page_title: Robert H. Pepper
section_title: Later career
hierarchical_section_title: Robert H. Pepper / Later career
caption_attribution_description: "All Marine Champions, Parris Island, S.C., After an impressive victory over the San Diego eleven in the All Marine Championship game at Parris Island, recently, Parris Island Co-Captains with their coach, received the 'All Marine Championship' plaque from Lt. General Graves B. Erskine, as Maj. General Robert H. Pepper looks on. (L to R): No. 61, Co-Captain Don King; Parris Island Head Coach, Major John T. Hill; No. 37, Co-Captain Billy Hayes; Lt. General Graves B. Erskine, Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic at the Norfolk, Va. Naval Base; and Maj. General Robert H. Pepper, Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C." From the Graves B. Erskine Collection (COLL/3065) at the Marine Corps Archives and Special Collections OFFICIAL USMC PHOTOGRAPH
context_page_description: Robert Houston Pepper was an officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of lieutenant general, who is most noted for his work in the development of the Marine defense battalions during World War II and later as commanding general of the Fleet Marine Force, Pacific or 3rd Marine Division.
context_section_description: Pepper was then ordered back to the Pacific and assigned to the staff V Amphibious Corps under Major General Harry Schmidt as Corps Artillery Commander. He remained in that capacity until November 1945, when he was transferred to the staff of Fleet Marine Force Pacific on Hawaii. Pepper was appointed deputy chief of staff under the command of Lieutenant General Roy 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 of personnel and spent another year and half in that assignment.
  During the end of May 1949, Pepper was transferred to Troop Training Unit, Amphibious Training Command, Atlantic Fleet at Little Creek, Virginia, and relieved Brigadier General William A. Worton as its commanding general. In this capacity, he was responsible for the amphibious training of all ground forces within United States Atlantic Fleet.
  In August 1950, Pepper has been promoted to the rank of major general and assumed duties as commanding general of the Marine 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 General Matthew C. Horner at the end of January 1952. He was then ordered to Camp Pendleton, California, and assumed command of newly activated 3rd Marine Division.
  The 3rd Division was reactivated because of the communists threat during the ongoing Korean War and subsequently ordered to Okinawa, Japan, in August 1952. Pepper commanded his division during the several amphibious exercises in Japan and his unit served as defense force of the Far Eastern area.
  Pepper was transferred to Korea at the beginning of May 1954, and assumed command of 1st Marine Division. His new command was tasked with the defense of Korean Demilitarized Zone, but Pepper did not stay long. He was sent to Hawaii, where he assumed command of Fleet 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 of lieutenant general at the same time.
  He was transferred to San Francisco at the end of September 1955 and relieved Major general Henry D. Linscott as commander of Department 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 the West Coast and finally retired from active service on May 1, 1957, after 40 years of service. He was advanced again to the rank of lieutenant general for having been specially commended in combat.
caption: CPT Don King; Parris Island Head Coach, MJR John T. Hill; CPT Billy Hayes; Lieutenant General Graves B. Erskine (Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic) at the Norfolk Naval Base and Major General Robert H. Pepper (MCRDPI), 1952 – All Marine Champions.
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