James Joseph Keating (April 20, 1895 – December 18, 1978) was a United States Marine Corps officer with the rank of brigadier general, who is most noted as commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines during the Battle of Guadalcanal and later as officer in charge of the Intelligence Section, Headquarters Marine Corps. Early years Keating was born on April 20, 1895, in Castroville, California, and, after attending of school in Boston, he enrolled at Harvard Law School, where he graduated in 1917. He subsequently enlisted in the Marine Corps on May 19, 1917. Keating rose to the rank of sergeant and was decorated with the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal for his enlisted service. He attended Officer Candidates School at Marine Barracks Quantico, Virginia, and was commissioned second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve on July 15, 1918. His next assignment was with 1st Marine Regiment, with which he sailed for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Keating was stationed at Cuba for four months and returned to United States in March 1919. He received an honorable discharge in April 1919 and was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant. Following his discharge, Keating worked in the printing and publishing business in Philadelphia, before he rejoined Marine Corps Reserve in August 1930 as first lieutenant. He was assigned to the reserve 1st Battalion, 21st Marine Regiment, and his assignments included intelligence officer, operations officer, executive officer and later also commanding officer. For his reserve service, Keating was decorated with the Reserve Good Conduct Medal with two stars. World War II Keating was recalled to the active duty with the Marine Corps in November 1940 with the rank of major and assigned to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. He was transferred to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in January 1941 and was assigned to 1st Marine Division under the command of Major General Holland Smith. Major Keating was subsequently appointed executive officer of 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment under Colonel Pedro del Valle. He participated with the regiment in subsequent maneuvers and was appointed commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment in January 1942. Promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in May 1942, Keating sailed for the South Pacific in June of that year. He led his battalion during the Guadalcanal Campaign and also took part in Battle of Edson's Ridge, where his 105mm howitzers supported other