David Hackworth facts for kids

Quick facts for kids David Hackworth
Hackworth in Zagreb, Croatia in December 1995
Birth name	David Haskell Hackworth
Nickname(s)	"Hack"
Born	(1930-11-11)November 11, 1930 Ocean Park, California, U.S. (now Santa Monica, California, U.S.)
Died	May 4, 2005(2005-05-04) (aged 74) Tijuana, Mexico
Buried	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Merchant Marine United States Army
Years of service	1945 (U.S. Merchant Marine) 1946–1954, 1956–1971 (U.S. Army)
Rank	Colonel
Unit	88th Infantry Division 25th Infantry Division 40th Infantry Division 101st Airborne Division 9th Infantry Division
Commands held	Tiger Force 4th Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War Vietnam War
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross (2) Silver Star (10) Legion of Merit (4) Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Medal (8) with "V" Purple Heart (8) Air Medal (34) with "V" Army Commendation Medal (4) with "V"
Other work	Author, journalist and restaurateur

Colonel David Haskell Hackworth (November 11, 1930 – May 4, 2005) was a brave and highly decorated officer in the United States Army. He was also a well-known journalist. Hackworth fought in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He was famous for helping create and lead a special unit called Tiger Force. This unit used smart, sneaky tactics, much like guerrilla warfare, against enemy forces in South Vietnam.

He was the youngest US colonel in Vietnam when he was promoted. General Creighton Abrams, who led all US military operations in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972, called him "the best battalion commander I ever saw."

Later in life, Hackworth became a journalist. He once questioned if another high-ranking officer was wearing military awards he hadn't earned. This led to some questions about Hackworth's own awards. However, an official review later showed that any confusion about his awards was due to an Army mistake, not his fault.

Early Life and Adventures

David Hackworth was born in Ocean Park, California (now part of Santa Monica), on November 11, 1930. Sadly, both his parents passed away before he was even one year old. He and his brother and sister were raised by their grandmother, Ida Stedman.

During the Great Depression, his family relied on government help. His grandmother, who had lived through the Old West, told them exciting stories. These tales, along with stories of their Revolutionary War ancestors, filled young David with a sense of adventure. While going to school, David and a friend earned money by shining the shoes of soldiers.

Joining the Military

At just 14 years old, David was eager for adventure. He lied about his age and even paid someone to pretend to be his father. This way, he could join the United States Merchant Marine in 1945. He served on a ship in the South Pacific Ocean during the final months of World War II.

After returning home to California, he decided to join the United States Army. In 1946, he used his Merchant Marine papers to enlist for three years. After his basic training, he was sent to Trieste as a rifleman. This was part of the post-war occupation duty. While there, he earned his high-school diploma.

Fighting in Korea

Hackworth fought bravely in the Korean War. He was part of the 25th Reconnaissance Company and the 27th Infantry (Wolfhound) Regiment. In 1951, he was promoted to second lieutenant right on the battlefield. He earned three Silver Stars for his heroic actions and three Purple Hearts for being wounded.

After a successful mission, he was promoted again to first lieutenant. He was then offered command of a new volunteer unit. Hackworth created the 27th Wolfhound Raiders and led them from August to November 1951. He even volunteered for a second tour in Korea and was promoted to captain.

During the Cold War

After the Korean War ended in 1954, Hackworth left the Army. But he quickly found civilian life boring. So, after two years of college, he rejoined the US Army as a captain in 1956.

When he returned, the Army had changed a lot because of the Cold War. He was first stationed in California. Later, he was sent to Germany. He worked in staff roles but returned to leading infantry soldiers in the early 1960s. He was involved in several training exercises during the Berlin Crisis of 1961. He wrote about his experiences in his book About Face.

Hackworth continued his education, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in history in 1964. He then attended the Command and General Staff College.

Serving in Vietnam

When President John F. Kennedy announced that military advisors would go to South Vietnam, Hackworth immediately volunteered. His request was initially denied because he had too much combat experience. The Army wanted others to gain experience.

In 1965, he finally went to Vietnam as a Major. He served as an operations officer and battalion commander. In November 1965, Hackworth started a small unit called Tiger Force. His goal was to "out-guerrilla the guerrillas." This unit performed dangerous long-range missions. It suffered many casualties but was later awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. After Hackworth left Vietnam, some members of the unit were involved in serious incidents. Hackworth later said he didn't know about these events and wouldn't guess why they happened.

Hackworth quickly became known as a unique and effective soldier. He was featured in several books. After working at the Pentagon and being promoted to lieutenant colonel, he returned to Vietnam. He co-wrote a book that suggested using some of the tactics used by famous guerrilla leaders. He called this strategy "out-G-ing the G."

Despite his concerns about the Vietnam War, he felt it was his duty to continue fighting as best he could. He was assigned to a training battalion, then returned to Vietnam to lead parts of the 9th Infantry Division. He put his ideas about guerrilla warfare into practice with the 4th Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment. He transformed this unit, which was struggling, into a highly effective counter-insurgent force.

Fire Support Base Danger, Dinh Tuong Province, March 1969: This was the headquarters for the 4-39th Infantry Battalion when Hackworth took command.

Hackworth then became a senior advisor to the South Vietnamese army (ARVN). He believed the US Army was not learning from its mistakes. He also thought many ARVN officers were not effective. These views caused some disagreements with Army leaders.

In early 1971, Hackworth was promoted to colonel. He was offered a chance to attend the United States Army War College. This usually meant he was being considered for promotion to general. However, he turned down this opportunity, showing his unhappiness with the war and the Army's leadership.

Life After the Army

Living in Australia

After leaving the Army, Hackworth moved to the Australian Gold Coast. He became very successful, making money from real estate investing, a duck farm, and a popular restaurant. He also became active in the Australian movement against nuclear weapons.

Becoming a Writer

In the mid-1980s, Hackworth returned to the US. He started working as an editor for Newsweek magazine, writing about defense topics. He also appeared on TV often to discuss military issues and problems within the military. His comments about the mental effects of war, like post-traumatic stress disorder, helped many veterans.

In the 1990s, Hackworth investigated Admiral Jeremy Michael Boorda, a top Navy officer. Hackworth, through his Newsweek articles, questioned if Boorda was wearing certain awards correctly. This created a lot of discussion. Later, questions were raised about Hackworth's own military awards. He asked for an official review of his records. The review showed that any confusion about his awards was due to an administrative error by the Army. The Army confirmed that he had not knowingly worn or claimed any awards he hadn't earned.

Hackworth's last assignment in a conflict zone was with Newsweek in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1996. He joined US forces there and interviewed many soldiers. He continued to be a respected journalist and a voice for regular soldiers.

He also wrote a weekly column called "Defending America." Many of his columns discussed the War on Terrorism and the Iraq War. He often wrote about the policies of American leaders and the conditions of soldiers. Hackworth continued writing until his death in May 2005. His friends believe his cancer was caused by exposure to certain chemicals used in Vietnam.

His Final Years

David Hackworth passed away on May 4, 2005, at age 74. He died in Tijuana, Mexico, while seeking treatments for his bladder cancer. He was survived by his wife, Eilhys England, his four children from previous marriages, and a stepdaughter. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Awards and Honors

David Hackworth earned over 90 US and foreign military awards. He often wore a CIB pin on his civilian jackets.

His military awards include:

U.S. Badges, Patches and Tabs
	Combat Infantryman Badge w/ one silver star (2 awards)
	US Master Parachutist Badge
	Army Staff Identification Badge
	101st Airborne Division Combat Service Identification Badge
	327th Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
Foreign badges
	Vietnam Master Parachutist Badge