Robert Sink

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 he was most famous for his command of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. Sink was portrayed in the television miniseries Band of Brothers by Captain Dale Dye.

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 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 William 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 (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 division commander of the 7th Infantry Division in Korea.

He returned to the United States and became assistant division 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 role was as commander of US forces in Panama (CinC, Caribbean Command, Quarry Heights, Canal Zone). Lieutenant General Robert Frederick Sink retired in 1961, and died in 1965.

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

Dates of rank
United States Military Academy Cadet - Class of 1927

Organizations

 * 506-PIR in the Normandy Operation European Center of Military History
 * 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

 * LTC Robert F. Sink Library at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, was dedicated in 1967.
 * COL. Robert Sink Memorial Trail up Currahee Mountain in Toccoa, Georgia was dedicated on November 4, 2000.

In popular culture

 * 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 portrayed in the HBO/BBC miniseries Band of Brothers (2001) by Vietnam veteran and retired U.S. Marine Corps Captain Dale Dye (also the military advisor on the series).
 * Robert Sink was also portrayed in the video game Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway, also played by Dale Dye.