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An orphan, Hackworth paid an older man to pose as his father to certify he was old enough to join the U.S. Army because he hoped for "sex and adventure." He was only 15. After enlisting he advanced quickly: he became the youngest Captain to serve in the Korean War, and then the youngest Colonel to serve in the Vietnam War. During his distinguished service he earned 91 medals (including two Distinguished Service Crosses, 10 Silver Stars, 8 Bronze Stars and an astounding 8 Purple Hearts). During his Vietnam tours he wrote a manual on how to fight back against guerilla warfare, and a General called him "the best battalion commander I ever saw in the United States Army." But by 1971 Hackworth was convinced that the U.S. could not win the war in Vietnam and said so -- publicly -- and boldly spoke up against suggestions that the U.S. use nuclear weapons there. The Army moved to court-martial him, but he was allowed to resign instead, ending his 25-year career with an honorable discharge. But he didn't go quietly: Hackworth went on to become an outspoken anti-nuclear activist, earning him another medal -- the United Nations Medal for Peace. After his military career, he wrote a column on military matters for Newsweek magazine and newspapers, wrote several books, and served as a TV commentator during the 1991 Gulf War, the conflict in the Balkans, and, in 2004, predicted that American troops could be stuck in Iraq for "at least" another 30 years. "Most combat vets pick their fights carefully. They look at their scars, remember the madness and are always mindful of the fallout," he said in early 2005. "That's not the case in Washington, where the White House and the Pentagon are run by civilians who have never sweated it out on a battlefield." Col. "Hack" Hackworth, America's most-decorated living veteran, died May 4 in Mexico from bladder cancer. He was 74.
(Hack's personal web site.)
From This is True for 1 May 2005
Suggestions for further reading:
About Face: The Odyssey of an American Warrior
by Colonel David H. Hackworth, Julie Sherman
Amazon Price: $18.72
Customer Review: When the nation's most highly decorated soldier speaks up, everyone should listen. Those serving in the military of all ranks and especially the policy makers who put our young men and women at risk.
Hackworth served from 1945-1971. The...
Steel My Soldiers' Hearts : The Hopeless to Hardcore Transformation of U.S. A...
by David H. Hackworth
Amazon Price: $10.88
Customer Review: I've been re-reading some books I've had a few years, and this one stands out. The title of my review comes from "Hack" himself describing his phenomenal success in killing Viet Kong at the end of his year commanding the 4/39 Battalion. This is the g...
About Face: Odyssey of an American Warrior
by David H. Hackworth, Julie Sherman
Amazon Price:
Customer Review: All I can say is to read this. You will not be let down. It is a very good look at what has died with and in this country.
Functions, Statistics, and Trigonometry (The University of Chicago School Mat...
by Sharon L. Senk, Steven S. Viktora, Zalman Usiskin, Nils P. Ahbel, Virginia Highstone, David Witonsky, Rheta N. Rubenstein, James E. Schultz, Margaret Hackworth, John W. McConnell, Dora Aksoy, James Flanders, Barry Kissane
Amazon Price:
Customer Review: I really enjoyed this textbook. The authors of this book really did a good job making you enjoy math. I used to hate math, but this book was an exception. They greatly explain theorems and other things so you won't get confused. One way I liked...
Hazardous Duty
by David H. Hackworth
Amazon Price: $13.63
Customer Review: A highly readable and informative book, the late (2005) COL Hackworth delivers the goods in a logical extension of "About Face", basically fulfilling the promise stated with its very last sentence (those of you who read it and/or have it know what it...
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