Abrams, Creighton Williams, Jr., 1914-1974

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Creighton W. Abrams was a United States (U.S.) Army officer. He was the commander of the U.S. Military Assistance Command in Vietnam (MACV) and was the Chief of Staff (CofS) of the Army.

Creighton Williams Abrams (1914-1974), army officer, was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. He graduated from West Point in 1936, and was commissioned in the cavalry. After service with the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Bliss, Texas, he was assigned to the newly created 1st Armored Division in 1940, and in early 1941 was transferred to the 4th Armored Division. He became commander of the 37th Tank Battalion in September 1943. With the 4th Armored Division, he landed at Normandy in July 1944, and from then until the end of World War II, he commanded alternately the 37th and the divisional combat command. Abrams' battalion led the relief of General Anthony C. McAuliffe's 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne in December 1944, and by early May 1945 had crossed into Czechoslovakia. He was promoted to colonel in 1945. Abrams graduated from the Command and General Staff College and in 1953 from the Army War College. During the Korean War, he served as chief of staff of the I Corps, the X Corps, and the IX Corps in succession. He was promoted to brigadier general in February 1956 and to major general in May 1960, in which grade he commanded the 3rd Armored Division in Germany from 1961 to 1962. In May 1967, Abrams was appointed deputy commander of the United States Military Assistance Command in Vietnam, and in June 1968 he succeeded General William Westmoreland as Commander, MACV, a post he held for four years, during which time he attempted to implement the "Vietnamization" policy for training Vietnamese troops ultimately to take over sole conduct of the war with the communist forces of North Vietnam. He was named Chief of Staff of the Army in 1972, a position that he held until his death in 1974.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn John Shirley Wood Papers, 1917-1967 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. VISITING DIGNITARIES - MR. MCNAMARA AT SAIGON TAN SON NHUT AIRPORT, VIETNAM National Archives at College Park
referencedIn McCue, Timothy M., 1950-. Oral history interview with Timothy M. McCue, 2000. Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer. 1860 - 1985. Motion Picture Films from the Army Library Copy Collection. 1964 - 1980. THAI WELCOME CEREMONY, LONG THANN, SOUTH VIETNAM; Damage to 52d Sig Bn HQ, Chau Doc, South Vietnam; Psy-War Plane, Darlac, South Vietnam National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations (Nixon Administration). 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations. 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Executive Office Building tape number 336 Richard Nixon Library
referencedIn Records of the Army Staff. 1903 - 2009. Photographs of U.S. and Foreign Military Personnel, Defense Department and Other Government Officials, Royalty, and Heads of State. 1964-1974. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Corcoran, Charles A. (Charles Allen), 1914-. The Charles Corcoran papers, 1914-1973. U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center
referencedIn Talbott, Orwin C. (Orwin Clark), 1918-. The Orwin C. Talbott papers, 1974. U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. Visiting dignitaries, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand and Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam National Archives at College Park
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. BEN LUC NAVAL BASE, RVN National Archives at College Park
referencedIn President's Daily Diary. 11/22/1963 - 1/20/1969. President's Daily Diary. 11/22/1963 - 1/20/1969. President's Daily Diary Entry, June 24, 1964 Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
creatorOf Abrams, Creighton W. (Creighton Williams), 1914-1974. Statement by General Creighton W. Abrams, Jr., vice-chief of staff, United States Army before the Preparedness Investigating Subcommittee, Committee on Armed Services, United States Senate, 2 June 1965. U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center
referencedIn Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations (Nixon Administration). 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations. 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Oval Office tape number 474 Richard Nixon Library
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. GOING HOME (OPERATION KEYSTONE), BIEN HOA AB AND TAN SON NHUT AB, VIETNAM National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations (Nixon Administration). 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations. 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Executive Office Building tape number 335 Richard Nixon Library
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. TURNOVER OF 80 PBR's TO VIETNAMESE NAVY National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer. 1860 - 1985. Motion Picture Films from the Army Library Copy Collection. 1964 - 1980. Chaplains in the Field (199th Light Infantry Brigade) Fire Base Stephanie, Bienhoa Province, South Vietnam National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Vincent, James F., 1945-. Oral history interview with James F. Vincent , [sound recording], 2005. Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center
creatorOf Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations (Nixon Administration). 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations. 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Oval Office tape number 799 Richard Nixon Library
referencedIn Johnson, Harold K. (Harold Keith), 1912-1983. Harold K. Johnson collection, 1931-1978 (bulk 1964-1968). U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. SECNAV CHAFEE WESTPAC TOUR LOCATION-TAN SON NHUT AFB, RVN National Archives at College Park
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. CHANGE OF COMMAND COMNAVFORV Location - onboard USS PAGE COUNTY (LST-1076) Saigon, RVN National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations (Nixon Administration). 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations. 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Oval Office tape number 729 Richard Nixon Library
referencedIn Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations (Nixon Administration). 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations. 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Oval Office tape number 719 Richard Nixon Library
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. CHANGE OF COMMAND COMNAVFORV Location - onboard USS PAGE COUNTY (LST-1076) Saigon, RVN National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Hodson, Kenneth J., 1913-. Interview with Major General Kenneth J. Hodson / by Robert E. Boyer. U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. CHANGE OF COMMAND COMNAVFORV Location - aboard USS PAGE COUNTY (LST-1076) Saigon, RVN National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. SECRETARY SEAMANS VISITS TAN SON NHUT AB, VIETNAM National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE CLIFFORD PRESS CONFERENCE, TAN SON NHUT AB, VIETNAM National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations (Nixon Administration). 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations. 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Oval Office tape number 700 Richard Nixon Library
referencedIn Weyand, Fred C. (Frederick C.), 1919-. Frederick C. Weyand papers, 1972-1999. U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center
referencedIn Salzer, Robert S. Copy of Oral History typescript Reminiscences of Robert S. Salzer, USN, (Ret.), by Naval Institute. Naval War College, Henry E. Eccles Library
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE CLIFFORD, TAN SON NHUT AB, VIETNAM National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Abrams, Creighton W., 1914-. Statement by General Creighton W. Abrams, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army : before the Subcommittee on Defense, Committee on Appropriations, United States Senate, first session, 93d Congress : Department of the Army budget estimates FY 1974. U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center
referencedIn Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations (Nixon Administration). 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations. 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Oval Office tape number 716 Richard Nixon Library
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. CHANGE OF COMMAND COMNAVFORV Location - onboard USS PAGE COUNTY (LST-1076) Saigon, RVN National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Vietnam War Christmas Menu, 1968. Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE, ROBERT C. SEAMANS, VISITS SOUTHEAST ASIA National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION AWARDED TO VNAF, BINH THUY AB, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. MACV COMMANDERS' CONFERENCE, CAM RANH BAY AB, VIETNAM National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations (Nixon Administration). 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations. 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Camp David study table tape number 131 Richard Nixon Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer. 1860 - 1985. Motion Picture Films from the Army Library Copy Collection. 1964 - 1980. Change of command ceremony (5th Special Forces) Nhatrang, South Vietnam National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MELVIN R. LAIRD, DA NANG AB, VIETNAM National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Abrams, Creighton W. (Creighton Williams), 1914-1974. Creighton W. Abrams photograph collection. U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. PRESIDENT JOHNSON VISITS CAM RANH BAY AB, VIETNAM National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. CHANGE OF COMMAND CEREMONY, TAN SON NHUT AB, VIETNAM National Archives at College Park
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Official Military Personnel File of Creighton W. Abrams. National Archives at St. Louis
Place Name Admin Code Country
Springfield MA US
Washington, D. C. DC US
Subject
Military ceremonies, honors, and salutes
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1914-09-15

Death 1974-09-04

Male

Americans

English

Information

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