Abrams, Creighton Williams Jr.
Born: Sep 15, 1914 AD
Died: 1974 AD, at 59 years of age.
Nationality: American
Categories: General, Military Officer
Died: 1974 AD, at 59 years of age.
Nationality: American
Categories: General, Military Officer
1914 - Born on September 15th in Springfield, Massachusetts.
1936-1940 - Graduated from the United States Military Academy.
- Promoted to first lieutenant, temporary captain, an armored officer early in the development of that branch and also served as a tank company commander in the 1st Armored Division.
- He married Julia Harvey, a second lieutenant and served in the 1st Cavalry Division.
1941-1943 - Served with the 4th Armored Division, initially as regimental adjutant, during World War II.
- He was promoted to as a battalion commander and regiment executive officer with the US 37th Armor Regiment and Tank Battalion.
1944 - His unit was at the spearhead of the 4th Armored Division and the Third Army, and was well known as an aggressive armor commander.
- He was twice decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross, second only to the Medal of Honor, for actions on the 9th of September and on the 26th of December.
1945-1948 - Served on the Army General Staff and in the War Plans section of the Army Ground Forces headquarters.
- Became the director of tactics of the Armored School at Fort Knox and was promoted to permanent ranks of captain and major.
1949-1954 - Graduated from the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth.
- Commanded the 63d Tank Battalion, part of the 1st Infantry Division, in Europe.
- Promoted to colonel and commanded the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment.
- Joined the Korean War and successively served as chief of staff of the I, X, and IX Corps in Korea.
- Converted to Roman Catholicism while serving in Vietnam.
- He served as Chief of Staff of the Armor Center, Fort Knox upon his return from Korea.
1956-1964 - He was promoted to brigadier-general and appointed deputy chief of staff for reserve components at the Pentagon.
- Became the assistant division commander of 3rd Armored Division and then commanded the division upon his promotion to major-general.
- He was then transferred to the Pentagon as deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, then was promoted to lieutenant-general and commanded V Corps in Europe. He was promoted to general and appointed vice Chief of Staff of the Army.
1967 - Appointed as deputy to General William Westmoreland and head of the Military Assistance Command in Vietnam.
1968 - He succeeded Westmoreland as commander and his tenure of command was not marked by the public optimism of his predecessors, who were prone to press conferences and public statements.
1972 - He was appointed Chief of Staff of the United States Army but was not confirmed by the Senate due to political repercussions involving disobedience by one of his subordinate commanders.
1974 - He died in Washington, D.C. of lung cancer on September 4th and was regarded as the first army Chief-of-Staff to die in office. He was buried with full military honors in a special plot in Section 21 of Arlington National Cemetery.
1936-1940 - Graduated from the United States Military Academy.
- Promoted to first lieutenant, temporary captain, an armored officer early in the development of that branch and also served as a tank company commander in the 1st Armored Division.
- He married Julia Harvey, a second lieutenant and served in the 1st Cavalry Division.
1941-1943 - Served with the 4th Armored Division, initially as regimental adjutant, during World War II.
- He was promoted to as a battalion commander and regiment executive officer with the US 37th Armor Regiment and Tank Battalion.
1944 - His unit was at the spearhead of the 4th Armored Division and the Third Army, and was well known as an aggressive armor commander.
- He was twice decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross, second only to the Medal of Honor, for actions on the 9th of September and on the 26th of December.
1945-1948 - Served on the Army General Staff and in the War Plans section of the Army Ground Forces headquarters.
- Became the director of tactics of the Armored School at Fort Knox and was promoted to permanent ranks of captain and major.
1949-1954 - Graduated from the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth.
- Commanded the 63d Tank Battalion, part of the 1st Infantry Division, in Europe.
- Promoted to colonel and commanded the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment.
- Joined the Korean War and successively served as chief of staff of the I, X, and IX Corps in Korea.
- Converted to Roman Catholicism while serving in Vietnam.
- He served as Chief of Staff of the Armor Center, Fort Knox upon his return from Korea.
1956-1964 - He was promoted to brigadier-general and appointed deputy chief of staff for reserve components at the Pentagon.
- Became the assistant division commander of 3rd Armored Division and then commanded the division upon his promotion to major-general.
- He was then transferred to the Pentagon as deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, then was promoted to lieutenant-general and commanded V Corps in Europe. He was promoted to general and appointed vice Chief of Staff of the Army.
1967 - Appointed as deputy to General William Westmoreland and head of the Military Assistance Command in Vietnam.
1968 - He succeeded Westmoreland as commander and his tenure of command was not marked by the public optimism of his predecessors, who were prone to press conferences and public statements.
1972 - He was appointed Chief of Staff of the United States Army but was not confirmed by the Senate due to political repercussions involving disobedience by one of his subordinate commanders.
1974 - He died in Washington, D.C. of lung cancer on September 4th and was regarded as the first army Chief-of-Staff to die in office. He was buried with full military honors in a special plot in Section 21 of Arlington National Cemetery.
Page last updated: 1:36am, 18th Dec '06