Robert Sink
The original commander of the legendary 'Band of Brothers' regiment, he shaped the 506th Parachute Infantry into an elite airborne force.
1905–1965 (age 60)·United States Army general·Birthday: April 3·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Robert Sink was the hard-nosed, professional soldier who built the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment from the ground up. A 1927 West Point graduate, he was a paratrooper before the concept was fully proven, believing in the shock value of soldiers arriving from the sky. Taking command of the new 506th in 1942, he instilled a fierce, uncompromising discipline during the grueling training at Camp Toccoa, Georgia—a regimen immortalized in Stephen Ambrose's 'Band of Brothers.' He led the regiment through its baptism of fire on D-Day, the desperate defense of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, and the final push into Germany. Sink was a commander's commander: respected, not always beloved, but utterly dedicated to the effectiveness of his unit. His leadership provided the steel backbone for the exploits of Easy Company and the entire regiment, cementing his place in airborne history.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Robert was born in 1905, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Robert Was Born
The biggest hits of 1905
Robert's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1905Born
Einstein publishes the theory of special relativity
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1910Started school
Halley's Comet makes its closest approach
President: William Howard Taft
1918Became a teenager
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Could drive
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1923Could vote
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1926Turned 21
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1935Turned 30
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1945Turned 40
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1955Turned 50
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1965Turned 60
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
Key Achievements
- Served as the first and longest-serving commander of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, leading it from formation through World War II's end.
- Led the 506th PIR in major operations including the D-Day landings, Operation Market Garden, and the Battle of the Bulge.
- Retired from the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant General after a career spanning over three decades.
- Later served as Assistant Division Commander of the 7th Infantry Division during the Korean War.
Did You Know?
He was the first member of the 506th PIR to make a parachute jump, doing so ahead of his men to prove his commitment.
The famous 'Currahee' motto of the 506th (a Cherokee word meaning 'stands alone') refers to the mountain the regiment trained on under his command.
After the war, he served as commander of the 18th Airborne Corps and was Commanding General of U.S. Army forces in Panama.
Actor Dale Dye portrayed a character based on Sink in the HBO miniseries 'Band of Brothers.'
“The regiment is your family; you will keep it clean and ready to fight.”
