Background
Zais, Melvin was born on May 8, 1916 in Fall River, Massachusetts, United States. Son of Arkansas and Jenny (Kauffman) Zais.
Zais, Melvin was born on May 8, 1916 in Fall River, Massachusetts, United States. Son of Arkansas and Jenny (Kauffman) Zais.
General Zais attended the University of New Hampshire and graduated with a B.A. in Political Science. 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.
Stepchildren—David R. Light, John P. Light. Commissioned Second lieutenant United States Army, 1937, advanced through grades to general, 1973. Various assignments United States and Europe, 1940-1952.
Assigned United States Army advisory group. Jammet, Turkey, 1952-1953, 82d Airborne Division, 1953-1954, Armed Forces Staff College, 1954-1955, Special Weapons Project, Washington, 1955, office assistant chief staff G3, Department Army, 1955-1956, 101st Airborne Division, 1956-1957, National War College, 1957-1958. Deputy assistant chief staff G1, Headquarters United States Army Europe, Germany, 1958-1959.
Assistant chief staff G3, Headquarters 7th Army, 1959-1962. Assigned office assistant chief staff, J3, United States Army Element, United States Strike Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, 1962-1963. Deputy Director Plans, J5, United States Army Element, United States Strike Command, McDill Air Force Base, Florida, 1963-1964.
Director and deputy director enlisted personnel Office Personnel Operations, Department Army, 1964-1966. Deputy commanding general I Field Force, Vietnam, 1966. Assistant division commander 1st Infantry Division, Vietnam, 1966.
Director individual training office deputy chief staff personnel Department Army, 1966-1968. Commanding general 101st Airborne Division, Vietnam, 1968-1969. Commanding general XXIV Corps, Vietnam, 1969-1970.
Director J3, Operations Directorate office joint chiefs staff, 1970-1972. Commanding general 3d Army, Fort McPherson, Georgia, 1972-1973. Commanding general Allied Land Forces Southeastern Europe, Ismir, Turkey, 1973-1976.
Retired, 1976.
In 1940 he was a member of the original Parachute battalion later the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment.
Married Patricia Vachon Light, August 6, 1967. Children: Barrie E., Mitchell M.