Lieutenant General Robert F. Sink 57th PS

[legionnaire]

LTG Robert Sink Portrayed by Capt. Dale Dye in BOB was a PHILIPPINE SCOUT!

After graduating from Infantry School at Fort Benning, GA in Sept. 1934,
In 1936, he was assigned to the 57th IR Philippine Scouts at Fort William McKinley, Philippine Islands,
One of his kids was born at Fort McKinley 1936.

In July 1942 he was named as commander of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment at Toccoa, Georgia;
Fort Benning, Georgia; and Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

The Philippine Scouts the First "band of Brothers!"

[oklahoma]

Hey Legion....Thanks for posting. Who woulda "thunk it" The next time I view "Band of Brothers" I can't count the times that I have) I will see it in a different light. Quite a life and career he had. From being a a member of the fabled Philippine Scouts to the Airborne in Europe. I say again, quite a career, wouldn't you say?

[oklahoma]

Hey Vic....Regarding the current "lead in"photo of the three mounted Scouts....Could that one steed be a lineal descendent of one of Custer's 7th Cavalry's "Gray Horse" Troop "E"?

[legionnaire]

I saw an article on the latest WWII magazine about Sink and it mentioned he was assigned to the "54th" at Fort McKinley, Philippine Islands. Strange I don't know of any 54th PS Regt. At Fort McKinley.

So I did more checking and sure enough as I had suspected it was with the 57th PS Sink was assigned to. But a lot of the online info about him being assigned to the 57th does not mention that it was PS Regt.

Exactly as you said! next time I see the series again I will see him in a different light as an Ex Philippine Scout officer!

BTW "Manila" John Basilone the MOH Marine belonged originally to the all American 31st IR also a part of the "Golden Buffalo" Philippine Division.
Considered the only american "Foreign Legion" unit. Organized outside of the US.

[oklahoma]

Hey Legion....Thanks for posting the info about "Manila John" Basilone being a former member of the "Thirsty First" Infantry Regiment. I wonder if that is where he picked up the nickname "Manila John"? Strange that he would swap branches of the service, but I suppose that happens a lot. In fact, pondering the situation. I have known several individuals who have moved from one branch of the military to another for various reasons. Most generally those reasons were the fact they were looking for a softer berth, i.e., no more sea duty, no more combat situations. In Manila John's case, it would appear that he wished to increase his odds of being engaged in as much, if not more, hand to hand stuff. I served with a man in the USAF during 1951-55 who was awarded (in 1952) the Bronze Star for Gallantry in Action on the Abucay Line in 1942. Took quite some time for the award to catch up with him, it seems. My niece-in-law's Grandfather was a PFC in Company G & H of the 31st Infantry in 1942. Imprisoned at Bilibid till early 1945. I have posted this stuff previously, but can't remember on what Forum, so I will cut it off. Forgive me for getting carried away. I don't blame the Abucay Line Vet for changing branches. I am sure that he found the Korean Era USAF much cushier than the 1942 Bataan Abucay Line and Jap prison pens that followed. Cheers.

[VeeVee]

Very cool discovery...

Now I'll never watch Band of Brothers without thinking of Col. Sink as a PS.

Hi Okla, I believe Tillman Rutledge of the Battling Bastards of Bataan organization was also a 31st Infantry vet who re-enlisted after the war but in the Air Corps instead of the infantry.