Robert Wilson Hasbrouck was born on February 2, 1896, in Kingston, New York. Hasbrouck attended the United States Military Academy and, after being commissioned in 1917, began his career as an officer with an artillery unit during World War I. During the inter-war period he attended General Staff School. During World War II, Gen. Hasbrouck's greatest moment came during the defense of St. Vith where his 7th Armored Division held up the German advance for 6 days, allowing time for other units to form a defensive line in that sector and halt it entirely.

FROM USMA History:
USMA Class of August 1917. Cullum No. 5789. He was the son of Jansen Hasbrouck and Cornelia Wilson Hasbrouck. Born on Feberuary 2, 1896 in Kingston, NY.
After graduation in August 1917, he became Captain of Artillery with the American Expeditionary Forces in France. After the end of the war he joined the American Polish Relief Expedition and received the Polish Military Cross for his efforts. Between World War I and II he had many assignments including command of the Black Horse Battery at Fort Myer, Virginia. He organized and commanded the first battalion of armored artillery in the United States Army. He taught at Princeton University as an Assistant Professor of Military Science. He met his future wife, Marjorie Nightingale of Brunswick, Georgia while at Princeton and they married in 1932. He was both a student and instructor at the Field Artillery School in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He attended both the Command and General Staff School and the Army War College. After graduation from the War College he was assigned to the mobilization branch of the Army General Staff and helped plan the mobilization for World War II, including troop mobilization sites. During World War II he served with the 1st, 4th and 8th Armored Divisions in the United States and Northern Ireland. He was then assigned to Europe when he helped organize the headquarters of General Omar Bradley’s 12th Army Group. He became Deputy Chief of Staff to General Bradley and in fall 1944 was assigned as command of the 7th Armored Division. During the Battle of the Bulge his division held the St. Sith against eight German divisions for six days which allowed the United States 1st Army to establish defensive positions. He was in command of the 7th Armor, known to the Germans as the Ghost Division, for the remainder of the European Campaign. After the end of World War II, he became Chief of Staff of the Army Ground Forces. Due to health reasons he retired in September 1947.
His decorations awarded in World War II included the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with V for valor, French Legion of Honor and the Belgian and French Croix de Guerre with Palm. After his retirement he was a military advisor to the Hoover Commission and recommended establishing the Office of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. From 1952 to 1960 he was Chairman of the Board of the Federal Services Finance Corporation. Survivors included his wife, Marjorie, one son, USMA Class of 1955 and four grandchildren.
Source: United States Military Academy Association of Graduates memorial.