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 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'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 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,