US Navy 1st Class Radioman William Vernon Diamond was born in Pensacola, Florida on June 17, 1919, the son of Hubert Adiniron Diamond (1891-1965) and Kitty Armalee Watson (1896-2000). Hubert was from Covington County, Alabama and had moved to Pensacola prior to 1910 to seek better employment. By 1916, Hubert and Kitty was married, while he was working as a carpenter working at a local shipyard. Ten years later, Hubert was a house carpenter and living at 400 7th Avenue in East Pensacola Heights. By 1942, he was a carpenter for Newport Industries. William’s two brothers were already in uniform with Charles Douglas, Pensacola High School Class of 1941, serving with the Army Air Corps and Robert Franklin, Class of 1942, in the Navy.
Prior to the war, he had already enlisted in the US Navy on March 12, 1940, in Birmingham, Alabama. Three months later he found himself stationed aboard the heavy cruiser CA-71 USS Quincy with a promotion to 2nd Class on July 12. By 1943, he volunteered for submarine duty and was sent to New London, Connecticut. Upon completing his training, he was transferred to the SS-256 USS Hake in the Atlantic on anti-German submarine duty. The Hake was finally transferred to the Pacific Theater arriving on December 6, 1943. He would transfer to the USS Harder on February 23, 1944, as they set sail in March for the sub's fourth patrol.
Then came the Harder's fifth patrol on May 26, 1944, in the Tawi Tawi area. However, their new area was in one of the most obscure places in the world and located close to oil fields that produced Tarakan crude oil. This type of crude was capable of being used raw without any type of refining. However, this type of oil was highly volatile, an undesirable characteristic during a naval battle and one that would cost the Japanese two of their very limited aircraft carriers.
There, in the Sibutu Passage, the Harder discovered a convoy of three enemy tankers and two destroyers. Built and trained to attack, the Harder chased after the small flotilla on the surface, but because of the bright moon she drew the unwanted attention of one of their escorts. When discovered, the Harder immediately submerged and turned her stern toward the charging destroyer. When the enemy ship came within range, she fired three torpedoes, two of which struck the Minatsuki and sank her immediately in one massive explosion.
Early the next morning the Harder was sighted by an enemy patrol plane, which in turn brought out another Japanese destroyer. As the Hayanami bore down on the submarine the submerged vessel again fired three torpedoes at close range striking the destroyer amidships sending her to the bottom in another fiery blast. On the evening of June 8th, the Harder was again sighted by enemy destroyers patrolling in the Sibutu Passage. This time the Harder was just a few miles from where the huge Japanese fleet lay anchored at Tawi Tawi. She immediately submerged and fired four torpedoes at two of the oncoming Japanese ships blowing both the Tanikaze and its companion out of the water. After the inevitable depth charging the submarine set its course for a point just south of Tawi Tawi to reconnoiter the enemy fleet at anchor. It was here on the afternoon of June 10th that the Harder sighted a large Japanese task force, including three battleships, two of which was the mighty Yamato and Mushasi, and four cruisers with a screen of destroyers. Unfortunately, an overhead plane spotted the submarine at periscope depth and one of their escorts promptly steamed toward her last reported position. Rather than running away, the Harder once again became the aggressor. At a range of 1500 yards she fired three torpedoes in what was known as a "down the throat" shot then dove deep to escape the onrushing destroyer. Within a minute, two of the torpedoes blasted the ship with a tremendous force just as the Harder was passing under her at a depth of only eighty feet. The deafening explosions of the dying vessel shook the submarine far worse than any depth charge ever could. For the next two hours, she had to endure a tremendous bombardment from an infuriated enemy above. The next day the Harder reconnoitered the Tawi Tawi anchorage where they sighted additional enemy cruisers and destroyers joining Ozawa’s fleet. At 1600 hours, she headed for the open sea where Pensacolian Bill Diamond transmitted the information to Admiral Spruance. The Admiral had been waiting desperately for any data as to the enemy fleet’s strength, position, or movements.
Because of their ferocious attacks, Diamond and the crew of the Harder had depleted the enemy's ever dwindling supply of enemy destroyers. They also convinced the Japanese admirals that Tawi Tawi was surrounded by a huge fleet of American submarines. As a result, Admiral Ozawa’s Mobile Fleet was forced to depart Tawi Tawi a day ahead of schedule. Their premature departure upset the entire Japanese battle plan and forced Ozawa to delay his arrival in the Philippine Sea. This delay certainly contributed to the stunning defeat he suffered in the ensuing battle of the Philippine Sea and all because of a young man from Pensacola and the crew of the Harder!
On August 5th, Diamond departed on the Harder's sixth patrol, which was supposed to be his last before being rotated back to the states. To make his return home even sweeter he had just received word that he had been promoted to Chief Radioman. Early the next day, Harder took part in an American wolf pack that sunk several coastal defense vessels and two frigates. The Harder and Diamond's old boat USS Hake remained off Dasol Bay, searching for new targets. On August 24, the Hake dove deep to avoid a Japanese destroyer. But at 07:28 hours, the Hake's skipper heard a vigorous depth charge attack that unbeknownst to him had sunk the Harder with all hands. Her luck had finally run out! His family was notified along with his wife Violet Elizabeth Wittich.
Sadly, the Diamond family had lost another son less than four weeks on Saturday, July 8, 1944. Their youngest son, Robert was killed in the crash of his patrol bomber in the Atlantic Ocean and his remains were never recovered.
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