David Hackworth
Colonel David Haskell Hackworth (November 11, 1930 – May 4, 2005) was a United States Army officer and journalist, who was decorated in both the Korean War and Vietnam War. Hackworth is known for his role in the formation and command of Tiger Force, a military unit from the 101st Airborne Division that used guerrilla warfare tactics against Viet Cong in South Vietnam.
David Hackworth | |
|---|---|
Hackworth in Zagreb, Croatia in December 1995 | |
| Birth name | David Haskell Hackworth |
| Nickname(s) | "Hack" |
| Born | November 11, 1930 Ocean Park, California, U.S. (now Santa Monica, California, U.S.) |
| Died | May 4, 2005 (aged 74) Tijuana, Mexico |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | 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 |
He was youngest US colonel in Vietnam at the time of his promotion. He was described by General Creighton Abrams, who commanded all US military operations from 1968 to 1972 in Vietnam, as "the best battalion commander I ever saw in the United States Army."
In 1996, Hackworth accused Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael Boorda of wearing two unauthorized service ribbons on his uniform denoting valor in combat. Boorda committed suicide during Hackworth's investigation. In 1997 Hackworth was accused himself of wearing unathorised decorations: an extra Distinguished Flying Cross and a Ranger Tab. An audit later proved it was a US Army administrative error and not the fault of Hackworth.