FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. - The 2011 U.S. Army Chemical Corps Hall of Fame and Distinguished Member of the Corps Induction ceremony took place at Fort Leonard Wood, June 21, in the John B. Mahaffey Museum, Chemical Corps Regimental Room, to honor those who have made a significant contribution to the Chemical Corps Regiment.
The Hall of Fame award is the highest form of recognition that the Regiment offers. This year the award was presented posthumously to Lieutenant Sidney Diamond. Diamond, a platoon leader assigned to Company D, 82nd Chemical Battalion, was awarded the Silver Star for his heroic actions taken under heavy enemy fire during World War II. His great niece, Michelle Blaylock, and great-great nephew, Jonathan McClellan accepted his award on his behalf. Blaylock said that her father recalled that Diamond spent time reading books to relatives and neighborhood children, and that Diamond was very involved with Boy Scouts as a scoutmaster, often taking time out to work with disadvantaged boys. Blaylock said that Diamond inspired both her dad and uncle to heed the call to military service.
The DMC was awarded to Garo (Charles) Baronian and Jean Reed for providing a lifetime of service in the Corps above and beyond, and setting a vision for what the Corps is and what it needs to be. Baronian was unable to attend the ceremony and retired Col. Thomas Woloszyn accepted Baronian’s award on his behalf.
Reed, who attended the ceremony, was deeply humbled to be selected as a member to the regiment and said, “The honor is not due to me but those I’ve worked with, military and civilian"it is to you that this honor goes.”
The Chemical Corps Honors Program was established to maintain and enhance the legacy of the Chemical Corps and to promote cohesiveness and esprit de corps in the Chemical Corps Regiment by recognizing individuals who have served the Corps with distinction.
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