Years of service 1966–2002 | Name John Abrams | |
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Born September 3, 1946 (age 77) Cumberland, Maine ( 1946-09-03 ) Relations GEN Creighton Abrams (father)BG Creighton W. Abrams III (brother)GEN Robert B. Abrams (brother) Education Bowling Green State University Commands held United States Army Training and Doctrine Command | ||
Allegiance United States of America | ||
General John Nelson Abrams (born September 3, 1946) is a retired United States Army 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, General Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
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Military career
Abrams was born on September 3, 1946 in Cumberland, Maine. He received his commission through Officer Candidate School in 1966, 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 2nd Infantry Division (2nd ID) 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. He was the second officer in U.S. Army history to command the same unit as his father, the other being General George Smith Patton a unit also commanded by Lt. Gen Colin Powell.
In 1998 he was promoted to general and assigned as Commander, United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), which oversees all training in the U.S. Army. He held this position until his retirement in 2002.
Abrams received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Bowling Green University, a Master of Science degree in Public Administration from Shippensburg University, and an honorary Doctor of Education degree from Norwich University.
Post military
After retiring, Abrams became a military analyst for the Associated Press. He is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Abrams Learning & Information Systems, Inc., a consulting and technology firm.