Joseph John Diamond
Private Joseph J. “Jack” Diamond served with Dog Company, First Battalion, 8th Marines.
He was killed in action at Guadalcanal on 13 January 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 369271
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
May 10, 1920
in Brooklyn, NY
Parents
Patrick James Diamond (d. 1941)
Anna (McKeon) Diamond
Education
Boys’ High School
Occupation & Employer
Brewery worker
Schaefer Brewery Company
Service Life
Entered Service
January 22, 1942
at New York, NY
Home Of Record
269 Carroll Street
Brooklyn, NY
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Anne Diamond
Military Specialty
—
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
In the first weeks of 1943, American troops began preparations for what they hoped would be the last drive against Japanese forces on Guadalcanal. The 25th Infantry Division kicked off a major offensive on 10 January, with the 8th Marines scheduled to join in three days later.
At 0530 on 13 January, 1/8th Marines started the advance to the west. They ran into Japanese machine gun positions within minutes, and the fighting revolved around eliminating these emplacements one by one. Shotguns, flamethrowers, demolition charges, heavy machine guns, and mortars were used with varying degrees of success, and no sooner had one gun been knocked out than another opened fire.
Private Jack Diamond and PFC Eugene W. Wade, both of D/1/8th Marines, were killed in action at approximately 0900 hours. The exact circumstances of their deaths aren’t known; it is likely they were heavy machine gunners attached to one of the assault companies.
Burial Information or Disposition
Diamond and Wade were both reported as buried in the field on the day they were killed. The exact location of Diamond’s grave isn’t currently known, but given the circumstances of his death, it is possible he was buried close by Wade at (69.5-199) on the standard Map 104 of Guadalcanal’s northern coast.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Anne Diamond.
Location Of Loss
The First Battalion, 8th Marines engaged numerous Japanese machine gun positions in ridges and ravines that are now part of Honiara.
