The Robert Frederick Sink Papers are arranged in original order in 5 series. Curators have transferred oversized materials to separate folders (Series 5)

Series 1: Correspondence (1946-1966) is limited primarily to incidental material pertaining to personal and military matters held in one folder (#255.1.a). Several letters written by Sink to his mother, Marcy Cecil (Mrs. Frederick O., Sr.) Sink, reflect his close attachment to his family to the extent that he even apologized for drinking of alcohol by military personnel. Of particular significance is a letter describing the experiences of one of his men who was wounded during the Battle of the Bulge, at Bastogne, Belgium. This letter describes battlefield medical treatment during World War II and shows how Sink's troops felt about him. It also includes a letter Sink wrote, in December of 1955, from Brazil where he was stationed. He commented on travel difficulties, the water problem, a visit by Congressman Dewey Short of Missouri, the frequency of Brazilian holidays, and the use of temporary grade ranks. Included with this letter is a note from General Maxwell D. Taylor informing Sink of his promotion to Brigadier General. Also included are letters from Generals Edward M. Almond, H. J. Jablonsky, Maxwell D. Taylor and Governor Terry Sanford expressing sympathy to Sink's mother upon his death in 1965.

Series 2: Clippings (1927 – 1965) consist of one folder (#255.1.b) which documents Sink’s military training and promotions primarily as reflected in North Carolina newspapers probably compiled by Sink's mother.

Series 3: Photographs (1927 – 1960) including two folders (#255.1.c - #255.1.d). The photographs documents family events, Sink’s student days at West Point, Army banquets that Sink attended, military planning and drills, and meetings with various army personnel, including Gen. MacArthur (P-16; Folder #255.1.c), and a photo showing Sink in full military garb that is worthy of digitization (P-48; Folder #255.1.d).

Series 4: Printed Materials (1914 – 1967) consists of three folder (#255.1.e - #255.1.g) including brochures, newsletters, and pamphlets documenting the 6th Army Basketball Tournament (1953), the dedication of the Robert F. Sink Memorial Library (1967) and the Post Library at Fort Campbell, Kentucky (undated); also a Safe Conduct Pass issued by Gen. Douglas MacArthur in English & Japanese when Sink was on Okinawa; also a memorandum notebook diary probably written by Sink’s mother describing an automobile trip she took with Sink's father and several others to attend the Patriotic Sons of America (PSOA) convention in Jacksonville, FL (1919).

Series 5: Oversized Materials (1908 – 1967) consists of three folders (#255.os1 - #255.os3) primarily including oversized clippings transferred from folder (#255.1.b); also includes a United Press War Map [ca. 1941] documenting World War II in Asia and the Pacific Theater.

• Sink, Robert Frederick, 1905-1965
• Almond, Edward M. (Edward Mallory), 1892-1979
• Jablonsky, Harvey Julius
• Sanford, Terry, 1917-1998
• Taylor, Maxwell D. (Maxwell Davenport), 1901-1987
• Short, Dewey, 1898-1979

• United States. Army Air Forces
• United States. Army. Parachute Infantry Regiment, 506th

• World War, 1939-1945--Medical care
• World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations, American
• Ardennes, Battle of the, 1944-1945
• World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--France--Normandy

• Florida--Description and travel
• Brazil--Description and travel

March 15, 1974, 85 items; Correspondence (1946-1966), clippings, photographs, and miscellaneous. Rec'd 3/15/1974. Gift of Mrs. Fred O. Sink, Sr. of Lexington, N.C.

February 18, 1977, (addition #1); 245 items, 0.220 cubic feet; Correspondence (1953-1955), clippings, photographs, and miscellaneous. Rec'd 3/15/1974, 2/18/1977. Gift of Mrs. Robin Sink Reavis of Washington, D.C.

October 20, 2003, (addition #2), 30 items, 0.010 cubic feet; Newsclippings (1942-1965) pertaining to the career of Lieutenant General Robert Frederick Sink (1905-1965), a graduate of West Point, a pioneer in the use of airborne warfare, who commanded the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the Army Airborne Corps, during World War II, 1942-1945. He participated in the Allied Invasion of Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge at Bastogne. After World War II, he served as Chief of Staff of the RYUKUS command (1949), assistant commander of the Seventh Infantry Division in Korea (1951), and member of the Joint Airborne Troop Board at Fort Bragg, North Carolina (1954). In 1958, Sink was given command of the Strategic Army Corps (STRAC) and the 18th Airborne. In 1960, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general and took command of the U.S. Army in the Caribbean, a post he held until his retirement in 1961 due to poor health. Rec’d. 12/31/1977. Donor: Mrs. Robin Sink Reavis.

Gift of Mrs. Fred O. Sink, Sr., March 15, 1974
Gift of Mrs. Robin Sink Reavis, February 18, 1977, October 20, 2003

No restrictions

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

Robert Frederick Sink Papers (#255), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.