| Birth: | May 30, 1890
Bedford
Cuyahoga County
Ohio, USA | | Death: | Sep. 20, 1951
North Chicago
Lake County
Illinois, USA | 
LELAND ‘Lou' SANFORD DIAMOND
Master Gunnery Sergeant, USMC (Deceased)
30 May 1890 – 20 September 1951
LELAND ‘Lou' SANFORD DIAMOND was one of the most famous of all "Old Breed" fighting "Leathernecks". Decorated for bravery on many occasions, offered a commission, he represents a legend which constitutes a colorful chapter in Marine Corps tradition and history.
He was legendary for many feats of valor, but is most famous for his accuracy with both 60 millimeter and 81 millimeter mortars. During the World War II Battle of Guadalcanal, he put on a spectacular show by dueling with a Japanese Naval ship using an 81mm mortar. He placed a mortar shell right in the smoke stake of a Japanese Cruiser, becoming the first ground infantryman to sink an enemy ship using a mortar. His accurate mortar fire was credited numerous times as being the turning point in many engagements in the Pacific during World War II.
His face, sun-bronzed and accentuated by a neatly trimmed gray goatee, was well known at posts and stations throughout the world. His comrades called him "Lou," but he was thought of, often, as "Mr. Marine" and "Mr. Leatherneck".
Because of the incredible voice, which matched his 5-foot, 11-inch, 200-pound frame, "Lou" was once dubbed "The Honker." Though cool in training and battle, he was rarely quiet. According to his World War I buddies, "The tougher the action, the louder "Lou" would yell." Many of his comrades at Guadalcanal considered him "a human air-raid warning system".
LELAND ‘Lou' SANFORD DIAMOND is a descendant of the Hudson River Valley Algonquin-Mohican Diamond Family, Pre-American-Revolution.
LELAND ‘Lou' SANFORD DIAMOND is also a United Empire Loyalist Descendant of John Diamond 1762 – 1845 of Albany Co., New York, USA and Fredericksburgh, Lennox & Addington Co., ON, Canada.
LELAND ‘Lou' SANFORD DIAMOND'S United Empire Loyalist Linage connects him directly to his G-Grandfather William Frederick Diamond of the War of 1812, Canadian Rebellion of 1837 and Fenian Raids 1866-1870. (bio by: Mike Sadaj)
Family links:
Parents:
Herbert Charles Diamond (1864 - 1932)
Mima Ellenor Diamond (1866 - 1921)
| | | Burial:
Toledo Memorial Park
Sylvania
Lucas County
Ohio, USA
Plot: Section 6, Walk 9, Grave 87 - Veteran's Section |
Maintained by: Diamond_Gen
Originally Created by: Mike Sadaj
Record added: Nov 13, 2002
Find A Grave Memorial# 6925587 |
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