Melvin Zais

General Melvin Zais (May 8, 1916 – May 7, 1981) was a United States Army general.

General Zais attended the University of New Hampshire and graduated with a B.A. in Political Science. In 1937 he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve. He attended the U.S. 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, June 1, 1964; Major General, May 1, 1967; and Lieutenant General, August 1, 1969.He was named Commanding General, Allied Land Forces, Southeast Europe, Turkey, effective August 1973 following his promotion to General on July 13 the month prior.

He was a veteran of World War II and Vietnam War. His assignments included Commander, 1st Infantry Division, United States Army, Vietnam, 1966; Director of Individual Training, Office, Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C., 1966–68; Commanding General, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile), U.S. Army, Vietnam, 1968–69; Commanding General, XXIV Corps, U.S. Army, Vietnam, 1969–70; Director for Operations, J-3, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C., 1970–72; Commanding General, Third Army, 1972–73

In 1940 he was a member of the original Parachute battalion later the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment. During World War II, Zais was the Executive Officer of the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment, fighting in Italy, in southern France and in the Battle of the Bulge. During his command of the 101st Airborne Division in Viet Nam, they fought the Battle of Hamburger Hill.

Awards and decorations
His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster; Legion of Merit with Two Oak Leaf Clusters; Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster; Bronze Star.


 * Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg Distinguished Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
 * SilverStar.gif Silver Star with oak leaf clusters
 * Legion of Merit ribbon.svg Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
 * Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster
 * Bronze Star ribbon.svg Bronze Star