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USS BERKELEY (DDG 15) was commissioned on 15 December 1962 at the Naval Shipyard Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. USS BERKELEY (DDG-15) was named for Major General Randolph Carter BERKELEY, USMC.Ê General BERKELEY was appointed a second lieutenant on 8 August 1898 for service during the Spanish-American War and completed over forty years of active service in the Marine Corps, including service at sea and in the Philippines, Cuba, Panama, China, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Guam. General Berkeley was awarded the Medal of Honor for distinguished service during the Battle of Veracruz, Mexico in April 1914. Following his retirement in 1939, General BERKELEY lived in Beaufort, and Port Royal, South Carolina, until his death in 1960. BERKELEY was part of the CHARLES F. ADAMS class of guided missile destroyers, widely regarded as the first truly modern all-purpose destroyer.Ê BERKELEY was equipped with the Tartar missile system, two five- inch Mk 42 guns, the SQQ-23A sonar system and an ASROC launcher for anti-submarine warfare. Ê In 1964, BERKELEY made her first deployment to the Western Pacific as an operational unit of the U.S. SEVENTH Fleet.Ê She was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for the role she played in the Tonkin Gulf PT boat incident, the first attack on US warships operation in the Gulf, which made her the first Guided Missile Destroyer to be awarded this commendation. Ê BERKELEYÕs last deployment to the Western Pacific during the Vietnam era began with just 72 hours notice in April 1972.Ê During this cruise, she was directly involved in the mining of Haiphong Harbor, providing a protective barrage of fire while carrier based aircraft covered the harbor with mines.Ê During a one half hour period, while receiving enemy fire from shore gun emplacements, BERKELEY delivered over 280 five-inch rounds before clearing the harbor at 32 knots. Ê Following two routine deployments in 1974 and 1976, BERKELEY made her next deployment in 1979.Ê She was part of the USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63) Task Group which was dispatched to the Arabian Sea in response to the Iranian occupation of the U.S. Embassy in Teheran.Ê For her participation in the event, BERKELEY received the Navy Expeditionary Medal. Ê In 1981, BERKELEY participated in exercises with the Royal Thai Navy and again operated with the KITTY HAWK Battle Group, patrolling the waters of the Indian Ocean.Ê During this deployment, BERKELEY was awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal for picking up two groups of Vietnamese refugees. Ê BERKELEY again deployed in July 1988 with the New Jersey Battle Group and made port calls in South Korea and along the eastern coast of Australia.Ê While in Sydney, BERKELEY PARTICIPATED IN THE Sydney Harbor Naval Salute in celebration of AustraliaÕs Bicentennial Anniversary. Ê In October 1990, BERKELEY steamed to San Francisco and participated in the celebration of Fleet Week.Ê BERKELEY deployed to the South Pacific from February to April 1991 and conducted Counter Narcotics and Law Enforcement Operations with the U.S. Coast Guard. Ê In January 1992, BERKELEY was scheduled to be decommissioned in May and began the preparations with the decommissioning process.Ê In March, her orders changed and the decommissioning was rescheduled for September and eventual transfer to the Greek Navy.Ê From April until her decommissioning, the final crew of the BERKELEY conducted extensive training with the Greek crew that would be sailing her to Greece after decommissioning. Ê BERKELEY was decommissioned on 30 September 1992 and commissioned as HS Themistokles (DDG-221). Ê During her faithful service in the U.S. Navy, BERKELEY was awarded the following decorations:Ê Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Expeditionary Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Combat action Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and Vietnam Service Medal |
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