David Hackworth, Vietnam vet and military analyst, dies at 74 (damn!)

[TacticalPeek]

David Hackworth, Vietnam vet and military analyst, dies at 74

David Hackworth, Vietnam vet and military analyst, dies at 74
By MATT APUZZO
Associated Press Writer

May 5, 2005, 1:12 PM EDT

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Retired Army Col. David Hackworth, a decorated Vietnam veteran who spoke out against the war and later became a journalist and an advocate for military reform, died Wednesday in Mexico, where he was receiving treatment for bladder cancer, his wife said. He was 74.

"He died in my arms yesterday morning," his wife, Eilhys England, said Thursday.

Hackworth, a syndicated columnist for King Features, advocated a streamlined military and improved conditions for troops.

"Hack never lost his focus," said Roger Charles, president of Soldiers for the Truth, a California-based veterans group for which Hackworth served as chairman. "That focus was on the young kids that our country sends to bleed and die on our behalf. Everything he did in his retirement was to try to give them a better chance to win and to come home. That's one hell of a legacy."

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/connecticut/ny-bc-ct--obit-hackworth0505may05,0,3570135,print.story?coll=ny-region-apconnecticut

[dbt]

1. RIP, Colonel.

THANK YOU for your service to your country AND the TRUTH!

[niceypoo]

109. he was a right wing hack for years

He talked like mr deltoid from a clockwork orange.

[Conservativesux]

116. Col. "Far-Right" Hackworth. Adios and via-con Dios, Muchacho!!!

He played into the hands of the right wing media nuts way too much for my liking, but he did seem to be a soldiers "soldier", so he had a good side, to be sure.

RIP, Col. Hackworth.

[Eloriel]

126. Amen

I'm VERY sorry to see him gone. We still need him. He stood up for the truth AND the troops. Powerful combination, and especially precious coming from someone on the conservative side of the political spectrum.

I'll tell my Hackworth story, because it made me respect him all the more. I visited his site once and saw a photo on the home page of some troop shaking hands with Hillary with one had and flashing the finger with the other, unbeknownst to anyone except whoever was taking the picture.

I wrote to Hack and told him that even if people didn't respect Hillary (I didn't much care for her much myself), the troops did need to respect the office of Senator, AND that this did nothing to help the violence against women epidemic in the military. He wrote me back with a polite but concise word of agreement, something like "Good points," and promised to remove the offensive photo, which he did immediately. That's far better responsiveness to an issue of sexism than I have learned to expect here at DU, so it made him all the more a hero in my eyes.

[roughandtumble]

130. Colonel Kurtz is dead...

Kurtz: I've seen horrors... horrors that you've seen. But you have no right to call me a murderer. You have a right to kill me. You have a right to do that... but you have no right to judge me. It's impossible for words to describe what is necessary to those who do not know what horror means. Horror. Horror has a face... and you must make a friend of horror.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[calimary]

36. "Damn" is damned right.

Aw man, how many of the Good Guys do we have to lose? Sad news. Go with God, sir, and thank you for being a beacon of reason and truth.

[MADem]

111. He killed Mike Boorda

...as sure as if he shot the guy himself. Over a fucking error. There are a lot of people who are not especial fans of Boorda who found Hackworth's hounding of that man way over the top.

But hey, maybe Mike will meet him at the gate, and they can sit down and have that chat.

[Schema Thing]

124. How so?

Navy Secretary John Dalton said he had met with Boorda a day earlier. ''He was in great spirits,'' Dalton said.

Rear Admiral Kendell Pease, who was with Boorda a little over an hour before the shooting, said Boorda was to have met with Newsweek's bureau chief in his Pentagon office at 2:30 p.m. to discuss questions about his Vietnam combat medals. The implication was that Newsweek was investigating whether Boorda had worn a combat ''V'' decoration that he was never officially awarded.

Pease said that when he told Boorda, about 12:30 p.m., what the subject of the interview was, the admiral abruptly announced he was going home for lunch instead of eating the meal that had been brought to his office. ''Admiral Boorda was obviously concerned,'' said Pease, the Navy's top public affairs officer.

In a statement, Newsweek Editor Maynard Parker said the magazine ''had not reached any conclusions'' about the medal controversy. Boorda's body was found about 2:05 p.m. in a side yard next to his quarters at the Washington Navy Yard. He was pronounced dead at D.C. General Hospital a few minutes later.

Boorda was awarded commendation and meritorious service awards for his duty in Vietnam, which included combat operations. But copies of the citations released Thursday by the Navy did not mention that Boorda qualified for wearing a combat ''V.''

[roughandtumble]

131. Boorda wore a medal that Boorda knew he didn't deserve

Sorry mate.

[Joey Liberal]

132. Hack did the same thing

Boorda shouldn't have killed him self over that medal flap. But Hack (and I'm a Hack fan) claimed that he earned the ranger tab, which was not true. Sorry mate.

[MADem]

134. I knew Boorda pretty well

I always thought he was a bit bipolar. I really think that had he had the appropriate medication, and had not Hackworth gone after him during a time when the pressure was really on like a big dog (it was the runup to appropriations, with all the Congressional testimony that goes with it, it means twenty hour days for weeks on end, great pain all around) he would not have done that, either.

I didn't always agree with him, and he could be a jerk sometimes, but I understood his heart...it was in the right place. He cared about the crew, like a good leader should. And I have to say, that even years after doing it on a regular basis, he was one of the best fucking shipdrivers I ever saw in my life. He had that shit down.

[MADem]

133. Having participated in the investigation

I can tell you your facts are wrong.

Sorry, mate, backatcha.

[catnhatnh]

3. There goes one of the finest...

..military men of the last century and a fine truth-teller to boot...RIP indeed..

[Rosco T.]

4. At Ease Hack... rest well.. n/m

[Massachusetts]

5. Hack went above and beyond the call of duty

RIP Hack

[saigon68]

112. He answered his own E-Mails

He never went higher than O-6 because he refused to play the ass kissing game and cared only for the health, welfare and safety of his subordinates.

[qanda]

6. So sad

Why was he seeking treatment in Mexico? Not trying to start any kind of conspiracy theory, I really am just wondering.

RIP Colonel Hackworth

[BrotherBuzz]

19. Mexico offers some radical treatments outside of conventional...

medicine.

My wife was diagnosed with cancer twenty years ago and we sought treatment in Mexico after American doctors planned to whack out her uterus out as a cure (we were desperate). Six months of treatment and it was gone, gone, gone and American doctors were scratching their collective heads. Oh, my wife went on to bear our only child at age forty-three, ten years after her treatment. I say there's somethin to it, but I'm sad David Hackworth didn't find help in time.

[qanda]

30. Thanks for sharing that

It's very interesting. I'm glad that your wife is okay. I, too, wish Colonel Hackworth had found help in time.

[orwell]

7. Sorry to Hear It

You had to admire this guy whether you agreed with him or not.

He was a real "no-spin" zone.

RIP Colonel...

[LandOLincoln]

8. RIP Hack,

and thank you for your years of service to this country.

[Skarbrowe]

9. My god. I read his book about VN years ago and I read his column.

This is truly a shock. I think some people didn't like him for possibly good reasons, I don't remember. All I know is that I loved his no-nonsense, tell it like it is articles about the military and I WILL MISS HIM.

Geez. I'm really upset.

Edited to say that after letting this hit me for a few minutes, I'm not ashamed to admit that I am crying. I had no idea how wrong I was about Viet Nam until I read his book years and years ago. This was a man I believed told THE TRUTH. He was fearless. I read all his articles and even posted at least one on this board.

I also want to say Thank You, SIR. I don't know if we have anyone else like you out there. The United States and the world has lost a great warrior and a good man.

[LeighAnn]

10. NOOOOOOOOOO-O-O-O-O!

I really liked that guy. Never would have guessed he was 74.

Thank you for your service, Col.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

75. RIP Hack

one of the good guys, they are always gone too soon. And i agree, his youthfulness betrayed his age.

[anarchy1999]

11. Oh just damned , and RIP dear sir!

Tears are overwhelming me at this moment. He was a voice we needed right now.

[Norquist Nemesis]

12. Damn!

I had no idea he was being treated for cancer. :cry:

He was a true patriot and a brave soldier fighting the good fight. He'll be sorely missed.

Thank you Col. Hackworth for all you gave to us and this country. We are greatly indebted to you.

[myrna minx]

13. Oh Hack, may you rest in peace.

:cry:

[RamboLiberal]

14. RIP Colonel - you were one of the good ones

And not afraid to speak the truth. A good officer who cared for his troopers instead of brown-nosing the PTB.

I'm shocked and I'm going to miss his columns.

[malmapus]

15. /salute ...Rest in peace Sir.

:(

America lost a true patriot today and the troops lost a good buddy

[atreides1]

16. Rest In Peace Colonel

Hopefully we'll be able to find another one like you, not to replace you, but to continue the fight.

Sergeant Gilbert C. Gordon
U.S. Army 1978-1991
Operation Desert Storm

[Sal316]

17. RIP Colonel.

Let not freeper bastards speak ill of your service

To: rface
This man arranged for CBS News to get the pictures from Abu Ghraib. I'm not sure he was honorable, and I'm not sure I can shed a lot of crocodile tears for him. I'll just say that at least he can't cause any more trouble, and may he rest in peace. Amen.



17 posted on 05/05/2005 10:54:12 AM PDT by johnb838 (Free Republicans... To Arms!)
< Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies >

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

23. The words...

Of a pathetic twerp who cannot summon saliva of sufficient quality to shine the shoes of Col. Hackworth.

RIP, Colonel. You, I respected. You lived and died with honor.

[Tempest]

18. God bless you, Colonel

You spoke the truth when the rest took the easy way out and lied.

You'll be greatly missed.

[lebkuchen]

20. Thanks for your honesty, Hack

...these days a passing fashion, which may well have passed on with you.

[5thGenDemocrat]

21. Hack in his own words

"As I go on, it will be difficult to discuss what have become very political issues in an apolitical way, very difficult to tread the thin line between Left and Right. If my own politics show through as being slightly left of center, it would not be unfair to ask that it be remembered they were one far to the right of John Birch.
"If my "warts and all" description of my last command (which in the manuscript stage made a number of good friends cringe and beg me to be a little less forthcoming) offends, and in some minds calls my credibility into question, may I say that to tell all was a choice I made; I did not believe I had a right to discuss what happened to my Army if I did not honestly discuss what happened to me as well.
"And if it appears odd that a self-professed warrior is now pushing the line for peace (or at least a better way to resolve conflict), in fact I am only joining the ranks of MacArthur, Montgomery, Mountbatten, and scores of other retired soldiers who, with no vested interest in the industry of war, and with plenty of time to put their feet up and think, recognize that the stakes of war have grown too high to be a viable problem solver."
-- David H. Hackworth, About Face (1989), p 812. (Paras mine.)
John
One hell of a fine soldier. Rest in peace, Colonel.

[Maat]

22. Rest in peace, Hack!

I always enjoyed your columns and TV appearances, and general commentary.

May you transition successfully!

Peace and blessings to those left behind!

You showed true courage.

[Book Lover]

24. No!

No! Dammit!

Rest in peace, sir.

[Ryano42]

25. Honors.......HUP!

DISMISSED!

<TAPS>

:patriot: :cry:

[DinahMoeHum]

26. A 21-"Army Mule" salute to you, Sir !! You were one of the best.

I always looked forward to his column every Tuesday at Soldiers For The Truth.

:kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick:
:kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick:
:kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick:

[UpInArms]

27. RIP Colonel Hackworth

You will be sorely missed.

:(

[Daphne08]

28. History will remember you well, Col. Hackworth.

Rest in Peace, Sir.

:cry:

[shraby]

29. Rest in Peace Col. Hackworth...

To one who called a spade a spade and stood behind what he said. The world lost a good man.
A salute to Co. Hackworth.

[MN ChimpH8R]

31. He will be greatly missed

Not often do you find anyone in public life with such a hairtrigger bullshit detector and an unflinching commitment to the truth.:(

[oasis]

32. Rest in peace Hack.

O8)

[iam]

33. Austin Peay State University

in Clarksville, TN was his (and mine) alma mater. Let's go Peay!

[DemoTex]

34. OMG! RIP Hack. The good die young.

Hack was a soldier's soldier. I am in shock.

[htuttle]

35. This peacenik salutes an honorable man

RIP Col. Hackworth.

[Walt Starr]

37. Rarely does a soldier shoulder the level of service this man shouldered.

He joined years before he legally could. He was enlisted for years before becoming an officer.

Hckworth was a soldier's soldier.

[Skeptic_All]

38. His devastating portrayal of the ticket-punching

mindset amongst U.S Army officers during the Vietnam conflict was among the many contributions he shared with this "old soldier" as I navigated my way through the maze of chicken shit and back stabbing that ultimately led to my early retirement. Never before and never again shall we hear unvarnished, what really motivates the US Army officer corp. He was one of "them", who cared more for those who were "us".

Many of you here have addressed him as Colonel, but I'm sure he would be much happier if you would just call him "Hack".

Godspeed Hack........I'm gonna miss you!

[driver8]

40. Skeptic -- that was a great post...

Our country lost a great man...a voice of reason and truth among so many phonies.

RIP Hack...you will be missed.

[girl gone mad]

61. Welcome to DU, skeptic.

And thanks for sharing.

I had a minor correspondence with him last year. He was really an admirable person.

[Miss Chybil]

39. I didn't know he was sick. Rest in Peace. We'll miss you. nt

[Az_lefty]

41. From an old soldier, RIP Hack.

you were one of the good ones. A "Real" patriot.
:patriot:

[JI7]

42. this is very sad, i didn't even know he was sick

i will miss him a lot.

[Catherine Vincent]

43. May he rest in peace.

Although I didn't agree with him calling the President of the United States a sleazeball.

[AtTheEndOfTheDay]

72. Why not?

Pray tell. RIP, I feel really sad.

[FighttheFuture]

86. Yes, he really was too kind to the global village idiot...

"sleazball" does not begin to describe the horror that is the sociopath, G.W. Bush, or the puppet masters behind him!

[Catherine Vincent]

89. Well actually he called President Clinton that.

On national tv. I don't know what names Hackworth called Dubya but if he did, I don't think it was sleazeball.

[JI7]

44. Vietnam vet, journalist David Hackworth dies

this is very sad, he told the truth about Bush, he defended KErry agianst those swift vet liars.


<HARTFORD, Conn. - Retired Army Col. David Hackworth, a decorated Vietnam veteran who spoke out against the war and later became a journalist and an advocate for military reform, has died, his wife said Thursday. He was 74.

Hackworth died Wednesday in Mexico, where he was receiving treatment for bladder cancer. His wife, Eilhys England, was with him.

Hackworth, a syndicated columnist for King Features, advocated a streamlined military and improved conditions for troops. He wrote several books including "The Vietnam Primer," "About Face," and "Hazardous Duty."

"Hack never lost his focus," said Roger Charles, president of Soldiers for the Truth, a California-based veterans group for which Hackworth served as chairman. "That focus was on the young kids that our country sends to bleed and die on our behalf. Everything he did in his retirement was to try to give them a better chance to win and to come home. That's one hell of a legacy."

Hackworth served four tours of duty in Vietnam and was one of the first senior officers to speak out publicly against the Vietnam War. He was nearly court-martialed before he retired from the military in 1971 and gave up his medals in protest.>


http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/nation/11572006.htm

[Rick Myers]

45. Godspeed, Hack...

You were one of the good guys!

[still_one]

46. wasn't he the most decorated viet nam war vet?

[Pacifist Patriot]

48. No, it was Staff Sergeant Joe Ronnie Hooper.

Congressional Medal of Honor winner, eventually became a Captain.

His other decorations include two Silver Stars (one of them which began as a recommendation for a second Medal of Honor), six Bronze Stars and eight Purple Hearts. He died of natural causes in 1979.

[LynnTheDem]

51. He was the most highly decorated US soldier alive. List of awards:

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

Edit to add; Awards such as:

Bronze Star Medal (with "V" Device & seven Oak Leaf Clusters)(Seven of the awards for heroism)

This means he won 8 Bronze Stars (1 Star, plus 7 Clusters)

[ticapnews]

74. How did he never win the Congressional MoH?

He was a true light in the darkness. His was an important voice these past few years and will be sadly missed in the years of occupation and probably more invasions to come...

RIP Hack!

[LynnTheDem]

82. In a word...political.

I so agree with what you posted.

You picked a sore time to leave us, Hack.

RIP.

[Pacifist Patriot]

47. Very sorry to hear this for a couple of reasons.

I admired Hackworth's dedication to his convictions....and my dad, another Vietnam Vet, is in surgery as we speak for bladder cancer. Second surgery in four months. My dad and Hackworth shared the same perspective on the military. Rest in Peace Colonel.

[ninkasi]

87. I am so sorry we lost a man who was a National Treasure...

He will be sorely missed. To you, Pacifist Patriot, I hope your dad pulls through. It sounds like you and your dad are people Colonel Hackworth would have been proud to claim as friends.

[Pacifist Patriot]

90. Thank you. I just got the news that he came through the surgery...

easily enough. Back to the wait and see mode.

[ninkasi]

101. Thank you so much

for letting us know. You have no idea how much I appreciate your giving the news. I am praying, sending healing thoughts, and doing what I can do help with his recovery. We can not afford any losses in this fight.

[LynnTheDem]

49. Hack ALSO spoke out against rumsfailed, bush, and the invasion of IRAQ.

I notice the "MSM" isn't bothering to mention that part.

So let Hack mention it;

"Should the president decide to stay the war course, hopefully at least a few of our serving top-uniformed leaders - those who are now covertly leaking that war with Iraq will be an unparalleled disaster -will do what many Vietnam-era generals wish they would have done: stand tall and publicly tell the America people the truth about another bad war that could well lead to another died-in-vain black wall. Or even worse."

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=29786

[Eloriel]

128. "another died-in-vain black wall"

Thanks for posting that -- that man could WRITE, too. I'd almost forgotten that fact in my grieving appreciation for his truth-telling penchant.

[Hobo]

50. Godspeed Colonel.........

You deserve all the military honors you can receive. Remember to check your six.

Hobo

[FrenchieCat]

52. Very sad indeed....

a man who could come to a conclusion, get informed, and change his opinion. A rare breed, these days.

His columns will be missed.

[Eloriel]

127. That really is one helluva legacy

"Hack never lost his focus...That focus was on the young kids that our country sends to bleed and die on our behalf. Everything he did in his retirement was to try to give them a better chance to win and to come home. That's one hell of a legacy."

I like the post upthread too that talked about how he was one of "them" who cared a lot about "us."

[go west young man]

53. A true patriot to the cause and a soldier for the world to be proud of.

He will be sorely missed. He and Scott Ritter were the two voices of reason speaking out against the Iraq invasion. A salute to a true fallen hero from an ex-marine. Are there many other DU'ers who are ex military? Nows a good time to salute a real hero and human being.

Lance Corporal Christopher Harrison
1st Battalion,6th Marines, 2nd MarDiv
Serving from 1985-1988

[FrenchieCat]

55. Actually there were others....

but certainly these voices were definitely two of them.

Let's just say that Col. Hackworth knew a hoodwink when he saw one.

[Pacifist Patriot]

62. He most certainly did.

[Pacifist Patriot]

59. My dad is a Vietnam vet who spoke out against the Iraq invasion...

his audience was much smaller of course, but ex-military vocal against the invasion definitely exists!

[Jack Rabbit]

54. RIP

This man was a patriot.



Photo from Austin Peay State University

[tabasco]

56. My God, I knew the guy.

He spent two weeks with my battalion in Somalia.

RIP, Dave !

[BlueManDude]

66. thanks for your service tabasco.

[girl gone mad]

57. This breaks my heart,.

I really enjoyed reading his articles after the invasion and during the elections. He did so much work on behalf of making sure the troops had a voice and could get the true story of the war in Iraq out to the people.

The article says he was a decorated Vietnam veteran. In fact he also served in Korea, and I believe he was the most decorated soldier alive. The Army forced him to retire after he spoke out against the war in Vietnam.

You can sign the guest book at his web site http://www.hackworth.com and send condolences to his wife, Eilhys England Hackworth.

[Pacifist Patriot]

63. Thank you for the link.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

58. Rip,Colonel Hackworth...bummer to be reading this from NEWSDAY

[Birthmark]

60. He was a man too good for his time.

The combination of patriotism, honesty, and just plain guts that Hack possessed are rare to find in any time, but especially so in these times.

RIP Hack!

[donheld]

64. This is a great loss to the progressive community

:-(

[BlueManDude]

65. A real blow against truth. RIP Hack.

[RussBLib]

67. Wonder how quickly Bush will try to co-opt Hack's legacy?

The lying, conniving snake (Bush).

[anarchy1999]

68. My heart is breaking still.

I can't believe this. He's really gone. No, just no.

[Pacifist Patriot]

69. A true measure of the man...

even the conservative sites are being respectful for the most part.

[othermeans]

106. Not our buddies over at free republic

Check out this pile of crap:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1368360/posts#comment?q=1

[Pacifist Patriot]

122. Weird. I read a different Freeper thread about him and it

was by and large respectful. So nice to see their true denizens come out of the wood work. I'd so hate to be disappointed. :sarcasm:

[Rex]

70. EVERYONE should read his book - About Face

The hell this man went through in Vietnam is unbelieveable. IMO, we just lost a great American patriot. :(

David Hackworth RIP

[autorank]

71. The Best of the Best...Regards to his loved ones...I'm blown away.

In honor of a great man and patriot

[Straight Shooter]

73. Very very sad.

What a fighter for truth. :cry:

[geniph]

76. Day is done...

gone the sun,
from the lakes
from the hills
from the sky,
all is well,
safely, rest,
God is near.

Fading light,
Dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky
Gleaming bright,
From afar,
Drawing, near,
Falls the night.

Thanks and praise,
For our days,
Neath the sun
Neath the stars
Neath the sky,
As we go,
This, we, know,
God is near.



(That's Taps, for anyone who doesn't recognize it.)

At ease.

RIP, Hack. You will be missed, sorely.

[Renew Deal]

77. Sad to hear that.

[Chomskyite]

78. Terrible news

. . . for the cause of peace in the world. We couldn't afford to lose this guy.

[recovering democrat]

79. RIP - an Awesome American

An awesome American who will be missed.

Rest in peace - you deserve it!

This prayer link is on his site and I just want to refer to it here again as we pray for the American military in its loss of this real hero.

http://www.hackworth.com/prayer.html

[BrklynLiberal]

80. Horrible news. If it wasn't absoutely provable that he was sick I would

suspect foul play.

[Blue Diadem]

81. Please check out his site, it mentions agent blue & bladder cancer

I never heard of agent blue..always agent orange. The article is a wonderful tribute to his career.

http://www.hackworth.com/

Col. David. H. Hackworth, 1930-2005
Legendary U.S. Army Guerrilla Fighter,
Champion of the Ordinary Soldier
Washington, D.C., May 5, 2005 – Col. David H. Hackworth, the United States Army's legendary, highly decorated guerrilla fighter and lifelong champion of the doughboy and dogface, ground-pounder and grunt, died Wednesday in Mexico. He was 74 years old. The cause of death was a form of cancer now appearing with increasing frequency among Vietnam veterans exposed to the defoliants called Agents Orange and Blue.

Col. Hackworth spent more than half a century on the country’s hottest battlefields, first as a soldier, then as a writer, war correspondent and sharp-eyed critic of the Military-Industrial Complex and ticket-punching generals he dismissed as “Perfumed Princes.”

He preferred the combat style of World War II and Korean War heroes like James Gavin and Matthew Ridgeway and, during Vietnam, of Hank “The Gunfighter” Emerson and Hal Moore. General Moore, the co-author of We Were Soldiers Once and Young, called him “the Patton of Vietnam,” and Gen. Creighton Abrams, the last American commander in that disastrous war, described him as “the best battalion commander I ever saw in the United States Army.”

Col. Hackworth’s battlefield exploits put him on the line of American military heroes squarely next to Sgt. Alvin York and Audie Murphy. The novelist Ward Just, who knew him for forty years, described him as “the genuine article, a soldier’s soldier, a connoisseur of combat.” At 14, as World War II was sputtering out, he lied about his age to join the Merchant Marine, and at 15 he enlisted in the U.S. Army. Over the next 26 years he spent fully seven in combat. He was put in for the Medal of Honor three times; the last application is currently under review at the Pentagon. He was twice awarded the Army’s second highest honor for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross, along with 10 Silver Stars and eight Bronze Stars. When asked about his many awards, he always said he was proudest of his eight Purple Hearts and his Combat Infantryman’s Badge.

[LosinIt]

95. The VA Doc was vigilant with my husband's urinary problems

His first concern was bladder cancer. It was pretty scarey for us till we found out that he's fine. Just a case of a pesky prostate. They were soooo thorough at the VA hospital. His civilian docs only gave him a cursory look. Of course the VA docs don't have to be cleared for every procedure.

[PopSixSquish]

83. Godspeed Col Hackworth

You were brave and fine human being.

[Domitan]

84. I'm saddened by this

I enjoyed checking out his articles from time to time. Now we will read no more new writings of his. I wish I did touch base with him to share my appreciations of his blunt, pragmatic, and caring posts.

RIP Colonel Hackworth!

[quaoar]

85. Apparently killed by exposure to Agent Orange

http://www.hackworth.com/

Washington, D.C., May 5, 2005 – Col. David H. Hackworth, the United States Army's legendary, highly decorated guerrilla fighter and lifelong champion of the doughboy and dogface, ground-pounder and grunt, died Wednesday in Mexico. He was 74 years old. The cause of death was a form of cancer now appearing with increasing frequency among Vietnam veterans exposed to the defoliants called Agents Orange and Blue.

[Submariner]

88. Going to miss you Hack

You kept us going with your honesty.

[necso]

91. With his passing,

enlisted men have lost a powerful advocate, and this country has lost a great soldier. Rare is it that a warrior's steel is forged so keen and true.

My condolences to his wife. But when a sun grows dark, one can still treasure the memory of its light.

We'll miss you, Colonel. But rest assured, others will carry on the fight... if not quite so well.

"But I should have preferred that, when men's deeds have been (so) brave, they should be honored in deed only..."

"Hardcore!"

[Harry S Truman]

92. To the Colonel...

Salute

[DemocracyInaction]

93. Always remember: he served his country to the end

It must have killed his soul to go to his death leaving behind the same filthy criminals in office in this country as those who sent 50,000 kids to die in 'Nam for no goddamn reason at all. I wished we could have done better, Hack....for you and all the rest on the 'Wall' and after............

[RetroLounge]

94. RIP Colonel Hackworth...

Col. (ret.) David Hackworth, right, is being interviewed on the front line in Vietnam by Gen. Slam Marshall after the Battle of Dak To in 1966. At the time, Hackworth was with the 101st Airborne Division. He also served tours of duty in Korea and at Cold War bases around the world. As American men continued to die in Vietnam, Hackworth spoke out against the way the war was being fought. He continues to speak out when he feels American servicemen are being endangered by bad policies or politics.

After five tours of duty in Vietnam, the youngest colonel in the U.S. Army, who also was its most decorated officer, had seen enough. A reporter asked him about the war, and he sounded off. It cost him his military career.

http://www.apsu.edu/insider/magazine/99Fall/Hackworth.htm

RL

[madmax]

96. RIP 'Hack'

:cry:

[Adelante]

97. Sign his guestbook

A great warrior for truth. RIP

How sad I feel :cry:



Sign his guestbook:

http://www.hackworth.com/cgi-bin/csGuest/csGuest.cgi?command=view&gid=1

There are almost 1800 memorials posted so far.

[peekaloo]

98. I'm saddened.

RIP Colonel.

[AlCzervik]

99. omg, I'm in total shock, i didn't even know he was ill

thats so sad, his commentary and insights were so good.

[eridani]

100. He always stood up for the lower ranks

Didn't always agree with him, but admired him for being principled and consistent.

[Spiffarino]

102. Who could possibly fill his shoes?

He was absolutely the finest. Words can't describe him. God, I am so bummed right now. Gone right when we need him the most.

Rest in peace, sir. You've earned it.

[Maddy McCall]

103. No! I loved that guy! I would have never guessed that he was in his 70s!

[FourStarDemocrat]

104. RIP Col. Hackworth,A great American and patriot who will be dearly missed

I'm so sorry to hear about his death. I had no idea that he was fighting cancer. He truly spoke truth to power and told it like it is.

[neverforget]

105. Rest in Peace, Sir!

:cry:

[9thkvius]

107. You will be missed, Colonel...

I met him a couple of years ago, and it was great to be able to talk with him. I don't know if anyone looks out for the little guys, the ordinary soldiers, like he does. I was honored to meet him and to shake his hand. We talked some shop talk (I used to be an 11Mike - a machine-gunner that rode in the back of a Bradley) and also talked some politics. He was, by far, one of the finest officers and finest human beings I have ever met.

[SlowDownFast]

108. Godspeed Hack!

Thank you for all that you have done!

[Hand]

110. Taps for an old soldier...

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the hills, from the lake,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.

Go to sleep, peaceful sleep,
May the soldier or sailor,
God keep.
On the land or the deep,
Safe in sleep.

:patriot: :cry: :toast:

[Historic NY]

113. A soldiers, soldier....a warrior......a dying breed of men.

RIP Hack.

[The Traveler]

114. Oh, crap ... bad timing, Hack ... you will be sorely missed

We'll never stop needing men like this .... skilled in the art of war but never in love with it. He went to Nam to fight the commies and came home to fight the lies. Sometimes in the wrong, but he never stopped struggling to see and speak the truth. He never surrendered.

[w4rma]

115. I'm going to miss reading his work. Rest in peace, good man. (nt)

[jonnyblitz]

117. crap! I just saw this on CNN this am. how did i miss this yesterday

His website, Solidiers for the Truth is such a great resource. I had no idea he was 74. :(

[CRK7376]

118. RIP COL Hack

I'm not a huge Hack fan, but over the past 15-20 years he has been very outspoken and supportive of the troops and called the leadership on the floor often. For that I'm very appreciative. Thanks COL Hack.

[Callboy]

119. he was one of the good ones.

He will be missed.

[redqueen]

120. RIP Col. Hackworth... the troops just lost a very valuable ally. n/t

[Adelante]

121. Hack's Guest Book today

Hackworth :: 2456 Entries - 99 Pages

http://www.hackworth.com/cgi-bin/csGuest/csGuest.cgi?command=view&gid=1

[Devil Dog Dem]

123. Hack was a good man, even if I sometimes disagreed with him.

He and I corresponded once and I wish I had kept his email response.

He will be missed.

Semper Fi, Colonel. You were the best Marine the Army had!

[senseandsensibility]

125. We have lost a voice of reason

and experience, one we can scarcely afford to lose in these times. Thank you, Sir, for your efforts to improve our military and for your lifetime of service.

[Joey Liberal]

129. Hack Checked Out Of The Net

I didn't always agree with him, but I couldn't help but respect him. He was tough on AWOL Bush, so that was cool. Was he perfect? No. The flap over his unauthorized ranger tab proved that he was less than perfect. But he was one hell of a soldier, that's for damn sure.

[Name removed]

135. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[KingOfLostSouls]

136. A Soldier's Prayer

We've tread through mud, through dust and bones, we've left our past, our empty homes, we've carried burdens men should not see, we've done it all for country and liberty, we've ran through hell and back again, we've shot down those who we could call friend, our sins and honors pass into the ages, but never have we truly faded, our ashen memories of mine soaked fields, of shattered lands that would not heal, killing men to save ourselves, tears gone shed as each one fell

I've seen the enemy's face look back at me, I've seen it in the mirror, I've seen it in my dreams, it follows and it always haunts me, but now we stand by each other's side, before St Peter our sins cannot hide, we've fought and we've killed and it never leaves our minds, but now we can find peace here beyond the great divide...we've given our souls to the great war game, so no more mother's bury their sons before their time has came, let our sacrifice be your tomorrow, as we look down and see something better soon to follow, carry our deeds in your hearts and in your souls, in hopes one day wars don't stop us all from slowly growing old...

RIP Hack.