Melvin Zais
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Melvin Zais | |
|---|---|
| 1916-1981 | |
 General Melvin Zais |
|
| Place of birth | Fall River, Massachusetts |
| Years of service | 1937-1973 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | 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 Medal |
General Melvin Zais (May 8, 1916, in Fall River, Massachusetts - May 7, 1981) was a U.S. 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 13th the month prior.
He was a veteran of World War II and Vietnam War. His assignments included Commander, 1st Infantry Division, U.S. 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
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 Medal.
