Creighton Williams Abrams Jr. (September 15, 1914 â September 4, 1974) was a United States Army general who commanded military operations in the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1972,[1][2] which saw United States troop strength in South Vietnam reduced from a peak of 543,000 to 49,000. He was then Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1972 until his death in 1974.[1][2]
In 1980, the United States Army named its then new main battle tank, the M1 Abrams, after him. The IG Farben building in Germany was also named after Abrams from 1975 to 1995.
Abrams graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in the Class of 1936 (ranked 185th of 276 in the class),[3][4] 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.
WW2 Abrams served in the 4th Armored Division, initially as regimental adjutant (June 1941 â June 1942), battalion commander (July 1942 â March 1943), and regiment executive officer (MarchâSeptember 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 Abrams commanded; he also commanded Combat Command B of the division during the Battle of the Bulge.
KOREAN WAR He successively served as chief of staff of the I, X and IX Corps in South Korea (1953â1954).
VIETNAM WAR Abrams was promoted to general in 1964 and appointed Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army, but not before being seriously considered as a candidate for chief of staff. Due to concerns about the conduct of the Vietnam War, he was appointed as deputy to his West Point classmate, General William Westmoreland, commander of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV), in May 1967.
Abrams was appointed Chief of Staff of the United States Army by Nixon in June 1972. However, he was not confirmed by the United States Senate until October, due to political repercussions involving accusations of unauthorized bombings of North Vietnam. It has also been reported that Congress had delayed the confirmation to question the administration’s war in Cambodia. During this time, Abrams began the transition to the all-volunteer army, also known as Project VOLAR. Abrams served as Chief of Staff until his death on September 4, 1974.
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