (1866–1921), were Canadians from Belleville, Ontario. His father, of Jewish ancestry, was the youngest of the famed Diamond Brothers of the North West Mounted Police (NWMP), who served in the Red Deer District of Alberta in the 1880s. He is descended from the Hudson River Valley Algonquin Mohican Diamond family of the pre American Revolution era. His ancestors were United Empire Loyalists John Diamond (1759–1845) and Christiana Loyst (1765–1842), from Dutchess County, New York, who fled to Fredericksburgh, Ontario, after the Revolution. Diamond was a member and frequent visitor to the Toledo, Ohio Jewish Serviceman's USO Club sponsored by the National Jewish Welfare Board (NJWB) in 1943, as indicated by his registration card coded as a NON JEW with a hole punched in the top left hand corner. However, as noted by journalist Marc Parrott, who was present at Diamond's funeral, Diamond was a practicing Episcopalian. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in Detroit, Michigan, on July 25, 1917, at the age of 27, listing as his former occupation "railroad switchman". He was assigned Marine Service Number 98912.

As a corporal in January 1918, he shipped out from Philadelphia aboard the USS Von Steuben bound for Brest, France. He saw action with the famous 6th Marine Regiment in the battles at Chateau Thierry, Belleau Wood, the Aisne Marne, St. Mihiel and the Meuse Argonne. Promoted to the grade of Sergeant, he marched to the Rhine with the Army of Occupation. At war's end, he returned to the United States and received an honorable discharge.

Railroading, and civilian life in general, did not suit Diamond well, and on September 23, 1921, he re enlisted in the Marine Corps. Diamond itched for more action and he soon got it in Shanghai, with Company M, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. But the Sino Japanese conflict, in Diamond's opinion, was "not much of a war," and on June 10, 1933, he returned to the United States, disembarking from the USS Henderson (AP 1) at Mare Island, California. By then he was a gunnery sergeant. Diamond returned to Shanghai with his old unit, the 4th Marines, ten months later, and then was transferred to the 2nd Marines in December 1934. He returned to the U. S. in February 1937. Two years after his promotion to master gunnery sergeant on July
10, 1939, he was assigned to the Depot of Supplies at Philadelphia to help design a new infantry pack.

Diamond retired on November 23, 1945, and returned to his home in Toledo, Ohio.

His death at the Great Lakes, Illinois Naval Training Center Hospital on September 20, 1951, was followed by a funeral with full military honors at Sylvania, Ohio. Diamond was laid to rest at Toledo Memorial Park in Sylvania.