Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Military Reformer-Writer David Hackworth Dies

Elphaba · 05-06-2005, 12:46 PM

From the Associated Press:

"Retired Army Col. David Hackworth, a decorated Vietnam Verteran 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 Tijuana, Mexico, where he was being treated for bladder cancer."

"A Newsweek correspondent during the Gulf War, Hackworth worked in recent years as a syndicated columnist for King Features, often criticizing the Bush administration's handling of the Iraq war."

""Most combat vets pick their fights carefully. They look at theier scars, remember the madness and are always mindful of the fallout," Hackworth wrote in February. "That's not the case in Washington, where the White House and the Pentagon are run by civilians who have never sweated it out on a battlefield.""

"Hackworth ignited a national debate last year when he reported that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld used a machine to sign condolence letters sent to the families of fallen soldiers. Rumsfeld later promised to sign each letter by hand."

""Hack never lost his focus," said Roger Charles, presisdent of Soldiers for the Truth, a California-based veterans group that Hackworth chaired. "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."

_________________________________________________________________

I've been following Hack's writings for over a decade now, and will miss him. He lived and breathed the support of our troops that the Pentagon gives lip service to. He served his country long and well.

I was surprised not to see a thread already started for him. Is he unknown to most of the forum members here?

05-06-2005, 12:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
Elphaba Deja Moo Location: Olympic Peninsula, WA	Military Reformer-Writer David Hackworth Dies From the Associated Press: "Retired Army Col. David Hackworth, a decorated Vietnam Verteran 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 Tijuana, Mexico, where he was being treated for bladder cancer." "A Newsweek correspondent during the Gulf War, Hackworth worked in recent years as a syndicated columnist for King Features, often criticizing the Bush administration's handling of the Iraq war." ""Most combat vets pick their fights carefully. They look at theier scars, remember the madness and are always mindful of the fallout," Hackworth wrote in February. "That's not the case in Washington, where the White House and the Pentagon are run by civilians who have never sweated it out on a battlefield."" "Hackworth ignited a national debate last year when he reported that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld used a machine to sign condolence letters sent to the families of fallen soldiers. Rumsfeld later promised to sign each letter by hand." ""Hack never lost his focus," said Roger Charles, presisdent of Soldiers for the Truth, a California-based veterans group that Hackworth chaired. "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." _________________________________________________________________ I've been following Hack's writings for over a decade now, and will miss him. He lived and breathed the support of our troops that the Pentagon gives lip service to. He served his country long and well. I was surprised not to see a thread already started for him. Is he unknown to most of the forum members here?