The Resume

(September 15, 1914-September 4, 1974)
Born in Springfield, Massachusetts
US Army general
Commanded military operations in the Vietnam War (1968-72)
US Army Chief of Staff (1972-74)
Namesake for the M1 Abrams tank
Nicknamed 'Abe'

Why he might be annoying:

He was described by a reporter as looking like 'an unmade bed smoking a cigar.'
Another reporter noted about his speech, 'He let the goddamns fall where they may.'
He was described as 'openly hostile' to the Army's investigation into the My Lai massacre.
He praised Operation Speedy Express -- which killed at least 5,000 civilians in South Vietnam's Mekong Delta -- as a tremendous success.

Why he might not be annoying:

As a tank commander in World War II, he repeatedly defeated larger German forces with superior guns.
General George S. Patton said, 'I'm supposed to be the best tank commander in the Army, but I have one peer — Abe Abrams. He's the world champion.'
He won the Distinguished Service Cross twice in World War II.
Many observers thought the Vietnam War would have gone much better if his 'clear and hold' policy had been followed from the start, rather than General William Westmoreland's 'search and destroy' tactics.
British counter-insurgency expert Sir Robert Thompson called him the best American general since Ulysses S. Grant.
As Chief of Staff, he oversaw the transition from conscription to an all-volunteer Army.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Breeders [Have 5 or More Kids] (Ranked: 6)
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 55]
• Celebrities Born on the Same Date [September] (Ranked: 9151914)
• Generals and Admirals
• Gil Scott-Heron's 'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised' References
• I Attended West Point
• I Converted to Catholicism
• I Died in 1974 (Ranked: 59)
• I Have Lung Cancer
• I Named My Kid After Myself
• I'm Buried at Arlington National Cemetery [Virginia]
• Jane Fonda Doesn’t Like Me
• Male Cigar Smokers
• Profiles 36001-36250 (Ranked: 36056)
• Served in the Korean War
• Served in the Vietnam War
• Served in World War II
• Weapon Namesakes

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 7 Votes: 28.57% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 16 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 10 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 11 Votes: 36.36% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 71 Votes: 47.89% Annoying