Creighton Abrams
| Creighton Abrams | |
|---|---|
General Creighton W. Abrams
|
|
| Birth name | Creighton Williams Abrams, Jr. |
| Born |
September 15, 1914 Springfield, Massachusetts |
| Died | September 4, 1974 (aged 59) Walter Reed General Hospital Washington, D.C. |
| Buried at | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Army
|
| Years of service | 1936–1974 |
| Rank |
General 
|
| Commands held |
37th Tank Battalion and Combat Command B, 4th Armored Division 63rd Armor Regiment 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment 3rd Armored Division V Corps Military Assistance Command, Vietnam U.S. Army Chief of Staff |
| Battles/wars |
World War II Korean War Vietnam War |
| Awards |
 Distinguished Service Cross (2) Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2) Army Distinguished Service Medal (4) Silver Star (2) Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star with "V" Device
|
| Relations |
BG Creighton W. Abrams III (son) GEN John N. Abrams (son) GEN Robert B. Abrams (son) |
Creighton Williams Abrams, Jr. (September 15, 1914 – September 4, 1974) was a United States Army general who commanded military operations in the Vietnam War from 1968–72 (which saw U.S. troop strength in South Vietnam fall from a peak of 543,000 to 49,000). He served as Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1972 until shortly before his death in 1974. In 1980, the U.S. Army named its new main battle tank, the M1 Abrams, after General Abrams. The IG Farben building in Germany was also named after him from 1975 to 1995.
Creighton Williams Abrams Jr. graduated from West Point in 1936 (he stood 185th out of 276 in the class) and served with the 1st Cavalry Division from 1936 to 1940, being promoted to first lieutenant in 1939 and temporary captain in 1940.
Abrams became an armor officer early in the development of that branch and served as a tank company commander in the 1st Armored Division in 1940.
During World War II, he served in the 4th Armored Division, initially as regimental adjutant (June 1941 – June 1942), battalion commander (July 1942 – March 1943), and regiment executive officer (March 1943 – September 1943) with the 37th Armor Regiment. In September 1943, a reorganization of the division redesignated the 37th Armor Regiment to the 37th Tank Battalion, which he commanded; he commanded Combat Command B of the division during the Battle of the Bulge.
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