US Marine Corps General. He served as Chief of Staff, Headquarters US Marine Corps. Born in Meridian, Mississippi, he graduated from Marion Military Institute in Marion, Alabama in 1921. He then attended Mississippi State College (now Mississippi State University) in Starkville, Mississippi for two years before entering the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland where he was a member of the boxing team. He graduated in June 1925 and was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the US Marine Corps. After completing the Basic School at the Philadelphia Naval Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania he joined the 5th Marine Regiment at Quantico, Virginia and served tours in Cuba, Nicaragua, and China. During World War II he participated in combat action in the Pacific Theater, at Attu and Kiska in the Aleutians, and on Makin Island, Kwajalein, Saipan, Tinian, Guam, and Iwo Jima and was awarded the Legion of Merit with combat "V" (valor) device for outstanding service at Saipan and Tinian as Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3 (Operations and Training), Northern Troops and Landing Force. At Iwo Jima, he earned a Gold Star in lieu of a second Legion of Merit for his service as Chief of Staff of the 3rd Marine Division. After World War II he served as assistant division commander, and later division commander, 1st Marine Division in Korea from 1954 to 1955. He retired in October 1959 at the rank of lieutenant general, as the Chief of Staff, Headquarters US Marine Corps, Washington DC, with 34 years of continuous military service. Among his military and foreign decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit with 2 award stars and combat valor device, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy Presidential Unit Citation Medal, the Navy Unit Commendation Medal, the Nicaraguan Campaign Medal (1933), the China Service Medal, the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 6 service stars, the World War II Victory Medal, the Navy Occupation Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the Order of Military Merit, Taeguk Cordon Medal, and the United Nations Korea Medal. He was then advanced to the rank of general on the retired list for having been especially commended in combat in accordance with an Act of Congress passed on February 23, 1942 (colloquially known as a "tombstone promotion"). After his retirement, he settled in St. Mary's City, Maryland where he served as chairman of the St. Mary's' City Commission from the first meeting of the commission in 1966 until 1980. He died at St. Mary's City at the age of 90. The Marine Corps Association's Marine Corps Gazette General Robert E. Hogaboom Leadership Writing Contest is named in his honor.