United States Army general
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] 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] 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] April 1968 Baltimore riot ;[ 3] : 320–2 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
References
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