The man who transformed citizen soldiers into the elite 'Five-Oh-Sink'
In short: During World War II, Robert Sink faced the daunting task of turning undernourished, poorly educated civilians into a crack airborne unit. Through intense training and a unique leadership style, he forged the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment into a legendary fighting force known for its unbreakable cohesion.
Robert Frederick Sink, born in 1905 in Lexington, North Carolina, rose through the ranks to become a lieutenant general. He is best remembered in military history for leading the 101st Airborne Division's 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Tasked with building the regiment's officer corps and training facilities at Camp Toccoa, Georgia, Sink was responsible for the unit's rigorous preparation for combat.
Sink’s leadership was defined by a personal, man-to-man approach that fostered a deep sense of unity. His soldiers often referred to the unit as the 'Five-Oh-Sink' in his honor. To prepare them for the rigors of war, Sink pushed his troops to their limits; after reading about a Japanese battalion's endurance, he ordered his 2nd Battalion to march 118 miles in 75 hours from Camp Toccoa to Atlanta.
His combat record was extensive, encompassing Operation Overlord, Operation Market Garden, and the Siege of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. Despite his reputation for drinking—earning him the nickname 'Bourbon Bob'—his subordinate, Major Richard Winters, maintained that Sink's drinking did not impact his ability to lead. Sink's bravery was noted by General Maxwell D. Taylor, who observed that Sink exposed himself to enemy fire more than almost anyone else in the division.
Sink's long military tenure included acting as an assistant division commander throughout the Korean War alongside numerous senior staff posts. He retired in 1961 due to declining health and passed away in 1965 from pulmonary emphysema. His legacy survives in popular culture, serving as the inspiration for the character Robert Stout in the 1977 film A Bridge Too Far.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Robert Sink
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