Sink, Robert Frederick, LTG

Lieutenant General Robert Frederick Sink (April 3, 1905–December 13, 1965) was a United States Army officer during World War II, the Korean War, and early parts of the Vietnam War, though was most famous for his command of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division.

Early career

Sink attended Duke University (then known as Trinity College) for one year before securing an appointment to the United States Military Academy. He graduated with the West Point Class of 1927, 174th in a Class of 203 (Cullum Number 8196) and commissioned as an Infantry Officer. Sink's initial assignment was to the 8th Infantry Regiment in Fort Screven, Georgia as a Second Lieutenant.

Sink took assignments in Puerto Rico (1929, 65th Infantry Regiment), at the U.S. Army Chemical Warfare School (1932), at Fort Meade (1932, 34th Infantry Regiment, with the Civilian Conservation Corps (1933 at McAlevy’s Fort, Pennsylvania), and returned to the 34th Infantry Regiment before heading off to attend the United States Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia (1935).

In November 1937, after assignment to the 57th Infantry Regiment at Fort McKinley, in the Philippines, Sink returned to the United States and was assigned to the 25th Infantry Regiment at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, where he served successively as company commander and regimental operations officer.

World War II

In 1940, he was assigned to the 501st Parachute Infantry Battalion at Fort Benning. Sink became one of the four percent of the army’s paratroopers qualified as a master parachutist and celebrated his birthday each year by making another jump.

He later commanded the 503rd Parachute Infantry Battalion and (later) Regiment. In July 1942 he was named as commander of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment at Toccoa, Georgia; Fort Benning, Georgia; and Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Sink commanded the 506th throughout World War II, turning down two promotions during the war to remain with the unit^[1] (the regiment sometimes being referred to as the "Five-Oh-Sink') and became a close personal friend to Major Richard Winters. He made two combat jumps in command of the 506th (D-Day and Operation Market Garden), and commanded the Regiment at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge.

Post war career

On August 12, 1945, Sink was named assistant division commander of the 101st Airborne Division. In December 1945, Sink returned to the United States, and the following month assumed command of the infantry detachment of the United States Military Academy. He entered the National War College at Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C. in August 1948, graduating in June 1949. Sink then was transferred to the Ryukyus Command, and became chief of staff in October 1949. In January 1951, he was named assistant commander of the 7th Infantry Division in Korea.

He returned to the United States and became assistant commander of the 11th Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in December 1951. In February 1953, he assumed command at the 7th Armored Division at Camp Roberts, California. In November 1953, he became commanding general of the 44th Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Washington. In October 1954, Sink was assigned to the Joint Airborne Troop board at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In early 1955, he was transferred to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and in April 1955 assumed the dual functions of chairman of the United States Delegation to the Joint Brazil-United States Military Commission and chief of army section, Military Assistance Advisory Group, Brazil.

He returned to the United States and assumed Command of the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg in May 1957. In May 1958, he was announced as commander, Strategic Army Corps (STRAC), United States Army. His last major command was as commander of United States forces in Panama (CinC, Caribbean Command, Quarry Heights, Canal Zone). Lieutenant General Robert Frederick Sink retired in 1961, and died four years later in 1965.

Family

Sink was married and had three children, and two stepchildren.

 

1. Distinguished Service Order (Britain)
2. Belgian Order of Leopold, Officer grade, with Palm
3. Croix de Guerre with Palm (Belgium)
4. Belgian fourragere
5. French Croix de Guerre avec Palme
6. Dutch Bronze Lion
7. Netherlands Orange Lanyard
8. United Nations Korea Medal
9. Korean Presidential Unit Citation

Promotions

The following is a list of Sink's promotions in chronological order beginning with his graduation from the United States Military Academy as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry.

1. Second Lieutenant (RA) 14 June 1927
2. First Lieutenant (RA) 31 August 1933
3. Captain (RA) 13 June 1937
4. Major (US) 31 January 1941
5. Lieutenant Colonel (US) 1 February 1942
6. Colonel (US) 3 November 1942
7. Major (RA) 14 June 1944
8. Major General (US) 11 April 1948
9. Lieutenant Colonel (RA) 15 July 1948
10. Brigadier General (US) 13 February 1951
11. Colonel (RA) 23 March 1951
12. Brigadier General (RA) 11 April 1955
13. Major General (RA) 14 April 1955
14. Lieutenant General (RA) 8 September 1959

Organizations

• 8th Infantry Regiment
• 34th Infantry Regiment
• Civilian Conservation Corps
• 57th Infantry Regiment
• 25th Infantry Regiment
• 501st Parachute Infantry Battalion
• 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment
• 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment
• 7th Infantry Division
• 11th Airborne Division
• 7th Armored Division
• 44th Infantry Division
• Joint Airborne Troop Board
• Military Assistance Advisory Group, Brazil
• XVIII Airborne Corps
• Strategic Army Corps

Legacy

The post library at Fort Campbell, Ky is named for LtG Robert F. Sink.

The character of "Colonel Robert Stout" in the film A Bridge Too Far (1977), played by Elliott Gould, is also based on Sink.

Robert Sink was also portrayed in the video game Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway, also played by Dale Dye.


photo from LTC Trevor J. Bredenkamp
(A Co, 1st BN, Commander and Unit Historian, ROK, 1998-1999)

photos from Ronald Stassen, webmaster of WWII Paratrooper Webbase

photos from the 101st Airborne Division 1957 Yearbook

photo from LTC Trevor J. Bredenkamp
(A Co, 1st BN, Commander and Unit Historian, ROK, 1998-1999)