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Sink, Robert Frederick "Uncle Bob"

Date of birth:
April 3rd, 1905 (Lexington/North Carolina, United States)
Date of death:
December 13th, 1965 (Fort Bragg/Cumberland County/North Carolina, United States)
Buried on:
Arlington National Cemetery
Nationality:
American (1776 - present, Republic)

Biography

Promotions:
June 14th, 1927: Second Lieutenant, United States Army;
August 31st, 1933: First Lieutenant, United States Army;
June 13th, 1937: Captain, Regular Army;
January 31st, 1941: Major, United States Army;
February 1st, 1942: Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army;
June 14th, 1944: Major, Regular Army;
April 11th, 1948: Major General, United States Army;
July 15th, 1948: Lieutenant Colonel, Regular Army;
February 13th, 1951: Brigadier General, United States Army;
March 23rd, 1951: Colonel, Regular Army;
April 11th, 1955: Brigadier General, Regular Army;
April 14th, 1955: Major General, United States Army;
September 8th, 1959: Lieutenant General, Regular Army.

Career:
? - June 14th, 1927: United States Military Academy, West Point, New York;
?: 8th Infantry, Fort Screven, Georgia;
November 1929: 65th Infantry, San Juan, Puerto Rico;
1932: Chemical Warfare School;
March 1932: 34th Infantry, Fort Meade, Maryland;
July 1933: Civilian Conservation Corps, McAlevy’s Fort, Pennsylvania;
December 1933: 34th Infantry, Fort Meade, Maryland;
1934: The Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia;
September 1934: 57th Infantry, Fort McKinley, Philippine Islands;
November 1937: Company Commander, 25th Infantry, Fort Huachuca, Arizona;
?: Regimental Operations Officer, 25th Infantry, Fort Huachuca, Arizona;
November 1940: 501st Parachute Infantry Battalion, Fort Benning;
1941: The Parachute School;
?: Commanding Officer 503rd Parachute Infantry Battalion;
?: Commanding Officer 5033rd US Army Reserve Force School (USARF);
July 1942: Commanding Officer 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment;
August 12th, 1945: Assistant Division Commander 101st Airborne Division;
January 1946: Commanding Officer Infantry Detachment, United States Military Academy;
1947: Armed Forces Staff College (Equivalent);
August 1948 - juni 1949: National War College;
June 1949: Ruckus Command;
October 1949: Chief of Staff, Ruckus Command;
January 1951: Assistant Commander 7th Infantry Division;
December 1951: Assistant Commander 11th Airborne Division;
February 1953: Commanding Officer 7th Armored Division;
November 1953: Commanding General 44th Infantry Division;
October 1954: Joint Airborne Troop Board;
1955: Rio de Janeiro, Brazilië;
April 1955: Chairman United States Delegation to the Joint Brazil-United States Military Commission / Chief of Army Section, Military Assistance Advisory Group, Brazil;
May 1957: Commanding General XVIII Airborne Corps;
May 1958: Commanding General Strategic Army Corps (STRAC), United States Army;
?: Commanding General, United States Forces in Panama;
1961: Retirement.

Portrayed in the tv series "Band of Brothers".

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Colonel
Unit:
Commanding Officer, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division "Screaming Eagles", U.S. Army
Awarded on:
1944

This award was obtained in the form of an Oak Leave to be attached on the ribbon of the first award.

Silver Star Medal (SSM)
"For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, from 1944 to 1945.
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Colonel
Awarded on:
1945
Bronze Star  Medal (BSM)
Period:
Korean War (1950-1953)
Rank:
Brigadier General
Unit:
7th Infantry Division "Bayonet", US Army
Awarded on:
1952

Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Silver Star Medal (SSM)
Period:
Korean War (1950-1953)
Rank:
Brigadier General
Unit:
7th Infantry Division "Bayonet", US Army
Awarded on:
January 15th, 1952
"For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Assistant Commanding General, 7th Infantry Division, in Korea, from 10 January 1951 to 21 November 1951."

Department of the Army, General Orders No. 5 (Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Legion of Merit - US Military
Air Medal (AM)
Air Medal (AM)
With clasp for "GERMANY" and "JAPAN".
Army of Occupation Medal
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

With a bronze palm.
Croix de Guerre 1940
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

With a bronze palm.
Officier in de Leopoldsorde / Officier de l'Ordre de Léopold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

With a bronze palm.
Croix de Guerre (1939-1945)

Sources

  • Photo 1: 506th Airborne Infantry Regiment
  • - Bando, M., 101st Airborne: The Screaming Eagles in World War II, Zenith Press, St. Paul/Minnesota, USA, 2007
    - Rapport, L., Northwood Jr., A, Rendezvous with Destiny – A History of the 101st Airborne Division, The Battery Press, Nashville, USA, 2000 (reprint of the original 1948 edition not the later 1965 second edition)
    - Bragg.Army.mil
    - 506infantry.org