David Hackworth a legend in his own mind.
I know quite a few folks who thought he was largely a product of slick advertising and self promotion during his Vietnam years. I am not being critical of his service or his championing of troops! I appreciate that, but the evolution into this critic of the military industrial complex WAS stuck in the 1960's. I remember the first Gulf war in '91 where he predicted the biggest proportional bloodbath for America since the Alamo. I knew then that he was (as the Charlie Daniels song goes) Still in Saigon. He forgot that all the young officers from 'Nam who were disgusted by that conflict then, were suddenly in charge and determined to DO IT RIGHT. When the massacre he predicted did not in fact come to pass, he was left with egg on his face. Did he learn from this? Uh-uh. He continued to make the same dire predictions as if he were the only voice in the wilderness with the strategic and tactical savvy to conduct war.
Once again, please do not make the assumption that I am anti-Hackworth because he lived a good and righteous life and he fought and sacrificed under the most horrific conditions imaginable. I just disagree with some of his more obstinate positions.
Hackworth was a very brave man and a great tactical soldier.
But he wasn't a good military analyst & politically he was idiot.
Just because you are a good quarterback doesn't mean you know how to coach or would make a good TV commenatator.
Hackworth's past reputation was completed overshadowed by his tendency to masquerade as a circus clown instead of a "military analyst."
I didn't always agree with Hack but I'm sure as blue blazes gonna miss him. RIP Hack.