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May 06, 2005David Hackworth, decorated Vietnam War veteran, dies
By Joseph R. Chenelly
Times staff writer
Retired Col. David H. Hackworth, a highly decorated soldier and self-described champion of the infantryman, died May 4 in Mexico of cancer.
He was 74.
At 14, as World War II was coming to a close, Hackworth lied about his age to join the Merchant Marine, and at 15 he enlisted in the Army. Over the next 26 years he spent seven in combat. He was nominated for the Medal of Honor three times; the last application is currently under review at the Pentagon, the family said.
He was twice awarded the Army's second highest honor for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross, along with 10 Silver Stars and eight Bronze Stars.
He won his first Silver Star and Purple Heart in Korea, but he repeatedly said he was proudest of his Combat Infantryman's Badge and eight Purple Hearts.
In 1971, he appeared in the field on ABC's Issue and Answers to say Vietnam "is a bad war...it can't be won. We need to get out."
After the interview, he retired from the Army and moved to Australia, where he became a leading spokesman for Australia's anti-nuclear movement for which he was presented the United Nations Medal for Peace.
From 1990 to 1996, as Newsweek Magazine's contributing editor for defense, he covered the first Gulf War as well as peacekeeping battles in Somalia, the Balkans, Korea and Haiti.
He was a regular contributor to national publications, and radio and TV shows. His column, Defending America, has appeared weekly in newspapers across the country and on the Web site of Soldiers For The Truth.
Over the final years of Hackworth's life he battled bladder cancer, which, his family said in a May 5 press release appears “with sinister regularity among Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Blue.”
Hackworth is survived by his wife, four children, a step-daughter, four grandchildren and two step-grandchildren.
The release said he will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. No date was given.
Soldiers For The Truth is now working on legal action “to compel the Pentagon to recognize Agent Blue alongside the better known Agent Orange as a killer and to help veterans exposed to it during the Vietnam War,” Hackworth’s family said in a press release May 5.
Memorial contributions can be sent to Soldiers For The Truth or by mail to PO Box 54365, Irving, Calif. 92619.
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