Melvin Zais

Melvin Zais
General Melvin Zais
Born	May 8, 1916 Fall River, Massachusetts
Died	May 7, 1981(1981-05-07) (aged 64)
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1937-1973
Rank	General
Commands held	1st Infantry Division 101st Airborne Division XXIV Corps Third Army
Battles/wars	World War II Vietnam War
Awards	Silver Star (2) Legion of Merit (3) Distinguished Flying Cross (2) Bronze Star

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 with three oak leaf clusters
•   Silver Star with oak leaf clusters
•   Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
•   Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster
•   Bronze Star

See also

	United States Army portal
	World War II portal

References

• Third Army Website - Commander Biographies
• University of New Hampshire Army ROTC website - Distinguished Alumni

Military offices
Preceded by Albert O. Connor	Commanding General of the Third United States Army 1972 – 1973	Succeeded by Warren Bennett
Preceded by Olinto M. Barsanti	Commanding General of the 101st Airborne Division 1968 – 1969	Succeeded by John Wright

Persondata
Name	Zais, Melvin
Alternative names
Short description	American general
Date of birth	May 8, 1916
Place of birth	Fall River, Massachusetts
Date of death	May 7, 1981
Place of death