I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Mr. Lawrence “Larry” Diggs at his medal ceremony on November 9, 2019, at Quantico Marine Corps Museum. He is a modest and charming man who is 95 years young. This Veterans Day, the Substance of Life Podcast salutes Mr. Diggs and shares his history as one of the Montford Point Marines of WWII. Mr. Diggs grew up on the Mississippi Delta and lived in Inverness, Mississippi until 1943, when his family moved to Chicago, IL. As with most southerners’ during the 1940’s, migrating north appeared to provide opportunity for jobs and a better life than that which was experienced in the deep south.

Six days after his 19th birthday, Mr. Diggs was drafted into the enlisted ranks of the United States Marine Corps. During this time, there was only one location which African Americans were allowed. Montford Point, North Carolina, “F” Company, Recruit Depot Battalion. It was at Montford Point Mr. Diggs received his Marine Corps Recruit training. Upon graduation from Recruit training in 1944, Mr. Diggs was promoted to Private First Class. His first assignment was to 7th Ammunition Company, 7th (Separate) Infantry Battalion as a Truck Driver. Mr Diggs was then deployed to the Pacific Theatre where he received jungle warfare training on Guadalcanal. 7th Ammo company was subsequently attached to the 16th Depot Company and embarked aboard the USS Dupage, which was bound for the Palau Islands.

In September 1944, Mr. Diggs arrived at Peleliu Island where he disembarked with the First Marine Division and participated in the amphibious assault against Japanese forces. Mr. Diggs and several other Marines of the 7th Ammo Company (Separate) were selected to move forward with 1st Marine Division and secure the island. Mr. Diggs’ unit was rotated up to the line every three days, where they would assume positions in “foxholes” as they worked to clear caves of Japanese troops, at times engaging the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. Diggs and his fellow Marines secured the island and established the U.S. presence. March, 1945, when he embarked aboard the USS Elmore and sailed to Saipan where he supported the supply side of bombing missions which were flown to Tokyo.

When the war ended, Mr. Diggs returned to the United States and was promoted to Corporal before being discharged on 11 May 1946. This narrative is very brief and does not begin to cover all that Lawrence “Larry” Diggs accomplished as a Montford Point Marine. It serves as a testament roadmap of a man’s journey to serve his nation when called upon. It demonstrates the courage to complete the task, notwithstanding the social and environmental conditions.

Mr. Diggs like so many of the Montford Point Marines, never received public recognition for their sacrifice during WWII. Our nation social fabric would not permit such accolades. In November 2019, Mr. Diggs received a shadowbox which contained all his earned military medals to include the Congressional Gold Medal presented to all Montford Point Marines, a customized NCO sword, with his name engraved on the Blade and his Dressed Blues Blouse Uniform. I witnessed this historic event with tears in my eyes and a shaving within my heart filled with esprit de corps.

It is with the greatest respect and admiration, we at the Substance of Life Podcast Salute you.