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

Newsday.com ^ | May 5, 2005 | MATT APUZZO

[AgentEcho]

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.

[processing please hold]

I sure like watching him when he was on Fox. I only saw him again when I was news surfing. I couldn't make myself watch MSNBC and CNN.

I can't believe I forgot his face. It is so sad that he has died.

[annalex]

R.I.P.

[Nucluside]

Col. Hackworth (correctly) was displeased with the conduct of the VietNam war (it was run by civilians, often against military advice) and was not one of the stereotypical ticket-punching officers who kissed ass on the Pentagon as soldiers and marines won battles, only to have the victories taken away by Washington, liberals, and the NEW Left. Although he did not keep up to speed on the integration of the Armed Forces branches as applied to modern warfare ('a la General Franks) and lacked adequate knowlege of newer weapons, logistics and tactics, he was a soldiers' officer and a division/batallion tactical battlefield genious.

Goodbye, Sir.

[MarineBrat]

I'll just say... "", which is what Mom always told me to say.

[rudy45]

?like laetrile? I haven't heard of that treatment in awhile. Wasn't it popular in the 70s?

[ScreamingFist]

Hack knew his stuff, inside and out. It remains to be seen whether his political opinions were correct or not. Fly high Colonel.

[brazzaville]

Good morning.

I believe I read that he wore some incorrect decorations himself. He also spent the last few years doing harm to our war fighters while claiming to be their friend.

That said, yes, he was a good soldier in his time.

Michael Frazier

[Luddite Patent Counsel]

Col. Hackworth was a neighbor of sorts up here. He was a fine man and a brave soldier, and had the best interests of his country and his men at heart. RIP

[wardaddy]

Damn.

I'm sorry to hear that.

I just saw him about 20 months ago and shook his hand. he wanted to arm wrestle....he looked damned fit.

I did not like his eccentric views either but enjoyed his books ..

[Malesherbes]

Yes, Terabitten. Amen, and RIP to the old soldier.

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

I had my issues with him, but may he RIP. I especially wish the rest of his family the best. May God be with you.

[R. Scott]

Wonder why he was in Mexico for treatment?

People often do so as a last ditch effort after American doctors have done all they are allowed to do. Mexico has numerous clinics offering alternative (unproven) treatments.

[hershey]

That's too bad.

[wideawake]

No. He served in the Merchant marine in 1944 at the age of 14 and saw no combat in WWII.

He joined the Army after the war and served in Korea as a sergeant - which is where he received most of his decorations.

He later served as a field grade officer in Vietnam, where he was frustrated at being overruled by his superiors, so he went on TV in 1970 to badmouth his superiors and the media had a field day. He loved the attention and basked in every minute of it.

Apparently, although this is unconfirmed, he had affairs and wound up being sued for divorce. meanwhile, his military career had understandably come to a complete halt.

So he fled America for Australia and lived there for 15 years before returning to the US as a journalist.

[wardaddy]

Apricot Pits.

(saw Nevada Smith again last nite for the 20th time)

[dware]

I disagreed with his politics, but admire his service & dedication. Men like that are hard to find these days. May he rest in peace.

[Squantos]

Agree......if ya got nothing good to say ...........

[wideawake]

I believe I read that he wore some incorrect decorations himself.

He confronted Jeremy Boorda in an (NBC I think) TV interview about his fake medals.

After Boorda killed himself, CBS ran a story that Hackworth himself wore fake decorations.

He took them to court and a year later CBS admitted that their reporter made a mistake and that all his decorations were authentic.

[norwaypinesavage]

"He was getting treatment that Americans were unwilling to perform."

Works pretty good, does it?