Posted on 05/05/2005 9:02:39 PM PDT by Axhandle
When I was 17, I purchased a copy of About Face by Colonel David H. Hackworth (U.S. Army, Retired). I do not remember what prompted me to purchase it. All that I remember is that I was absolutely captivated by it. The book is the autobiography of Colonel Hackworth. Colonel Hackworth is among the most highly decorated soldiers in our nation's history and had a full seven years of combat under his belt. As one would assume of such a man, his autobiography read as a series of war stories.
His story is one of a man who loved his soldiers and fearlessly led them in the most perilous of circumstances, never hesitating to put himself in equal or greater danger when he thought it necessary. His bold combat leadership style often came at a heavy personal price, expressed in the number of Purple Hearts that he earned - eight of them. Just as he was willing to risk his life for his soldiers on the battlefield, he was willing to risk his career for the truth. It was the latter risk that cost him the most. On principle, he put his career on the line to say what he believed to be correct: that the Vietnam War could not be won and that the US had to get out.
He was the youngest Colonel in Vietnam and on track to be a General. He had everything to lose and nothing to gain by speaking the truth, as he saw it. But he risked his career for the same reason that he so often risked his life - for the soldiers whom he so loved. He did not want to watch more soldiers fight a war that he did not think could be won and it was therefore necessary for him to say what no other senior leader wanted to say.
Continually frustrated by officers who put their careers and comfort ahead of the mission and their soldiers, his transition into the world of being a soldier advocate was a natural one. As a man who believed that the Army leadership has an obligation to devote all energy and resources to properly train, equip, and lead soldiers, Colonel Hackworth inevitably put himself at odds with many in the Pentagon and the Army's higher echelons, just as he did in Vietnam. He railed against "perfumed princes" who misused resources and equipment for their own benefit, against ambitious careerists who placed a higher priority on "ticket-punching" for their advancement than on taking care of their soldiers, and against what he perceived to be a military-industrial complex. Regardless of whether you agreed with him, and I often did not, one cannot question his motivation, credibility or principle.
Colonel Hackworth is the reason that I joined the Army. As a controversial figure there are inevitably many rumors and criticisms about the man, from all sides of many issues, which one would be hard-pressed to confirm or deny. But, the leader that was personified in About Face, the man absolutely focused on preparing his Soldiers for combat, on devoting all of his energy and all of the resources at his disposal towards mission accomplishment and the welfare of his soldiers has never been questioned. Colonel Hackworth was an inspiration to many of us. It was his example that motivated me to join the Army, to focus on preparing myself and my soldiers for combat, and to disregard and scoff at the "rank has its privileges" mentality that so many of my peers have.
I often disagreed with Colonel Hackworth on his positions regarding Iraq and national strategy. However, I rarely disagreed with him on issues such as training, procurement, Soldier quality of life, and leadership. He believed in realistic training. He believed in giving our Soldiers the best equipment possible, rather than the most expensive equipment that businesses could sell to congress. He sought out cases where soldiers were poorly cared for by their leaders and raised Hell to get the issues resolved. He believed in hard-nosed leadership and leaders who shared hardships with their Soldiers. His reputation as one of the greatest combat leaders in our nation's history gave him the credibility to discuss such issues with authority and to make senior military leaders listen when he spoke.
The Army is far from a perfect institution. Colonel Hackworth was an unrelenting voice in identifying shortcomings, identifying the causes, and clarifying how to fix those shortcomings. Most of the Army's shortcomings are due to shortsighted leadership, corrupt leadership, or soft leadership. So, he was often at odds with the military leadership. That is why he was so popular among those of us who serve at the tactical level. For us to speak up and call a spade a spade is difficult, if not impossible to do, without being insubordinate. Colonel Hackworth had his finger on the pulse of the Army's junior leadership. He was a rallying point for those who were fed up and felt helpless to correct shortcomings that were due to bad leadership. He was an outlet and an advocate for those who wanted reform but were thwarted by entrenched bureaucrats. His service as an advocate of military reform was nearly as valuable as his sacrifices on the battlefield. To those of us who share his passion for Soldiering and his love of Soldiers, Colonel Hackworth was a true hero. To those who may have disagreed with Colonel Hackworth, there is no denying the sacrifices that he made on behalf of his nation.
Colonel Hackworth never hesitated to speak his mind and to rattle some cages. It made him a polarizing figure at times. But, regardless of your opinion of the man, one thing is certain. When he is laid to rest, he will take to his grave shrapnel and scars from the battlefields on which he fought on our behalf. And for that, regardless of whether you ever agreed with the man, we owe him our respect and a debt of gratitude.
Take a moment to read the obituary of Colonel David H. Hackworth (U.S. Army, Retired) at his website: http://www.hackworth.com
AWARDS & DECORATIONS
COLONEL DAVID H. HACKWORTH
(U.S. ARMY, RETIRED)
Individual Decorations & Service Medals:
Distinguished Service Cross (with one Oak Leaf Cluster)
Silver Star (with nine Oak Leaf Clusters)
Legion of Merit (with three Oak Leaf Clusters)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star Medal (with "V" Device & seven Oak Leaf Clusters)(Seven of the awards for heroism)
Purple Heart (with seven Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Medal (with "V" Device & Numeral 34)(One for heroism and 33 for aerial achievement)
Army Commendation Medal (w/ "V" Device & 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Good Conduct Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal (with Germany and Japan Clasps)
National Defense Service Medal (with one Bronze Service Star)
Korean Service Medal (with Service Stars for eight campaigns)
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Service Medal (2 Silver Service Stars = 10 campaigns)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
Unit Awards:
Presidential Unit Citation
Valorous Unit Award (with one Oak Leaf Cluster)
Meritorious Unit Commendation
Badges & Tabs:
Combat Infantryman Badge (w/ one Star; representing 2 awards)
Master Parachutist Badge
Army General Staff Identification Badge
Foreign Awards:
United Nations Service Medal (Korea)
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960)
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry (with two Gold Stars)
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry (with two Silver Stars)
Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal (1st Class)
Vietnam Staff Service Medal (1st Class)
Vietnam Army Distinguished Service Order, 2d Class
Vietnam Parachutist Badge (Master Level)
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (with three Palm oak leaf clusters)
Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal, First Class Unit Citation (with one Palm oak leaf cluster)
World War II Merchant Marine Awards:
Pacific War Zone Bar
Victory Medal
Note: As per a Department of the Army audit conducted by COL Pam Mitchell, Chief Personnel ServiceSupport Division on May 6 1999.
This may be the 10th post on his death today.
Here's the first one: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1397366/posts
Hack turned out to be rather prescient, while Hugh turned out to be what he always was, a cheerleader for neo cons with piety in one hand and a juvenile sense of humor in the other.
As a conservative I'd rather be led by Hack.
My biggest issue with Colonel Hackworth was that he placed too much fault on the part of senior leaders, in regard to Iraq. Iraq is a small unit fight. Leadership is important, and senior leaders are important, but this is all about small unit leaders. A General's decision does not mean that much, when every patrol is at the squad or platoon level and the enemy fights as 2 and 3 man teams, rather than as divisions. The real issue is what Colonel Hackworth so often focused on in the past, but lost interest in, when the opportunity arose to criticize Generals - training and personnel management.
This is not some big war where divisions flank divisions and Generals draw giant, sweeping arrows on maps. This is an insurgency in which the first step to toppling the new Iraqi government is to force the Americans to leave by eroding the public support that they have at home. There is no complicated strategy for attack on the part of the insurgency - they just need to consistently kill Americans. Everything rests upon the ability of the small unit leader to keep his Soliders alive, while accomplishing the mission. This is not a war of the past when the war was won by the Generals who could most skillfully throw masses of humanity into a meat grinder. It is a test of our best and brightest young men against their.
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