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| Information > Biographies > MAJOR GENERAL JOSEPH D. ZINK |
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MAJOR GENERAL JOSEPH D. ZINK
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Retired July 1, 1983.
Major General Joseph D. Zink is military executive, Reserve Forces Policy Board. The board is a statutory body which serves as principal policy adviser to the secretary of defense on matters relating to the reserve components. It is located in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C.
General Zink was. born in 1922, in Newark, N.J. He graduated from Belleville High School, Belleville, N.J., in 1940 and entered Princeton University, Princeton, N.J. He entered the aviation cadet program in 1942. At the end of World War II he returned to Princeton University and in 1946 received his bachelor of arts degree in political science. He received his bachelor of laws degree in 1948 from the Rutgers University School of Low, New Brunswick, N.J. He graduated from the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in 1958.
General Zink entered the service through the aviation cadet program, completed flight training and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army Air Forces in March 1944. He was assigned to Eighth Air Force as a B-17 bomber pilot in Europe from March 1944 through May 1945. In November 1945 he was released from active duty as a captain. General Zink joined the New Jersey Air National Guard in January 1947 and held positions as wing executive officer; and flight, squadron, group and wing commander. He twice commanded the 108th Tactical Fighter Wing, McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. He served as the wing executive officer from February 1951 to February 1953.
In October 1961, during the Berlin airlift, he was again recalled to active duty, commanding the 7108th Fighter Wing, Chaumont Air Base, France, until July 1962. The 7108th Fighter Wing is the overseas element of the 108th Tactical Fighter Wing. He served as base detachment commander at the Air National Guard base, Atlantic City, N.J., from 1958 to 1967, and at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., from 1967 to 1971.
He commanded the 177th Tactical Fighter Group until 1968, and then commanded the 108th Tactical Fighter Wing. During his command of these units, F-100s were assigned to the 177th Tactical Fighter Group and F-105s were assigned to the 168th Tactical Fighter Wing. In April 1971 he was assigned to Headquarters New Jersey Air National Guard and designated assistant chief of staff, air. General Zink returned to active military service in February 1979 to assume his current position.
He is a command pilot with more than 5,500 flying hours. His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters.
General Zink assumed the grade of major general June 16, 1972, with date of rank Dec. 23, 1973.
His hometown is Linwood, N.J.
(Current as of October 1979)
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