Lou Diamond - Legacy

Legacy

Actor Ward Bond portrayed Diamond in an episode of the television series Cavalcade of America entitled "The Marine Who Lived 200 years." It aired on June 1, 1955; a copy has been located at the Marine Corps Museum.

The Philippine-American actor Lou Diamond Phillips was named after him by his father, an officer in the U.S. Navy.

Although Diamond is sometimes referred to as "highly decorated", his only personal decoration was the Secretary of the Navy Commendation Ribbon, which later became the Navy Commendation Medal. Diamond's other awards include:

• the Presidential Unit Citation awarded to the First Marine Division for Guadalcanal.

• the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, eight awards, representing 24 years service.

• the World War I Victory Medal, with four campaign stars (Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, and Defensive Sector), for service with the 6th Marine Regiment.

• the Army of Occupation of Germany Medal, for service in the Rhineland in 1919.

• the Yangtze Service Medal, for service in China in 1927–32.

• the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, for service in China 1934–37.

• the American Defense Service Medal, for service 1939–1941.

• the American Theater Medal, for service in the United States 1943–1945.

• the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, with two campaign stars (Guadalcanal-Tulagi Landings and Capture and Defense of Guadalcanal), for service with the 2nd Battalion 5th Marine Regiment.

• the World War II Victory Medal.

Diamond was also entitled to the French Fourragère (Croix de Guerre 1914–1918) as a personal award, since he had participated in earning it with the 6th Marines.