Robert H. Pepper

Robert Houston Pepper(April 22, 1895 – June 1, 1968) was an officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank oflieutenant general,who is most noted for his work in the development of theMarine defense battalionsduring World War II and later as commanding general of theFleet Marine Force, Pacificor3rd Marine Division.

Robert Houston Pepper
Robert H. Pepper as MG
Born	(1895-04-22)April 22, 1895 Georgetown, Delaware,U.S.
Died	June 1, 1968(1968-06-01)(aged 73) Arlington County, Virginia,U.S.
Buried	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/ branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1917–1957, 1961–1962
Rank	Lieutenant general
Service number	0-755
Commands	Fleet Marine Force, Pacific 3rd Marine Division 1st Marine Division MCRD Parris Island Department of the Pacific 11th Marine Regiment 3rd Defense Battalion
Battles / wars	World War I Haitian Campaign Yangtze Patrol World War II Attack on Pearl Harbor Battle of Tulagi Battle for Henderson Field Battle of Guadalcanal Battle of Cape Gloucester Korean War
Awards	Legion of Merit Navy Commendation Medal

Early career

Robert H. Pepper was born on April 22, 1895, inGeorgetown, Delaware,as the son of James Nutter Pepper, Jr. and his wife Margaret B. Simpler. Following his high school studies, he attended theUniversity of DelawareinNewarkand graduated withBachelor of Artsdegree in June 1917. Pepper was commissioned second lieutenant on August 6, 1917, and subsequently attended basic training atMarine Officers SchoolatQuantico, Virginia.

During November of that year, Pepper was attached to the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade under the command ofJohn H. Russell Jr.and sailed for his first expeditionary duty inHaiti.He served inCaribbeanuntil January 1920 and took part in many jungle patrols against hostile rebels called "Cacos". During his time in Haiti, he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant on July 1, 1918.

Following his return stateside, Pepper was attached again to theMarine Barracks Quantico,where he attended Company Officers Course within Marine Corps Schools there. He finished the course in May 1920 and sailed toFrance,where he was tasked with the preparations ofWorld War Ibattlefields maps. Pepper was assigned to that mission until December 1920 and then returned to the United States and again to Quantico.

In April 1922, Pepper was ordered back toCaribbeanand appointedAideto the American High Commissioner in Haiti, Brigadier GeneralJohn H. Russell.Pepper was then ordered stateside in August 1924 in order to attendArmy Motor Transportation SchoolatCamp Holabird,Maryland.He was meanwhile promoted to the rank of captain on August 20, 1924. Upon graduation from this school in June 1925, Pepper was transferred toMarine Corps Base San Diego,Californiaand attached to the4th Marine Regiment.His regiment finally sailed forChinain February 1927 and Pepper later took part in guard duties atShanghai International Settlement.

Upon his return from China in July 1929, Pepper was appointed an instructor at the Correspondence School at Quantico Base until the beginning of June 1931. In August of that year, Pepper assumed duties as commanding officer of the Marine detachment aboard the battleshipUSSOklahomaand spent next two years with patrol cruises along theWest coast.

Pepper returned toSan Diegoin August 1933 and later was transferred to theMarine Barracks Parris Island,South Carolina.He was sent to theArmy Coast Artillery SchoolatFort Monroe,Virginia,during July 1934 and subsequently graduated from the course in June 1935. Pepper was promoted to the rank of major at the same time and assumed duties as Artillery Assistant in the War Plans Section, Division of Plans and Policies,Headquarters Marine Corps.

While in this capacity, Pepper met Lieutenant ColonelCharles D. Barrettand they drew up together the concept ofMarine defense battalions,which were designated for theAnti-aircraftand coastal defense of the islands in thePacific Ocean.

World War II

Lieutenant Colonel Robert H. Pepper (second from right) with the staff of3rd Defense Battalionon Hawaii

Lieutenant Colonel Pepper leftWashington, D.C.in June 1939 and returned to theParris Island,where he assumed duties as commanding officer of 1st Battalion,15th Marine Regiment.However his command was redesignated3rd Defense Battalionon October 10, 1939, and Pepper assumed command of this new unit. For his new command, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel on October 1, 1939. He then spent next year with extensive training and then sailed forPearl Harborin April 1940. Pepper was replaced in command by ColonelHarry K. Pickettat the end of August 1940 and subsequently took part in the preparation of defense atMidway Atoll.

He returned to the command of3rd Defense Battalionat the beginning of February 1941 and returned toHawaii,where his battalion was tasked with defense of the islands. During the JapaneseAttack on Pearl Harboron 7 December 1941, Pepper sailed together with ColonelGilder D. Jackson Jr.aboard the heavy cruiserUSSIndianapolistoJohnston Atollto observe the testing ofnew Higgins boat.

Pepper was promoted to the rank ofcolonelin May 1942 and his unit subsequently sailed toGuadalcanalat the beginning of August 1942 in order to reinforce1st Marine Divisionunder Major GeneralAlexander Vandegrift.He took part in theBattle of Tulagiand 3rd Defense Battalion under his command successfully hit three enemy ships that had beached themselves to land troops.

He later took part in theBattle for Henderson Fieldat the end of October 1942 and his battalion defensed theLunga Pointagainst the enemy counterattack from the sea. Pepper remained in command of 3rd Defense Battalion until March 15, 1943, when he was relieved by his executive officer, Lieutenant ColonelHarold C. Roberts.For his service on Guadalcanal, Pepper was decorated with theLegion of MeritwithCombat "V".

Pepper was subsequently transferred to the staff of the11th Marine Artillery Regimentlocated inAustraliafor rest and refit after heavy combats on Guadalcanal. He relieved ColonelPedro del Valleas commanding officer on March 29, 1943, and led his regiment toNew Britainin December of that year. Pepper went ashore duringGloucester operationon December 26 and his regiment met light opposition at the beginning of campaign. His regiment struggled with difficult terrain, which was improper for the deployment of artillery units. The 11th Marines subsequently provided support fire for the advancing marine units during the assault on airdrome and later during the attack on Aogiri Ridge.

Colonel Pepper has been relieved byWilliam H. Harrisonat the end of January 1944 and subsequently returned to the United States the following month. After one month of medical leave, Pepper was appointed chief of staff to the commanding general ofCamp Lejeune,Major GeneralJohn Marston.This facility served asboot camp,and Pepper was co-responsible for the training of replacement troops for the marine units deployed overseas.

He was also promoted to the rank ofbrigadier generalat the same time. Pepper remained in this capacity until June 1945. For his service in this capacity and his great administrative skills, he was decorated withNavy Commendation Medal.

Later career

CPT Don King; Parris Island Head Coach, MJR John T. Hill; CPT Billy Hayes; Lieutenant GeneralGraves B. Erskine(Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic) at the Norfolk Naval Base and Major General Robert H. Pepper (MCRDPI), 1952 – All Marine Champions

Pepper was then ordered back to the Pacific and assigned to the staffV Amphibious Corpsunder Major GeneralHarry Schmidtas Corps Artillery Commander. He remained in that capacity until November 1945, when he was transferred to the staff ofFleet Marine Force PacificonHawaii.Pepper was appointed deputy chief of staff under the command of Lieutenant GeneralRoy Geiger.

He was ordered to the United States in May 1946 and assumed duties as assistant director of personnel at Headquarters Marine Corps. In February 1948, Pepper was promoted to the capacity of director ofpersonneland spent another year and half in that assignment.

During the end of May 1949, Pepper was transferred toTroop Training Unit, Amphibious Training Command, Atlantic FleetatLittle Creek, Virginia,and relieved Brigadier GeneralWilliam A. Wortonas its commanding general. In this capacity, he was responsible for theamphibioustraining of all ground forces withinUnited States Atlantic Fleet.

In August 1950, Pepper has been promoted to the rank ofmajor generaland assumed duties as commanding general of theMarine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island,South Carolina.He was responsible for the training of new recruits for next year and half and subsequently relinquished command to his deputy, Brigadier GeneralMatthew C. Hornerat the end of January 1952. He was then ordered toCamp Pendleton,California,and assumed command of newly activated3rd Marine Division.

The 3rd Division was reactivated because of the communists threat during the ongoingKorean Warand subsequently ordered toOkinawa,Japan,in August 1952. Pepper commanded his division during the several amphibious exercises in Japan and his unit served as defense force of theFar Eastern area.

Pepper was transferred to Korea at the beginning of May 1954, and assumed command of1st Marine Division.His new command was tasked with the defense ofKorean Demilitarized Zone,but Pepper did not stay long. He was sent toHawaii,where he assumed command ofFleet Marine Force, Pacific,which included two-thirds of the Marine Corps Combat forces at the time. For his new command, he was promoted to the temporary rank oflieutenant generalat the same time.

He was transferred toSan Franciscoat the end of September 1955 and relieved Major generalHenry D. Linscottas commander ofDepartment of the Pacific.Pepper was also reverted to the rank of major general. He spent two years with the training and administration of Marine units along theWest Coastand finally retired from active service on May 1, 1957, after 40 years of service. He was advanced again to the rank oflieutenant generalfor having been specially commended in combat.

Retirement

Grave at Arlington National Cemetery

His retirement did not last long, because Pepper was recalled to active duty in July 1960, when he was appointed Marine Corps member of Bolte Committee, which was tasked to studyOfficer Personnel Act from 1947.In May 1961, Pepper was appointed senior member of the Headquarters Marine Corps Reorganization Board and subsequently member ofDepartment of DefenseStudy group onMilitary compensation.

Pepper died on June 1, 1968, inArlington County, Virginia.He is buried atArlington National Cemeterytogether with his wife Mildred Liebermann Pepper (1899–1989).

Decorations

Here is the ribbon bar of Lieutenant General Robert H. Pepper:

1st Row	Legion of MeritwithCombat "V"					Navy Commendation Medal						Navy Presidential Unit Citationwith one star
2nd Row	Navy Unit Commendation				Marine Corps Expeditionary Medalwith two stars				World War I Victory Medalwith West Indiesclasp				Haitian Campaign Medal
3rd Row	Yangtze Service Medal				American Defense Service Medalwith Base Clasp				Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medalwith three3/16 inch service stars				American Campaign Medal
4th Row	World War II Victory Medal				National Defense Service Medalwith one star				Korean Service Medal				United Nations Korea Medal

References

This article incorporatespublic domain materialfrom websites or documents of theUnited States Marine Corps.