Robert E. Hogaboom
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Robert Edward Hogaboom (November 13, 1902 – November 11, 1993) was a decorated
United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionar ...
four-star general Military star ranking is military terminology, used in mainly English speaking countries, to describe general and flag officers. Within NATO's armed forces, the stars are equal to OF-6–10. Star ranking One-star A one-star rank is usually ...
who served as chief of staff, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps between 1957 and 1959. Hogaboom was promoted to four-star rank upon retirement as a "tombstone general". Hogaboom was also a lead member of so-called "Chowder Society", special Marine Corps Board, which was tasked to conduct research and prepare material relative to postwar legislation concerning the role of the Marine Corps in national defense.


Early career

Robert Edward Hogaboom was born on November 13, 1902, in
Meridian, Mississippi Meridian is the List of municipalities in Mississippi, eighth most populous city in the U.S. state of Mississippi, with a population of 35,052 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Mississippi, ...
, as the son of late Army Colonel George E. Hogaboom and former Mary Mayerhoff. He graduated from
Marion Military Institute Marion Military Institute, the Military College of Alabama, (MMI, sometimes Marion Institute, Marion Military, or simply Marion) is a Public college, public military junior college in Marion, Alabama. Founded in 1842, it is the official state mi ...
in
Marion, Alabama Marion is a city in and the county seat of Perry County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city is 3,686, up 4.8% over 2000. First known as Muckle Ridge, the city was renamed for a hero of the American Revolut ...
, in summer of 1920 and enrolled the
Mississippi State College Mississippi State University for Agriculture and Applied Science, commonly known as Mississippi State University (MSU), is a public land-grant research university in Mississippi State, Mississippi, United States. It is classified among "R1: ...
in Starkville. Hogaboom completed two years before received an appointment to the
United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (USNA, Navy, or Annapolis) is a United States Service academies, federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as United States Secre ...
at
Annapolis, Maryland Annapolis ( ) is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland. It is the county seat of Anne Arundel County and its only incorporated city. Situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east ...
. During his time at the academy, "Hoge" was a member of the boxing team and also was designated Expert Rifleman. He graduated on June 4, 1925, with
bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...
and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. Some of his classmates also became general officers in the Marine Corps:
Francis H. Brink Francis may refer to: People and characters *Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church (2013–2025) *Francis (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters *Francis (surname) * Francis, a character played by YouTuber Boogie29 ...
,
Lionel C. Goodeau Lionel may refer to: Name *Lionel (given name) Places *Lionel, Lewis, a village in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland *Lionel Town, Jamaica, a settlement Brands and enterprises *Lionel, LLC, an American designer and importer of toy trains and model ra ...
,
Harold D. Harris Harold Douglas Harris (February 4, 1903 – September 20, 1984) was a United States Marine Corps officer with the rank of brigadier general. Harris fought guerrillas in Nicaragua, and subsequently the Japanese in World War II, while commanding 5 ...
, John N. Hart or
James Snedeker James may refer to: People * James (given name) * James (surname) * James (musician), aka Faruq Mahfuz Anam James, (born 1964), Bollywood musician * James, brother of Jesus * King James (disambiguation), various kings named James * Prince James ...
. Hogaboom was subsequently ordered to
the Basic School The Basic School (TBS) is where all newly commissioned and appointed (for warrant officers) United States Marine Corps officers are taught the basics of being an "Officer of Marines." The Basic School is located in Stafford County, Virginia to ...
at the
Philadelphia Navy Yard The Philadelphia Naval Shipyard was the first United States Navy shipyard and was historically important for nearly two centuries. Construction of the original Philadelphia Naval Shipyard began during the American Revolution in 1776 at Front ...
for basic officer training, which he completed five months later. He then joined the
1st Battalion, 5th Marines 1st Battalion, 5th Marines (1/5) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California consisting of approximately 800 Marines and sailors. Nicknamed ''Geronimo'', it falls under the ...
at Quantico, Virginia and embarked for Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud, and List of islands of Cuba, 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the ...
. Hogaboom has returned to the United States in September of that year and was ordered to
Richmond, Virginia Richmond ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. Incorporated in 1742, Richmond has been an independent city (United States), independent city since 1871. ...
, where he took part in the Mail guard duty during a nationwide wave of mail robberies. He embarked with 1st Marine Brigade for expeditionary duty to
Nicaragua Nicaragua, officially the Republic of Nicaragua, is the geographically largest Sovereign state, country in Central America, comprising . With a population of 7,142,529 as of 2024, it is the third-most populous country in Central America aft ...
in February 1927 and spent almost three years in that country. Hogaboom took part in the jungle patrols against hostile bandits under
Augusto César Sandino Augusto César Sandino (; 18 May 1895 21 February 1934), full name Augusto Nicolás Calderón Sandino, was a Nicaraguan revolutionary, founder of the militant group EDSN, and leader of a rebellion between 1927 and 1933 against the United Sta ...
and later served as an instructor with Nicaraguan Constabulary, Guardia Nacional. For his service in that country, he was decorated with Nicaraguan Presidential Medal of Merit with Diploma. Following his return stateside in early 1930, he served at
Marine Corps Base San Diego Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego (MCRD San Diego) is a United States Marine Corps military installation in San Diego, California. It lies between San Diego Bay and Interstate 5, adjacent to San Diego International Airport and the former Nava ...
at the Recruit Depot and later completed the Sea School. Hogaboom then joined the Marine detachment aboard the cruiser USS ''Chicago'' and took part in the gunnery exercises preliminary to Fleet Problem XIII off the California coast. Hogaboom was detached in summer 1933 and attended the Army Cavalry School at
Fort Riley Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in North Central Kansas, on the Kansas River, also known as the Kaw, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 101,733 acres (41,170 ha) in Ge ...
,
Kansas Kansas ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the west. Kansas is named a ...
. Upon his graduation in June 1934, he was ordered to the Marine Corps Schools, Quantico and served as an instructor there until early 1937, when he was transferred to
4th Marine Regiment The 4th Marine Regiment is an infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps. Based at Camp Schwab in Okinawa, Japan, it is part of the 3rd Marine Division of the III Marine Expeditionary Force. Mission 4th Marine Regiment conducts littoral ...
and sailed for
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
. He was stationed at
Shanghai International Settlement The Shanghai International Settlement () originated from the 1863 merger of the British Concession (Shanghai), British and American Concession (Shanghai), American list of former foreign enclaves in China, enclaves in Shanghai, in which Brit ...
under the command of Colonel Joseph C. Fegan and participated in the guard duties during a period of tensions between
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
and
Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
. Hogaboom was ordered back to the United States in 1939 and ordered back to the staff of Marine Corps Schools, Quantico as an instructor. During his second tour at Quantico, he was deeply involved in the development of the
amphibious warfare Amphibious warfare is a type of offensive military operation that today uses naval ships to project ground and air power onto a hostile or potentially hostile shore at a designated landing beach. Through history the operations were conduc ...
doctrine, its tactics and techniques.


World War II

During his service at Quantico, commanding general of the Marine Corps Base, Major General
Holland Smith Holland McTyeire "Howlin' Mad" Smith, Order of the Bath, KCB (April 20, 1882 – January 12, 1967) was a General officer, general in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He is sometimes called the "father" of modern United St ...
, noticed the Hogaboom's qualities as staff officer and brilliant instructor and when he received orders to assume command of Amphibious Corps, Pacific Fleet in
San Diego San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...
, he requested Hogaboom to be assign to his staff. Hogaboom was promoted to lieutenant colonel and ordered to
San Diego San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...
in September 1942 for duty on the staff of Amphibious Corps, Pacific Fleet under Major General
Holland Smith Holland McTyeire "Howlin' Mad" Smith, Order of the Bath, KCB (April 20, 1882 – January 12, 1967) was a General officer, general in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He is sometimes called the "father" of modern United St ...
. He was appointed assistant operations officer (G-3) and was put in charge of the amphibious training of Army 7th Infantry Division at
Fort Ord Fort Ord is a former United States Army post on Monterey Bay on the Pacific Ocean coast in California, which closed in 1994 due to Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) action. Most of the fort's land now makes up the Fort Ord National Monument, ...
,
California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
. Hogaboom coordinated the training of the division for the ongoing
Aleutian Islands Campaign The Aleutian Islands campaign () was a military campaign fought between 3 June 1942 and 15 August 1943 on and around the Aleutian Islands in the American theater (World War II), American Theater of World War II during the Pacific War. It was t ...
and later served as an observer during the Battle of Attu, amphibious landing at Attu in May 1943. For his service in this capacity, he was decorated with the Navy Commendation Medal. He was, meanwhile, promoted to the temporary rank of colonel in November 1942. In November 1943, Commander of Fifth Amphibious Force, Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner, requested a more experienced Marine officer to be assigned to his staff. Admiral Turner, known as "Terrible Turner" because of his furious temper, wrote a letter to the commandant, Thomas Holcomb, demanding a substitute for his assistant chief of staff for operations, Colonel Joseph W. Knighton. Holcomb asked Holland Smith for a substitute, and he chose Hogaboom. He later described his experiences under Turner: Hogaboom served as assistant chief of staff for operations and training, with additional duty as Smith's liaison officer and participated in the combat operations in Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign, Gilbert and Marshall Islands and in the Mariana and Palau Islands campaign, Marianas. He remained in this capacity until mid-October 1944 and was decorated with the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" for his service in that capacity. He was subsequently transferred to Guam and appointed chief of staff, 3rd Marine Division under Major General Graves B. Erskine. Hogaboom knew Erskine well from his time under General Smith in the Aleutians and thus the cooperation worked well. Hogaboom took part in the planning of Iwo Jima campaign and the landing itself in February 1945 and earned his second Legion of Merit for his service.


Postwar service


Marines & Helicopters

Following the war, Hogaboom took part in the occupation of
Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
and returned to the United States in December 1945 for duty as a director of the Amphibious Warfare School at the Marine Corps Schools, Quantico under Brigadier General Oliver P. Smith. Hogaboom received orders from the commandant, Alexander Vandegrift, to form and head the committee of the academic board, which conducted research on the desired characteristics for an assault transport helicopter. He and his board concluded, that ''"On the premise that the helicopter offers a valuable means of accelerating and dispersing the ship-to-shore movement, it is recognized that the complete replacement of all existing ship-to-shore conveyances may at some future date be desirable. Under such conditions, it would appear necessary that there be designed a relatively small type helicopter for transportation of assault troops, as well as large type helicopter capable of lifting all divisional loads. However, examination of current technical developments indicates that the latter type may not be practical for some time to come. Accordingly, it is considered more realistic to approach the problem in increments, establishing initially the characteristics for a purely assault conveyance...." His reports were forwarded to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air, Vice Admiral Donald B. Duncan, who distributed it through the command structure of the navy. Hogaboom and his effort helped to promote the use helicopters for future combat operations.


Chowder Society

Hogaboom later became a member of the so-called "Chowder Society", special Marine Corps Board under general Gerald C. Thomas, which was tasked by Commandant Alexander Vandegrift to conduct research and prepare material relative to postwar legislation concerning the role of the Marine Corps in national defense. Due to cuts in Marine Corps budget, the threat of merging of the Marine Corps into the United States Army, was more realistic. Also thanks to his work, he is one of the few men, who helped the future of the Corps. While in this assignment, Hittle had the opportunity to cooperate with great names of modern Marine history such as: Merrill B. Twining, Victor H. Krulak, Merritt A. Edson, Samuel R. Shaw, James E. Kerr, James C. Murray, Jonas M. Platt, DeWolf Schatzel, James D. Hittle, Robert D. Heinl, Edward H. Hurst or Marine Corps Reserve officers John R. Blandford, Arthur B. Hanson, Lyford Hutchins, and William McCahill.


General's duty

Hogaboom was ordered to Washington, D.C., in June 1949 and attended the National War College, where he graduated one year later. He then served on its staff until his promotion to the rank of brigadier general on July 1, 1951. He was subsequently appointed Marine Corps liaison officer in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations under Admiral William M. Fechteler and remained in that capacity until July 1952, when he was transferred to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina for duty as assistant division commander, 2nd Marine Division under future commandant Randolph M. Pate. While in this capacity, Hogaboom twice commanded multi-nation NATO landing forces in Mediterranean maneuvers. As Commanding General of the Landing Force in Operation Longstep in November 1952, he directed U.S. Marines, French, Greek and Italian Forces in landings on the coast of Turkey. In Operation Weldfast in October 1953, British, Greek and Italian troops joined the Marines under his command. When General Pate was ordered to Korea in May 1953, Hogaboom assumed temporary command of the division and held it for one month, when new commanding general, George F. Good Jr., relieved him. He then resumed his duties as assistant division commander and remained in that capacity until January 1954, when he was transferred to the same capacity with 1st Marine Division (United States), 1st Marine Division in Korea. The 1st Marine Division served under General Pate in the Korean Demilitarized Zone and because truce was already in effect, there was no major fighting at the time. Hogaboom was promoted to major general in July 1954 and assumed command of the division at that time. He was decorated with his third Legion of Merit for his service in Korea and also received Order of National Security Merit, Republic of Korea Gukseon Medal.


Hogaboom's Board

Upon arrival to the United States in January 1955, Hogaboom was ordered to the Headquarters Marine Corps, where he assumed duty as deputy chief of staff for plans. While in this capacity, he formed the Fleet Marine Force Organization and Composition Board which studied and came up with recommendations for revised tables of organization of Marine Corps units, among other things. Hogaboom selected 16 other high-ranking officers (among them were brigadier generals Ronald D. Salmon and Edward C. Dyer or Colonels Odell M. Conoley, Frederick P. Henderson, Lewis W. Walt, Norman J. Anderson, William K. Jones or Keith B. McCutcheon) and conducted a thorough and comprehensive study of the entire Fleet Marine Force (FMF), including aviation, with the purpose of making recommendations for the optimum organization, composition, and equipment of the FMF. The results of this organization and composition study were to set the pattern for all major organizational changes within the FMF during the remaining part of the decade. Hogaboom was promoted to lieutenant general in December 1957 and appointed chief of staff, Headquarters Marine Corps by his old superior, now Commandant of the Marine Corps, Randolph M. Pate. He remained in that capacity until October 30, 1959, when retired after 34 years of active service and was advanced to the rank of General (United States), general for having been specially commended in combat.


Retirement

Following the retirement from the Marine Corps, Hogaboom settled in St. Mary's City, Maryland, where he was active in civic affairs and also served as chairman of the St. Mary's City Commission, a historic preservation group. He was also active in the Marine Corps Historical Foundation, where he served as a member of the board of directors. General Robert E. Hogaboom died on November 11, 1993, following complications of Alzheimer's disease and was buried in the cemetery of Trinity Episcopal Church. He was married twice, first time to Jean Galpin Lowe (1908–1979) and then to Maurine Holbert (1912–2010). The Marine Corps Association, Marine Corps Association's Marine Corps Gazette General Robert E. Hogaboom Leadership Writing Contest is named in his honor.


Decorations and honors

General Hogaboom's medals and decorations include:


See also

*List of United States Marine Corps four-star generals


References

: {{DEFAULTSORT:Hogaboom, Robert E. 1902 births 1993 deaths United States Marine Corps generals United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II United States Marine Corps personnel of the Korean War Recipients of the Legion of Merit Marion Military Institute alumni United States Naval Academy alumni National War College alumni American people of Dutch descent People from Meridian, Mississippi People from St. Mary's County, Maryland Military personnel from Mississippi