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.

[katieanna]

Please say it ain't so.

Peace, Col. God bless.

[TexKat]

May God rest his soul.

[Loud Mime]

[Calvinist_Dark_Lord]

Rest in Peace, Colonel. I disagreed with his politics but respected the heck out of his service in uniform.

IIRC, the one on Fox with the raspy voice is named Hunt.

Hunt and Hackworth had their lives cross in an odd way. LtCol David Hunt was a batallion commander in Korea while Hack was there on press assignment in 94. He was a Kick Ass tactician, and training fanatic. All Hunt had really wanted to do was command a combat line unit.

The powers that be decided that they wanted a business manager type, and not a combat leader in upper ranks, and tried to $#!tcan Hunt's career.

Hackworth found out about it, and went to commamder US Forces in Korea, General Gary Luck (commanded XVIII Corps in Desert Storm). Hack told Gen. Luck "We're gonna loose this guy, and he's another Abrams"

Result was that David Hunt was promoted to full Colonel. Unfortunately, the Ass kissers eventually did have their way, and Hunt was forced out.

Col. David Hunt is NOT to be confused with General Ira A. Hunt, who was the nemesis of Hackworth when he commanded the 4/39^th Infantry in 69 in the Delta. David Hunt was a warrier, Ira Hunt was a fool.

[DustyMoment]

Col. Hackworth served his country honorably and deserves our respect. His politics are earthbound, his service is eternal. Rest in Peace, Col. Hackworth, may God console your family and ease the pain in their hearts.

[Airborne1986]

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

A minor point - but I thought I read in "About Face" that he came under some sort of indirect fire when he was on shore during a Merchant marine mission in the Pacific.

[Spiff]

Is he the one with the raspy voice that was always on Fox?

No, that's Susan Estrich.

[wideawake]

I thought I read in "About Face" that he came under some sort of indirect fire when he was on shore during a Merchant marine mission in the Pacific.

My source says that he served in the Adriatic.

[KenmcG414]

"A Great American!!!!" May he rest in peace.

[stevio]

I had no idea he was 74. R.I.P.. Thank you for your service to our country.

[MacArthur]

Rest in peace Colonel.

[DTA]

"Colonel Hackworth was one of our most decorated servicemen in the history of our country. Rest in peace, soldier, and thank you from a grateful nation"

[Luke]

He will be missed. I'm afraid we have lost an advocate that can not be replaced.

[Calvin Locke]

From the recesses of my memory, Mexican "doctors" were pushing Laetrile(sp?), the active ingredient being some
form of cyanide, extracted from the pits of some fruits.

[Robert_Paulson2]

probably because the treatment he was undergoing, to try and save his life, was not allowed by the drug lords her in the USA. Steve McQueen went down and died there, for the same kind of thing.

FDA does not allow alternative treatments, though they do help, SOME people.

[riri]

Yeesh, this is getting really depressing. Seems we are averaging about one diagnosis/news like this a week these days. Are they ever going to cure it is my question?

He drove me crazy but sorry to see him go. WOW, though I had no idea he was in his 70's, he looked great.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Ultimately, a Navy board decided that Borda was, in fact, authorized to wear the device.

Incorrect. Despite the Zumwalt, Clinton, Dalton, Boorda family spin to the contrary, Boorda was not and is still not entitled to wear the Combat V on either the Navy Achievement Medal or Navy Commendation Medal. So says the Board for Correction of Naval Records.

http://64.233.187.104/search?q=cache:LI7XAy8b4yQJ:boards.law.af.mil/NAVY/BCNR/CY1998/06956-98.pdf+Board+of+Corrections+of+the+Naval+Records+Boorda&hl=en&start=6

[LYSandra]

I heard something about peach pits in the cure for cancer used in Mexico. He always had on a black turtle neck & black pants when I saw him on Fox! Like Johnny Cash.

[redhawk]

From one old soldier to another; RIP Hack. You were one of the good guys.

[A.A. Cunningham]

You don't know what you're talking about regarding Boorda.