James P. Berkeley

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James Phillips Berkeley
2nd Marine Division
Department of the Pacific
Battles/warsNicaraguan Campaign
Yangtze Patrol
World War II Korean War
AwardsNavy Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
RelationsMajor General Randolph C. Berkeley - (Father) Carrie Anna Phillips [1884-1907] - (Mother)

James Phillips Berkeley (July 1, 1907 – February 13, 1995) was an officer of the

Signal Officer of 5th Marine Division during the Battle of Iwo Jima and later as commanding general of Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic. He was the son of Medal of Honor recipient, Major General Randolph C. Berkeley.[1][2]

Early life and career

Berkeley was born on July 1, 1907, at Quarters M-7, Marine Barracks within Navy Yard at Portsmouth, Virginia, where his father, Captain Randolph C. Berkeley, was stationed as commander of the Marine detachment aboard the battleship USS Kentucky. His father later received the Medal of Honor during Veracruz Expedition and retired with the rank of major general in the Marine Corps in 1939.[2]

Berkeley's mother, Carrie Anna Phillips, died during his birth and, because of his father's occupation, James was entrusted to the care of his grandfather, who served with the Navy Pay Corps. James rejoined his father in 1923 and after, attending of public school in

preparatory school for the United States Naval Academy.[1][2]

James P. Berkeley as second lieutenant in April 1931

When Berkeley failed the entrance examination to the Naval Academy, his father gave him a choice: go to work or join the Marine Corps as an enlisted man. He chose the Marine Corps and enlisted as a private on March 1, 1927. Private Berkeley was subsequently sent for the recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. After completing training, he was attached to the 2nd Marine Brigade under Brigadier General Logan Feland and sailed for Nicaragua in January 1928.[2]

Berkeley took part in skirmishes with the Sandino rebels in the north of country and quickly received promotion to corporal. Berkeley was subsequently recommended for promotion to sergeant due to his leadership skills, but his father, who served as 2nd Brigade's Chief of Staff, blocked the promotion, saying his son was too young. James Berkeley later used this story to prove that his father's influence had not helped him in his military career. He was decorated for bravery with the Presidential Medal of Merit by the Government of Nicaragua.[1][2]

Upon his return to the United States in December 1928, Berkeley continued serving and was later promoted to sergeant. Berkeley was also a Distinguished Marksman and received the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal for his exemplary service.[2]

After three years as a

Norfolk Navy Yard.[1][2]

Berkeley was subsequently attached to the

John W. Thomason. While in this capacity, he served as acting communications officer, the branch which significantly influenced him in his later career.[1][2]

Berkeley returned stateside in December 1934 just for Christmas. After brief leave, Berkeley was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines under Lieutenant Colonel Thomas E. Watson at San Diego, California. He was appointed Battalion Communications Officer and for this new duty, he was promoted to first lieutenant in February 1935.

Berkeley was subsequently transferred to

Bahamas, before she returned to Philadelphia for post-shakedown repairs. Berkeley participated in the Neutrality Patrol and later also in a goodwill cruise to South America.[1][2]

World War II

At the beginning of June 1941, Berkeley traveled to

lieutenant colonel in August 1942.[1][2]

In this capacity, Berkeley had the opportunity to accompany the

Berkeley took part in Salerno Landing in September 1943 as an observer with the 46th British Infantry Division under Major General John Hawkesworth. During the landing, his LVT came under German artillery fire and was forced to withdraw for repairs. Berkeley later had the opportunity to discuss the efficiency of naval gunfire support with Lieutenant General George S. Patton, the 7th U.S. Army commander. He later recalled General Patton's distaste for and distrust of naval gunfire support, a primary element for successful amphibious operations.[1]

Berkeley returned stateside at the beginning of November 1943 and assumed command of the Field Signal Battalion at

Camp Pendleton, California. His unit was later incorporated into the newly activated 5th Marine Division and he was appointed Divisional Signal Officer in February 1944. Berkeley served under his old superior from Washington, D.C., Major General Keller E. Rockey, and was tasked with the organization of 5th Division Signal operation. Thanks to Berkeley's knowledge and experiences in the field of communications, Signal Troops of 5th Marine Division became an effective combat force. This fact was later confirmed during the Iwo Jima campaign.[2]

After a few months of division training and preparation, Berkeley finally sailed to the Pacific area in August 1944. He spent several months of further training in Hawaii, before his division took part in the Battle of Iwo Jima in February 1945. Berkeley went directly to the front lines, when he was assigned to the 27th Marine Regiment under Colonel Thomas A. Wornham. The regiment was in an area of fierce fighting and its executive officer, Colonel Louis C. Plain, was wounded and evacuated. Berkeley assumed temporarily his duties on March 15, 1945, and "coordinated the functioning of a staff badly displaced by casualties, he, without regard for his own personal safety, immediately visited the front line to familiarize himself thoroughly with the situation. Thereafter his clear thinking, sound vision, and tactical judgment based on information collected in numerous visits to the front line observation posts greatly aided the successful accomplishments of the missions assigned the regiment."[4][5]

Following the battle, Berkeley returned to command the 5th Division Signal Troops and subsequently was decorated with the

Combat "V" for bravery in action and received the Navy Presidential Unit Citation.[1][4]

Later career

in the background.

Berkeley was transferred as Corps Signal Officer to the staff of the

Upon his return to the United States at the beginning of April 1946, Berkeley was appointed assistant to the Navy Secretary of the Joint Army-Navy Secretariat within the

Argentina Marine Corps and to the Argentina Naval War College. He also helped with the reorganization of the Argentina Marine Corps.[1][2]

ret.

Colonel Berkeley spent next two years in South America and finally returned stateside in May 1949. He was briefly attached to the Troop Training Unit, Atlantic at

Berkeley graduated from the course in January 1950 and subsequently assumed duties at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. Berkeley served initially as a regular staff member of the Department of Strategy and Tactics, but later was promoted to assistant head of department and then to head of the department. He was also co-responsible for the preparing of the first-ever Command and Staff course at the junior level for lieutenant commanders and majors.[1][2]

Berkeley's next assignment came in May 1953, when he assumed duties as commanding officer of the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., and concurrently of the Marine Corps Institute. The Marines under his command also served as the guard unit for Camp David, the country retreat of the President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Berkeley left for Korea in June 1954 and subsequently assumed duties as chief of staff,

Camp Pendleton, when he reached the rank of brigadier general on July 1, 1955.[1][2]

For his new assignment, Berkeley was transferred to Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C., and appointed assistant chief of staff for personnel. The billet of Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps was created under his command. He received his second star, when he was promoted to the rank of major general in July 1958.[2]

Afterwards, Berkeley succeeded

2nd Marine Division. He also commanded Camp Lejeune from November 1961 to July 1963.[1]

The pinnacle of his career came at the beginning of August 1963, when Berkeley was promoted to the rank of

Spanish Navy Marines Commandant and began the planning, together with Vice Admiral John S. McCain Jr., Commander Amphibious Forces, U.S. Atlantic Fleet.[2]

The landing exercise was named Operation Steel Pike and took place during October and November 1964. It was the largest peacetime amphibious landing exercise in history, conducted by the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Berkeley commanded the ground units. As one of his last tasks, he oversaw deployment of Marine forces during the Dominican Civil War.[1]

Berkeley retired from the Marine Corps on July 1, 1965, after more than 38 years of active service. For his service during Operation Steel Pike, he was decorated with the Navy Distinguished Service Medal at his retirement ceremony.[1][4]

Decorations

Here is the ribbon bar of Lieutenant General James P. Berkeley:[4]

V
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
1st
Row
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
2nd
Row
Combat "V"
Navy Presidential Unit Citation Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
3rd
Row
Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal Yangtze Service Medal American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp American Campaign Medal
4th
Row
European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one 3/16 inch service star
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one 3/16 inch service star
World War II Victory Medal
Navy Occupation Service Medal
5th
Row
National Defense Service Medal with one star Korean Service Medal Nicaraguan Presidential Medal of Merit with star
United Nations Korea Medal

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "James P. Berkeley Papers – USMC Military History Division". USMC Military History Division. Archived from the original on August 1, 2013. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Fortitudine 25, Part 1" (PDF). marines.mil. Militarytimes Websites. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
  3. ^ "A Different War: Marines in Europe and North Africa". nps.gov. HyperWar Websites. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d "Valor awards for James P. Berkeley". valor.militarytimes.com. Militarytimes Websites. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  5. ^ "US Marine Corps in World War II – HyperWar (Iwo Jima)". ibiblio.org. HyperWar Websites. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
Military offices
Preceded by Commanding General of Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic
1963–1965
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commanding General of
2nd Marine Division

1959–1961
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commanding General of Department of the Pacific
1958–1959
Succeeded by