US Navy 1st Class Radioman Robert Franklin Diamond was born in Pensacola, Florida on November 18, 1924, the son of Hubert Adiniron Diamond (1891-1965) and Kitty Armalee Watson (1896-2000). His father supported his family as a carpenter and by 1940 was employed in that capacity at Newport Industries. Robert was the youngest of three sons born to Hubert and Kitty of which he (1941) and his brother Charles Douglas (1940) would graduate from Pensacola High School. By the time they had graduated their older brother William Vernon Diamond (1919-1944) had already enlisted in the Navy as of March 16, 1939 with Robert following him in October 1941.
After his enlistment, Robert was sent to basic training at Norfolk, Virginia and then specialty schools in Providence, RI and Jacksonville, FL. After he was certified as a radioman, he was assigned to a bomber squadron after Pearl Harbor. Prior to his deployment overseas in December 1943, he was stationed at Banana River and Key West flying anti-submarine patrols. While there, he saved a sailor from drowning of which he received a commendation.
On Saturday, July 8, 1944, a telegram from the war department was delivered to Hubert and Kitty's house at 400 7th Street East Pensacola Heights. With three sons in the military the envelope was opened with great trepidation hoping for the best but fearing the worse. It was the worse! Their youngest son, Robert had been killed in the crash of his patrol bomber in the Atlantic Ocean. Since his name is listed on the "Tablet of the Missing" at the North Africa American Cemetery in Carthage, Tunisia, it is assumed his remains were never recovered.
Sadly, twelve weeks later another telegram arrived! And again, they were notified that their oldest son William Vernon Diamond and gone down on August 24, 1944, with his entire crew aboard the famous submarine USS Harder. The sub, known as "Hit 'em again Harder" single handedly was responsible for the premature departure of the entire Japanese fleet that brought about their destruction in the battle of the Philippine Sea.
With two sons now gone, the war departments new policy demanded that their “sole surviving son” remain in the continental United States for permanent military assignment. The Diamond family, with the lost of two or more s5 diaons in defense of their country now qualified for the new requirement. Their remaining son Charles Douglas Diamond (1921-2003) would pass away on May 6, 2003, having served his country with the US Army Air Corps. He would retire as a civil service supervisor at NAS.
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