Lou Diamond

United States Marine Corp Date Of Birth : 1890-05-30T00:00:00Z Date Of Death : 1951-09-20T00:00:00Z

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.

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