DIAMOND, STEPHEN WHITMAN

Remains returned 1977

Name: Stephen Whitman Diamond
Branch/Rank: United States Air Force/O2
Unit:  354th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 355th Tactical Fighter Wing
Date of Birth: 31 October 1940
Home City of Record: ROSLYN HEIGHTS NY
Date of Loss: 19 July 1966
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 211000 North  1055100 East
Status (in 1973): Presumptive Finding of Death
Category: 2
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F105
Missions:
Other Personnel in Incident:
Refno:

Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK from one or more of the following: raw
data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA
families, published sources, interviews and CACCF = Combined Action
Combat Casualty File.  2020

REMARKS: 03/18/77 SRV RETURNED REMAINS TO PCOM       

PILOT

EGRESS-SUFFERED CRUSHED PELVIS/DIED OF INJURY

No further information available at this time.

 

Date: Mon, 5 Nov 2018 20:18:18 -0600

... A pilot training classmate and very good friend of mine, Lt Steve Diamond, was
on Jim Kasler's wing when both of their F-105's were shot down in August 1966.
When at the Hanoi Hilton, I asked Jim what ever happened to Steve. Jim said he
asked the  V  the same question. He said they told him that Steve was captured
alive, but suffered two broken legs and a crushed pelvis during ejection and
did not survive the injuries. Sometime following Operation Homecoming, Steve's
remains were returned along with some others. I don't remember when.


So my question is: why would Steve Diamond not be listed as dying in captivity?

 

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01/2020

https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt000000uar0qEAA

MAJ STEPHEN WHITMAN DIAMOND

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On March 30, 1977, the Central Identification Lab-Hawaii (CILHI, now DPAA) identified the remains of Major Stephen Whitman Diamond, missing from the Vietnam War.

Major Diamond, who joined the U.S. Air Force from New York, served with the 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 355th Tactical Fighter Wing. On July 19, 1966, he piloted an F-105F Thunderchief (serial number 59-1755) on a combat mission over North Vietnam. During the mission, the Thunderchief was shot down by enemy aircraft and Major Diamond was killed. Hostile presence in the area inhibited recovery efforts during the war. In 1977, the Vietnamese government repatriated remains which were later identified as those of Major Diamond.

Major Diamond is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

If you are a family member of this serviceman, you may contact your casualty office representative to learn more about your service member.