Hochmuth was born on May 10, 1911, in
Houston, Texas. He graduated from high school in 1930 and completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Education from
Texas A&M University in June 1935. He was commissioned a Marine
second lieutenant in July 1935, upon resigning a U.S. Army Reserve commission. After completing
The Basic School at the
Philadelphia Navy Yard, he joined the Marine detachment at the Texas Centennial in
Dallas, Texas, in June 1936. In December 1936, he was transferred to
2nd Battalion, 6th Marines in San Diego, California. Departing for
Shanghai, China, in August 1937, he served briefly with the 6th Marines, then served two and a half years duty with the 4th Marines. While overseas, he was promoted to
first lieutenant in July 1938. He remained with the 4th Marines in China until 1940. Following the
surrender of Japan he was the executive officer of the
4th Marine Regiment when they landed in Japan on August 29, 1945. As executive officer of the 4th Marines, he made the initial landing on Japan August 29, 1945, and on September 2 of the same year attended the formal surrender ceremony at
Yokosuka. He then commanded the
Marine Barracks at Yokosuka for almost two years. For his service there, he was awarded the
Navy Commendation Medal. Returning to the United States in August 1947, he served at
Headquarters Marine Corps for three years, then entered the Industrial College at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C. He graduated in June 1951, and returned to Camp Lejeune as commanding officer,
2nd Marines. In July 1952, he was named G-1 Officer,
2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune. He was promoted to
lieutenant colonel in August 1947 with rank from October 1942, and to
colonel in January 1951. Ordered to
Kingston, Ontario, in September 1953, he served as instructor, Canadian Army Staff College, for two years. He again went to the Far East in August 1955 and served as G-4 Officer,
3rd Marine Division, Japan and Okinawa. In August 1956, Colonel Hochmuth was assigned to
Marine Corps Base Quantico,
Virginia, as a member of the Advanced Research Group, Marine Corps Educational Center. In July 1957, he was transferred to
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. 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. ==Vietnam and death==