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On July 28th, 2024, James C. Diehl faded away at the age of 91 and went to his permanent duty station yonder as an old Airman in the USAF to an unknown base in the sky.
James was born in Hillsborough, Indiana to James Franklin Diehl and Francis May (McCall) Diehl. He was raised by his mother and stepfather, Walter Stephens. His uncle, Thomas E. McCall, is a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. He moved with his family to a farm near Noblesville, Indiana and worked there until he graduated from High School.
James joined the USAF in 1950 and trained as a military policeman. His first overseas duty station was Sembach AFB, Germany where he met and married the love of his life, Magdalena (Lutzi) Diehl. Their first son, Gunther L. Diehl, was born in 1952. His next duty station was Mathers AFB, CA where he served in various Honor Guards including ones for General Dolittle and General Clark, then the Chief of the USAF. James returned to Sembach AFB and served there during the Cold War. Their second son, Steven R. Diehl, was born at Landstuhl AFB, Germany in 1961. James was then assigned to Holloman AFB in Alamogordo, New Mexico. He served in the Honor Guard for John F. Kennedy when the President visited White Sands Missile Range.
During this time, he was sent TDY to Chile AFB, Izmir, Turkey.
In 1969 he was sent to Bien Hoa AFB in Vietnam where he survived 13 missile and rocket attacks and returned to the US in 1970. His final duty station was Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson, Arizona. In 1972,
James was honorably discharged from the USAF and received a Commendation Medal for his excellent service and moved his family back to Alamogordo.
After his AF retirement, he worked at Holloman AFB as an electrician and in housing maintenance. He then went on to become a Maintenance Worker at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo and retired from there.
James and Magdalena served for many years as Volunteers at the Alameda Park Zoo. In addition, James volunteered at the NM Museum of Space History. He also loved to work on lawn mowers and small engines as his past time.
His beloved wife Magdalena passed away in January of 2021. He is survived by his two sons and their wives, Gunther and Loretta Hall Diehl and Steven and Kathy Lee Roark; his two grandchildren, Rachel Sarah Diehl Natera and her husband Jesus, and Caleb Lines and his wife Nicole McMahon.
The Funeral Service for James Diehl will be held at 10:00 am, Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at Alamogordo Funeral Home.
Burial will follow at Monte Vista Cemetery.
The Diehl family has entrusted their loved one to the care of Alamogordo Funeral Home to direct the funeral services. The To sign the online register book, please visit www.alamogordofuneralhome.org.
