Sherfey Tipton Randolph – First Lieutenant, United States Army

SHERFEY TIPTON “TIP” RANDOLPH
AGE: 86 FREEHOLD, NEW JERSEY

Sherfey Tipton “Tip” Randolph, 86, of Freehold, New Jersey, died Thursday, November 13, 2008, at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township.

He was born in North Manchester, Indiana, and was raised at Ashville Farm School (Warren Wilson College) outside of Asheville, North Carolina. He attended Maryville College, enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942.

He has been a resident of Freehold since 1946. He managed the family farm in Freehold Township until it was sold in 1956. During his time on the farm, he was an active member of the Grange, Freehold Township.

Mr. Randolph served during World War II as a glider pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a part of the 80th Troop Carrier Squadron, 436th Troop Carrier Group obtaining the rank of First Lieutenant. He participated in the airborne invasions of Normandy, Southern France, The Netherlands and Germany. He also served as a navigator on C-47 supply and medical evacuation missions. He was awarded the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three campaign stars with Arrowhead device for airborne operations, the Netherlands Military Order of William for participation in the airborne assault of Holland, the American Campaign Medal and the European Victory Medal. He along with his unit was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation.

Mr. Randolph was a member of the World War II National Glider Pilot Association since its inception in 1971, serving as National Commander in 1974. He has been a member of the Executive Council and National Secretary since 1974. He had served on the Board of Directors of the Silent Wings Museum and/or Foundation since 1985.

Mr. Randolph worked for C.H. Roberson and Trico Equipment, Freehold Township until his retirement in 1990.

Mr. Randolph was a member of the Freehold Township Lion’s Club for over 50 years, serving terms as the president and secretary of the organization.

He was predeceased by his wife, Virginia Bowen Randolph, in 2006.

Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Tipton C. and Shirley Randolph of Freehold; a daughter and son-in-law, Virginia and Terry Collins of Silver Spring, Mary;and; a brother, George Randolph of Black Mountain, North Carolina; two sisters, June Henderson of Ashville, North Carolina, and Barbara Trent of Dover, Delaware; and two grandchildren, Captain Joshua T. Randolph, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C., and Karen E. Marica of Baltimore, Maryland.

Services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia at a later date.

Donations in his memory to Silent Wings Museum Foundation, Attn: Emil Douglas Flynn, 3501 40th St., Snyder, Texas 79549, would be appreciated.

NOTE: Lieuenant Randolph will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, 26 January 2009.

RANDOLPH, VIRGINIA B

• DATE OF BIRTH: 03/02/1924
• DATE OF DEATH: 04/01/2006
• BURIED AT: SECTION 8-N3  ROW 3  SITE 3
  ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
• WIFE OF RANDOLPH, SHERFEY TIPTON  1ST LT US ARMY

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard