Melvin Zais

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Main other Melvin Zais (8 May 1916 – 5 May 1981) was a United States Army general who served in the Second World War and Vietnam War.

Military career

A 1933 graduate of B.M.C. Durfee High School,[1] Zais attended the University of New Hampshire and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. During his freshman year, he studied at the Louisiana State University as a journalism major before transferring to UNH.[1] In 1937 he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve. In 1940 he was a member of the original Parachute battalion later the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment. During World War II, Zais was the commander of the 3rd Battalion and, later, executive officer of the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment, fighting in Italy, in southern France, and in the Battle of the Bulge.

Zais attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College, and was also a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College, and the National War College. He was promoted to brigadier general on 1 June 1964; major general on 1 May 1967; and lieutenant general on 1 August 1969. He was named Commanding General, Allied Land Forces South-Eastern Europe, İzmir, Turkey, effective August 1973 following his promotion to general on July 13 the month prior.

Zais' assignments included Assistant Division Commander, 1st Infantry Division, United States Army, Vietnam, 1966; Director of Individual Training, Office, Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, United States Army, Washington, D.C., 1966–68. In that role he was instrumental in originating the concept that resulted in the creation of the noncommissioned Officer candidate program.[2] During this time he led the army liaison team responsible for the involvement of Federal troops in suppressing the April 1968 Baltimore riot;[3]Template:Rp Commanding General, 101st Airborne Division (then designated as Airmobile), Vietnam, 1968–69. He led the 101st Airborne Division in the Battle of Hamburger Hill against the People's Army of Vietnam. He then became the Commanding General, XXIV Corps, Vietnam, 1969–70.

After returning from Vietnam, Zais served Director for Operations, J-3, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C., 1970–72 and as Commanding General, Third United States Army from 1972 to 1973.

On 1 August 1973, Zais was promoted to the rank of four-star general and appointed as Commander, Allied Land Forces South-Eastern Europe. He held the position until his retirement on 31 May 1976. Zais died on 5 May 1981, in Beaufort, South Carolina.[4]

Awards and decorations

File:Combat Infantry Badge.svg Combat Infantryman Badge
File:ArmyAvnBadge.png Basic Army Aviator Badge
File:1 star jump.svg Master Combat Parachutist Badge with one bronze jump star
File:Joint Chiefs of Staff seal.svg Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
File:United States Army Staff Identification Badge.png Army Staff Identification Badge
File:ViPaBa.jpg Vietnam Master Parachutist Badge
File:US 101st Airborne Division patch.svg 101st Airborne Division Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
File:ArmyOSB.svg 9 Overseas Service Bars
Template:Ribbon devicesFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Army Distinguished Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Template:Ribbon devices Silver Star with oak leaf cluster
Template:Ribbon devicesFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Template:Ribbon devices Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster
Template:Ribbon devices Bronze Star Medal
Template:Ribbon devices Purple Heart
Template:Ribbon devicesFile:"V" device, brass.svgFile:Award numeral 2.svgFile:Award numeral 6.png Air Medal with Valor device and bronze award numeral 26
Template:Ribbon devices Joint Service Commendation Medal
Template:Ribbon devices Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Template:Ribbon devices American Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Template:Ribbon devices American Campaign Medal
Template:Ribbon devicesFile:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svgFile:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svgFile:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svgFile:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four service stars
Template:Ribbon devices World War II Victory Medal
Template:Ribbon devices National Defense Service Medal with service star
Template:Ribbon devicesFile:Silver-service-star-3d.svgFile:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svgFile:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Vietnam Service Medal with seven service stars
Template:Ribbon devices National Order of Vietnam, Grand Officer
Template:Ribbon devices National Order of Vietnam, Officer
File:Noribbon.svg Unidentified ribbon
File:Vietnam Army Distinguished Service Order Ribbon-First Class.svg Vietnam Army Distinguished Service Order, 1st class
Template:Ribbon devices Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm
File:Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal ribbon-First Class.svg Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal, 1st class
File:Vietnam Civil Actions Medal ribbon-First Class.svg Vietnam Civil Actions Medal, 1st class
File:Noribbon.svg Unidentified ribbon
File:Noribbon.svg Unidentified ribbon
File:Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.png Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
File:Civil Action Unit Citation.png Vietnam Civil Actions Medal Unit Citation
Template:Ribbon devices Vietnam Campaign Medal

References

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External links

Template:S-endTemplate:FallRiverMATemplate:Authority control
Military offices
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/checkTemplate:Succession box/check Commanding General of the Third United States Army
1972–1973 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/checkTemplate:Succession box/check Commanding General of the 101st Airborne Division
1968–1969 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
  1. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Template:PD-notice
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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