Luther Harold Diehl

"Dirty Diehl"

Marine Corps Reserve | Service Number 445682

Born

May 7, 1922
in Claysburg, PA

Parents

Austin Blair Diehl
Hattie Mae (Berkhimer) Diehl (d. 1936)

School

Claysburg High School (1942)

Pre-War Employment

Manager
Claysburg 5-and-Dime

Entered Service

August 27, 1942
at Pittsburgh, PA

Joined First Battalion

December 10, 1942
from Tenth Separate Recruit Battalion

Left First Battalion

March 9, 1945
Killed in action at Iwo Jima

Left Service

March 9, 1945
Killed in action

Home Address and Next of Kin

Bedford Street, Claysburg, PA – address of father, Mr. Austin Diehl

Service & Campaigns

Before joining battalion

Boot camp at Parris Island with Fourth and Seventh Recruit Battalions (change due to time sick in post hospital). Completed training with Tenth Separate Recruit Battalion.

Joined Able Company, First Separate Battalion (Reinforced) at New River on 10 December 1942.

Roi-Namur

Outfit: A/1/24th Marines
Rank: Private First Class
MOS: 653 (Squad or Team Leader)

Campaign Narrative

Saipan

Outfit: A/1/24th Marines
Rank: Corporal
MOS: 505 (Ammunition NCO)

Campaign Narrative

Tinian

Outfit: A/1/24th Marines
Rank: Corporal
MOS: 505 (Ammunition NCO)

Campaign Narrative

Iwo Jima

Outfit: A/1/24th Marines
Rank: Sergeant
MOS: 566 (Duty NCO)
Important Events:
March 9, 1945 – killed in action (shrapnel, head); exact circumstances unknown
March 12, 1945 – buried in Plot 1, Row 33, Grave 1628, Fourth Marine Division Cemetery

Campaign Narrative

Individual Decorations

Medal
Purple Heart

Campaign
Iwo Jima (March 9, 1945)

Citation

Note: Diehl was recommended for the Bronze Star Medal after the Mariana Islands campaign. It is not known whether this decoration was awarded.

You know how I remember Diehl? Diehl was telling a story one time, and he said [with accent] "This man 'raaatched' in and grabbed me." Raatched in and grabbed me! Everyone took a fit of laughing, and Diehl was sitting there trying to figure out what the hell was so funny. I'd never heard the term before.