Bruno Hochmuth
Bruno Hochmuth | |
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3rd Battalion 4th Marines | |
| Battles/wars | World War II (2) |
Bruno Arthur Hochmuth (May 10, 1911 – November 14, 1967) was a
Early life and career
Hochmuth was born on May 10, 1911, in
After completing
Upon his return to the United States, Lieutenant Hochmuth was attached to the 7th Defense Battalion in September 1940. In February 1941, he embarked with the 7th Defense Battalion to American and Western Samoa. He was promoted to major in May 1942. He remained in the Pacific Theater for two years, returning to the United States in March 1943, where he was assigned to the Antiaircraft Artillery School at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, until June 1943. From June until May 1944, Hochmuth served as assistant director, Command and Staff School, Quantico, Virginia, prior to embarking again for the Pacific area.[2]
In May 1944, Major Hochmuth deployed again as assistant operations officer for the
Following the
Returning to the United States in August 1947, he served at
Ordered to
In July 1957, he was transferred to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and served as chief of staff through October 1959. While stationed in San Diego, he was promoted to brigadier general in November 1959 and served briefly thereafter as commanding general of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot and, later, as commanding general of the Recruit Training Command.[2]
In January 1960, General Hochmuth reported to Headquarters Marine Corps, where he served as deputy chief of staff (research and development). While serving in this capacity, he was promoted to major general in August 1963. That November, he assumed duty as commanding general, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. For meritorious achievement from November 1963 to February 1967, General Hochmuth was awarded a gold 5/16 inch star in lieu of a second Navy Commendation Medal.[2]
Vietnam and death
Beginning on March 19, 1967, Hochmuth served as commanding general, 3rd Marine Division, in the
The details of his death were later described by his subordinate and commanding officer,
After several passes, I spotted the
Huey Helicopter upside down in a rice paddy filled to the brim by the heavy rains which had been falling for several weeks. I directed the helicopter pilot to land on the paddy dike nearest the crash site from where the three of us walked through about 200 yards of paddy water until we reached the wreckage. There were flames on the water's surface around the aircraft. While the sergeant major attempted to extinguish these, Major Beans and I commenced diving beneath the surface, groping through the water for possible survivors. We had no idea just how long it had been since the crash had occurred. This was a difficult task, as you can imagine, since the water was full of silt, not to mention leeches, and impossible to see through. The three of us were joined by a Vietnamese farmer who refused to identify himself and could be distinguished only by a small gold crucifix around his neck. The four of us, after getting rid of the aviation fuel flames, repeatedly went below the surface into the helicopter cabin and by touch, finally found the bodies, one by one, of the six who had died in the crash. The helicopter had turned upside down just before impact which made the situation even more difficult. The last body recovered was General Hochmuth. I found him in the rear seat of the helicopter, the spot where he usually traveled when visiting the various command posts.[6]
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For his service during this period, he was posthumously awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and Purple Heart. Hochmuth was buried with full military honors at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California, on November 18, 1967.[2][4]
Awards and decorations
Hochmuth's military awards include:[2]
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| 1st Row | Navy Distinguished Service Medal | Combat "V"
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Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ 1 gold 5/16 star | Purple Heart w/ 1 gold 5/16 star | ||||||||||||
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| 2nd Row | Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/ 2 service stars | China Service Medal | American Defense Service Medal w/ Base clasp | American Campaign Medal | ||||||||||||
| 3rd Row | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 3 service stars
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World War II Victory Medal
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Navy Occupation Service Medal w/ Asia clasp | National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 service star | ||||||||||||
| 4th Row | Vietnam Service Medal w/ 1 service star | National Order of the Republic of Vietnam, 5th Class | Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ Palm
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Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal | ||||||||||||
Honors
Hochmuth Hall,
An avenue is named after him at MCRD San Diego.
Notes
- ^ "Fallen Stars". Time. November 24, 1967. Archived from the original on January 27, 2008. Retrieved May 1, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Major General Bruno A. Hochmuth, USMC". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
- ^ Pacific Stars and Stripes, Vol.23, No. 319, Thursday, Nov. 16, 1967, page 1
- ^ a b "Valor awards for Bruno A. Hochmuth". Military Times. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
- ^ "November 14, 1967: Marine general killed in Vietnam". This Day in History. History.com. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
- ^ Telfer, Gary. U.S. Marines in Vietnam: Fighting the North Vietnamese 1967 (PDF). USMC Military History Division. pp. 345–7. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
- ^ Duncan, PFC Christopher (November 27, 2009). "Hero honored at annex with Medal for Valor". Marine Corps News. Marine Corps Base Quantico: United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on December 11, 2008. Retrieved May 1, 2009.
Hochmuth Hall, the MCIA headquarters building named in commemoration of Maj. Gen. Bruno Hochmuth, who was killed in Vietnam.
References
This article incorporates public domain material from Major General Bruno A. Hochmuth, USMC. United States Marine Corps.
- "Fallen Stars". Time. November 24, 1967. Archived from the original on January 27, 2008.
- "Death of MajGen. Bruno A. Hochmuth". HMM-364.org. Archived from the original on November 20, 2008.
- "Bruno Arthur Hochmuth". www.virtualwall.org.
- Merna, 1stLt Gerald F., USMC (Ret.). "A Great Marine Corps General Died in Vietnam". Retrieved May 1, 2009.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - "Daughter of fallen military hero watches forgotten footage of father". CBS 8 San Diego. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
Further reading
- Smith, Charles R. (1997). Securing the Surrender: Marines in the Occupation of Japan. Marines in World War II Commemorative Series. Washington, D.C.: Marine Corps Historical Center. ISBN 0-16-049375-7. Retrieved May 1, 2009.
- Crumley, Beth (May 9, 2011). "Who was MajGen Bruno Hochmuth?". MCA&F Blog. Marine Corps Association and Foundation. Archived from the original on January 11, 2018. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
