Randolph C. Berkeley

Randolph Carter Berkeley,
MajGen Randolph C. Berkeley, Medal of Honor recipient
Born	(1875-01-09)January 9, 1875 Staunton, Virginia
Died	January 31, 1960(1960-01-31) (aged 85) Beaufort, South Carolina
Buried	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1898–1939
Rank	Major General
Unit	1st Marine Regiment
Commands held	11th Regiment
Battles/wars	U.S. occupation of Veracruz (1914) World War I
Awards	Medal of Honor Navy Cross Distinguished Service Medal Purple Heart

Randolph Carter Berkeley (January 9, 1875 – January 31, 1960) was a United States Marine Corps major general who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the United States occupation of Veracruz.

Commissioned a Marine second lieutenant during the Spanish–American War, Berkeley completed over 40 years' active duty in the Marine Corps, including service at sea and in the Philippines, Cuba, Panama, China, Haiti, Nicaragua and Guam. In addition to the Medal of Honor, he was awarded the Navy Cross as commander of the 11th Regiment in Nicaragua in 1927, and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal as Chief of Staff of the 2d Marine Brigade in that country in 1928–29.

Major Berkeley was commanding the 1st Battalion of the 2d Advanced Base Regiment when he took part in the action which earned him the United States' highest decoration on 21-April 22, 1914. Relations between the United States and the Huerta government of Mexico had been strained for some time, and a landing force of Marines and sailors was ordered ashore at Vera Cruz after a Huerta officer had arrested several U.S. Naval personnel at Tampico. The 2nd Regiment was the first ashore, meeting resistance from Mexican troops about noon on April 21,. Maj Berkeley was awarded the Medal of Honor for distinguished conduct and leadership in that battle.

Randolph C. Berkeley was born on January 9, 1875 in Staunton, Virginia, where he attended grade and high school. He graduated from Potomac Academy in Alexandria, Virginia in 1891.

Berkeley was appointed a Marine second lieutenant on August 8, 1898 for service during the Spanish-American War. He was stationed at the Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., until he was honorably discharged on January 9, 1899. He returned to the Corps in April 1899, when he was appointed a first lieutenant. His subsequent promotions included: captain, July 1900; major, October 1910; lieutenant colonel, August 1916; colonel, July 1918; brigadier general, July 1930; and major general on retirement, February 1939.