Randolph Carter Berkeley

Led Marines through deadly street fighting to seize Veracruz

Randolph Carter Berkeley was born in Staunton, Virginia, on 9 January 1875 and graduated from Potomac Academy in Alexandria in 1891. Commissioned a Marine second lieutenant during the Spanish-American War in August 1898, he briefly left the service in January 1899 before returning as a first lieutenant that April. His early career included shipboard duty in Oregon, Helena and Kentucky, service in the Philippines and China, and expeditionary deployments to Panama and Cuba. He became a major in 1910.

In December 1913 he assumed command of the 1st Battalion, 2d Advanced Base Regiment. At Veracruz on 21–22 April 1914, he led the battalion in street fighting under machine-gun and rifle fire. His careful handling of the Marines limited their casualties and earned the Medal of Honor.

After returning to the United States, Berkeley commanded the Marine barracks on Guam from 1915 to 1917 and subsequently served at New York and Charleston. Promoted to colonel in 1918, he served with the 1st Provisional Brigade in Haiti from 1919 to 1921. He completed the Field Officers Course at Quantico and the Army War College, then commanded the 1st Regiment. As commander of the 11th Regiment in Nicaragua in 1927, he earned the Navy Cross for leadership during difficult pacification operations. Service as chief of staff of the 2d Marine Brigade in 1928–29 brought the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.

Promoted to brigadier general in July 1930, he commanded the Marine Corps Schools at Quantico and later returned to Nicaragua as commander of the 2d Brigade. From 1933 to 1936 he commanded the barracks at Parris Island, followed by service as president of the Marine Corps Examining and Retiring Boards in Washington. He retired as a major general in February 1939 after more than forty years of service.

Berkeley lived in Beaufort and Port Royal, South Carolina, in retirement. He died at the naval hospital in Beaufort on 31 January 1960 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on 4 February.

Official Medal of Honor citation:

For distinguished conduct in battle, engagements of Vera Cruz, 21 and 22 April 1914. Maj. Berkeley was eminent and conspicuous in command of his battalion; was in the fighting of both days, and exhibited courage and skill in leading his men through action. His cool judgment and courage, and his skill in handling his men in encountering and overcoming the machinegun and rifle fire down Cinco de Mayo and parallel streets account for the small percentage of the losses of marines under his command.