27 Facts About Creighton Abrams

Creighton Abrams was then Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1972 until his death in 1974.

Creighton Abrams graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in the Class of 1936, and served with the 1st Cavalry Division from 1936 to 1940, being promoted to first lieutenant in 1939 and temporary captain in 1940.

Creighton 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.

In September 1943, a reorganization of the division redesignated the 37th Armor Regiment to the 37th Tank Battalion, which Creighton Abrams commanded; he commanded Combat Command B of the division during the Battle of the Bulge.

Creighton Abrams was promoted to lieutenant colonel eleven days before his 28th birthday.

Creighton Abrams was twice decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism, on September 20 and December 26,1944.

Creighton Abrams commanded the 63rd Tank Battalion, part of the 1st Infantry Division, in Europe.

Creighton Abrams was again promoted to colonel and commanded the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment.

Creighton Abrams then attended and graduated from the Army War College in 1953.

Creighton Abrams successively served as chief of staff of the I, X and IX Corps in South Korea.

Creighton Abrams was promoted to brigadier general and appointed deputy chief of staff for reserve components at the Pentagon.

Creighton Abrams was assistant division commander of 3rd Armored Division and then commanded the division upon his promotion to major general.

Creighton Abrams was transferred to the Pentagon as deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and during this time he served as representative of the Army Chief of Staff overseeing the armed forces deployed to support the enrollment of James Meredith at the segregated University of Mississippi.

Creighton Abrams performed a similar role in May 1963 during the civil rights protests in Birmingham, Alabama.

Creighton Abrams was promoted to lieutenant general and commanded V Corps in Europe.

Creighton Abrams was on the cover of Time magazine three times in ten years: 1961,1968, and 1971.

Creighton 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.

Creighton Abrams succeeded Westmoreland as COMUSMACV on June 10,1968, although his tenure of command was not marked by the public optimism of his predecessors, who were prone to press conferences and public statements.

Newsweek magazine at the time of Creighton Abrams' appointment observed that its sources within the Lyndon Johnson administration had spoken at length with Creighton Abrams in the past and had come away convinced that the general would make few changes.

Creighton Abrams disdained most of the politicians with whom he was forced to deal, in particular Robert McNamara and McGeorge Bundy, and had an even lower opinion of defense contractors, whom he accused of war profiteering.

Creighton Abrams was in charge of the Cambodian Incursion in 1970.

Creighton Abrams was appointed Chief of Staff of the United States Army by Nixon in June 1972.

In January 1974, Creighton Abrams directed the formation of a Ranger battalion.

Creighton Abrams served as Chief of Staff until his death on September 4,1974.

Creighton Abrams founded the army group of Arlington Ladies and devoted time to humanitarian causes.

Creighton Abrams converted to Catholicism during his time in Vietnam; he was raised as Methodist Protestant.

Creighton Abrams is buried with his wife Julia in Arlington National Cemetery.