Robert Earl Hammond was born on October 4, 1918, at Pasadena, Calif., where he graduated from Muir Technical High School in 1936.
Receiving an appointment as cadet on August 1, 1936, he was graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, Conn., with a B.S. Degree and a commission as Ensign on May 20, 1940.
After serving his first assignment of one year as communications officer and watch officer on board the Cutter Itasca out of San Diego, he performed similar duties on board the 327-foot Cutter Taney at Pearl Harbor from May 1941 to April 1942. In port at the time of the Japanese air attack, the cutter with the then Ensign Hammond aboard helped drive away the enemy plans with a defensive barrage of anti-aircraft gunfire. From the Pacific he next served as engineer officer in the PC-467 out of Boston on anti-submarine patrol in the Atlantic.
From October 1942 to June 1943, during the war, he was a flight student at the Naval Air Stations at Grosse Isle, Mich., and at Pensacola, Fla., graduating from the latter as Coast Guard Aviator No. 148. While next assigned as aviator and operations officer at the Coast Guard Air Station, Port Angeles, Wash., he won the additional designation of Coast Guard Helicopter Pilot No. 39.
From October 1945 to March 1947, he was stationed as Operations Officer in the Aviation Division of Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, D.C. After next completing a training course in Aeronautical Engineering at the Army Air Force Engineering School at Chanute Field, Rantoul, Ill., in January 1948, he served as Engineering Officer at the Coast Guard Air Station in San Francisco, for two and half years.
His next tour of duty was as Liaison Officer and Aviation Engineer Officer at the Air Development Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, from June 1950 to June 1952. At that time he became Executive Officer of the Coast Guard Air Station, Brooklyn, N.Y. From June 1954 to August 1957, he headed the Navigation Department and the Aviation Department at the Coast Guard Academy. During the following twelve months, he was Executive Officer and Safety Officer at the Aircraft Repair and Supply Base at Elizabeth, N.C.
Returning for a second tour of duty at Coast Guard Headquarters in September 1958, he first served as Assistant Chief (until August 1961) and then as Chief of the Aeronautical Engineering Division until September 1962. He next commended the Coast Guard Air Station at Kodiak, Alaska, and in addition was Search and Rescue Coordinator in that Sector for two years. He received a Coast Guar Commendation Letter for contributing in an out-standing manner to the alleviation of distress during the 1964 earthquake and tidal waves in Alaska.
He served as Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard Air Station at San Diego as well as Group Commander from September 1964 until May 1966, when he was stationed in London as Commander, Coast Guard Activities, Europe.
By nomination of the President on November 30, 1967, and approval of the Senate, the then CAPT Hammond was appointed rank as Rear Admiral from April 1, 1968. Consequently, he returned from London to assume the flag ranking post of Commander, 17th Coast Guard District, Juneau, Alaska, in July 1968.
In July 1970, he returned to Headquarters for a third tour of duty, this time in the post of Chief, Office of Operations. He retired from that post on April 1, 1972, with the Meritorious Service Medal.
RADM Hammond's World War II campaign service medals and ribbons include the following: American Defense; American Area; Asiatic-Pacific Area; and World War II Victory. He also has the Meritorious Service Medal (1972).
He has held memberships in various civic groups such as Kiwanis, Rotary, and Chamber of Commerce.
RADM Hammond's wife is the former Barbara R. H. of Pasadena, Calif. They have two children, LT Robert E. Hammond, II, USCG, who was stationed with Coast Guard Squadron One in Vietnam, and Mrs. Louis (Patricia) Florio.
RADM Hammond is the son of the late Clifford E., Hammond and Mrs. R. Hammond.
Following is a resume of RADM Hammond's appointments in rank: Ensign, May 20, 1940; Lieutenant (jg), April 15, 1942; Lieutenant, October 1, 1942; Lieut. Commander, April 1, 1944; Commander, August 26, 1952; Captain, July 1, 1961; Rear Admiral, April 1, 1968.