John N. Abrams
Encyclopedia
John Nelson Abrams is a retired United States Army
four star general who commanded the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command
from 1998 to 2002. He is the son of former Army Chief of Staff
Creighton Abrams
.
, Kentucky. He received his commission through Officer Candidate School
in 1968, after enlisting as a tank crewman in 1966. His commands have included the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Joint Task Force Kuwait, 2nd Infantry Division, V Corps., and US Army Training and Doctrine Command.
As a young armor officer, Abrams served two years in Vietnam, rising from platoon leader to troop commander. Toward the end of his tour, Abrams commanded an armored cavalry troop in the Mang Yang Pass, where he established such good relations with the Montagnard
villagers that a local village chief gave him an elephant
. "Isn't that great, Dad?" he asked his father Creighton, who at the time was commander of all U.S. forces in Vietnam. "Well, let me tell you, I knew he was in trouble," Creighton Abrams recounted later. "I asked him if he knew what it meant for a Montagnard village chief to give someone an elephant, and of course he just thought it was a nice thing for the guy to do. Well, sir, I told him in no uncertain terms, 'John, you better pack up and leave that area quick, 'cause you are now engaged to be married to a Montagnard woman. That elephant is a wedding gift!'" John Abrams married Cecilia Bosico in 1969, after a courtship that did not involve an elephant.
In his tour as Commander of the Second Infantry Division he was promoted to Major General and stationed at Camp Red Cloud
, near Uijeongbu
, Republic of Korea near the Olympic Velodrome. During Operation Desert Storm he could view the combat area by live satellite imaging and see his brother's unit, Gen Creighton Abrams, III, who was the Artillery Commander for Desert Storm.
Major General Abrams was active in community affairs and worked with the Amerasian Children's Fund, The Pearl Buck Association and the American Red Cross. He redesigned the 2ID logo to depict a "handsome Indian" and placed this design on another of his creations, the 2nd ID sports jacket. He also designed and produced a 2nd ID sports cap. He was instrumental in improving morale to this combat unit and community support from the Korean civilians. The original drawings, art work, and first production runs were kept by Col. G F (Coach) Sweetman, who was responsible for their production.
After completing his tour in Korea, he was promoted to Lieutenant General and assigned as commander of "V Corps" in Germany, also called 5th Corps and Victory Corps. He was the second officer in U.S. Army history to command the same unit as his father, a unit also commanded by Lt. Gen Colin Powell. LTG Creighton Abrams
15 July 1963 to 3 August 1964; LTG Colin Powell
23 June 1986 to 1 January 1987; LTG John N. Abrams 6 April 1995 to 31 July 1997]. He also continued an Army tradition of taking key staff members with him, including Command Sergeant Major John Beck.
Abrams received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Bowling Green University, a Master of Science in Public Administration from Shippensburg University, and an honorary Doctor of Education degree from Norwich University
.
His awards and decorations include the Army Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Silver Star
with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit
with 2 oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star
with "V" device and 3 oak leaf clusters, Air Medal
with 2 oak leaf clusters and the Purple Heart
.
. He is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Abrams Learning & Information Systems, Inc., a consulting and technology firm.
III and George S. Patton IV, commanding the 2nd Armored Division
.
Another Link between Patton and Abrams families was that Creighton, John's father, was Patton's spearhead commander in World War II, where Patton praised him as being the only tank commander equal to himself.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
four star general who commanded the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command
United States Army Training and Doctrine Command
Established 1 July 1973, the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command is an army command of the United States Army headquartered at Fort Eustis, Virginia. It is charged with overseeing training of Army forces, the development of operational doctrine, and the development and procurement of...
from 1998 to 2002. He is the son of former Army Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff of the United States Army
The Chief of Staff of the Army is a statutory office held by a four-star general in the United States Army, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Army, and as such is the principal military advisor and a deputy to the Secretary of the Army; and is in...
Creighton Abrams
Creighton Abrams
Creighton Williams Abrams Jr. was a general in the United States Army who commanded military operations in the Vietnam War from 1968–72 which saw U.S. troop strength in 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...
.
Military career
Abrams was born on September 3, 1946 at Fort KnoxFort Knox
Fort Knox is a United States Army post in Kentucky south of Louisville and north of Elizabethtown. The base covers parts of Bullitt, Hardin, and Meade counties. It currently holds the Army Human Resources Center of Excellence to include the Army Human Resources Command, United States Army Cadet...
, Kentucky. He received his commission through Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School (U.S. Army)
The United States Army's Officer Candidate School , located at Fort Benning, Georgia, provides training to become a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army...
in 1968, after enlisting as a tank crewman in 1966. His commands have included the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Joint Task Force Kuwait, 2nd Infantry Division, V Corps., and US Army Training and Doctrine Command.
As a young armor officer, Abrams served two years in Vietnam, rising from platoon leader to troop commander. Toward the end of his tour, Abrams commanded an armored cavalry troop in the Mang Yang Pass, where he established such good relations with the Montagnard
Degar
The Degar are the indigenous peoples of the Central Highlands of Vietnam. The term Montagnard means "mountain people" in French and is a carryover from the French colonial period in Vietnam. In Vietnamese, they are known by the term thượng - this term can also be applied to other minority ethnic...
villagers that a local village chief gave him an elephant
Elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
. "Isn't that great, Dad?" he asked his father Creighton, who at the time was commander of all U.S. forces in Vietnam. "Well, let me tell you, I knew he was in trouble," Creighton Abrams recounted later. "I asked him if he knew what it meant for a Montagnard village chief to give someone an elephant, and of course he just thought it was a nice thing for the guy to do. Well, sir, I told him in no uncertain terms, 'John, you better pack up and leave that area quick, 'cause you are now engaged to be married to a Montagnard woman. That elephant is a wedding gift!'" John Abrams married Cecilia Bosico in 1969, after a courtship that did not involve an elephant.
In his tour as Commander of the Second Infantry Division he was promoted to Major General and stationed at Camp Red Cloud
Camp Red Cloud
Camp Red Cloud is a United States Army camp located in the city of Uijeongbu, between Seoul and the Korean Demilitarized Zone . The installation was renamed after Medal of Honor recipient Corporal Mitchell Red Cloud, Jr...
, near Uijeongbu
Uijeongbu
Uijeongbu is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.The city is located just north of Seoul with many U.S. and Korean military bases for the defense of the Korean capital. The U.S. Second Infantry Division has established its headquarters in the city with main troops deployed in Dongducheon...
, Republic of Korea near the Olympic Velodrome. During Operation Desert Storm he could view the combat area by live satellite imaging and see his brother's unit, Gen Creighton Abrams, III, who was the Artillery Commander for Desert Storm.
Major General Abrams was active in community affairs and worked with the Amerasian Children's Fund, The Pearl Buck Association and the American Red Cross. He redesigned the 2ID logo to depict a "handsome Indian" and placed this design on another of his creations, the 2nd ID sports jacket. He also designed and produced a 2nd ID sports cap. He was instrumental in improving morale to this combat unit and community support from the Korean civilians. The original drawings, art work, and first production runs were kept by Col. G F (Coach) Sweetman, who was responsible for their production.
After completing his tour in Korea, he was promoted to Lieutenant General and assigned as commander of "V Corps" in Germany, also called 5th Corps and Victory Corps. He was the second officer in U.S. Army history to command the same unit as his father, a unit also commanded by Lt. Gen Colin Powell. LTG Creighton Abrams
Creighton Abrams
Creighton Williams Abrams Jr. was a general in the United States Army who commanded military operations in the Vietnam War from 1968–72 which saw U.S. troop strength in 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...
15 July 1963 to 3 August 1964; LTG Colin Powell
Colin Powell
Colin Luther Powell is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African American to serve in that position. During his military...
23 June 1986 to 1 January 1987; LTG John N. Abrams 6 April 1995 to 31 July 1997]. He also continued an Army tradition of taking key staff members with him, including Command Sergeant Major John Beck.
Abrams received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Bowling Green University, a Master of Science in Public Administration from Shippensburg University, and an honorary Doctor of Education degree from Norwich University
Norwich University
Norwich University is a private university located in Northfield, Vermont . The university was founded in 1819 at Norwich, Vermont, as the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy. It is the oldest of six Senior Military Colleges, and is recognized by the United States Department of...
.
His awards and decorations include the Army Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with 2 oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
with "V" device and 3 oak leaf clusters, Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
with 2 oak leaf clusters and the Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
.
Army Distinguished Service MedalDistinguished Service Medal (Army)The Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Army that is presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great...
with oak leaf cluster
Silver StarSilver StarThe Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
with oak leaf cluster
Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with two oak leaf clusters
Bronze StarBronze Star MedalThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
with "V" Device (with three oak leaf clusters)
Purple HeartPurple HeartThe Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
Air MedalAir MedalThe Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
with two oak leaf clusters
Post military
After retiring, Abrams became a military analyst for the Associated PressAssociated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
. He is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Abrams Learning & Information Systems, Inc., a consulting and technology firm.
See also
The first father-son U. S. Army Generals to command the same unit were George S. PattonGeorge S. Patton
George Smith Patton, Jr. was a United States Army officer best known for his leadership while commanding corps and armies as a general during World War II. He was also well known for his eccentricity and controversial outspokenness.Patton was commissioned in the U.S. Army after his graduation from...
III and George S. Patton IV, commanding the 2nd Armored Division
U.S. 2nd Armored Division
The 2nd Armored Division was an armored division of the United States Army. The division played an important role during World War II in the invasions of North Africa and Sicily and the liberation of France, Belgium, and Holland and the invasion of Germany...
.
Another Link between Patton and Abrams families was that Creighton, John's father, was Patton's spearhead commander in World War II, where Patton praised him as being the only tank commander equal to himself.