What do you think?
Rate this book
About Face: Odyssey Of An American Warrior
Called “everything a twentieth century war memoir could possibly be” by The New York Times, this national bestseller by Colonel David H. Hackworth presents a vivid and powerful portrait of a life of patriotism.
From age fifteen to forty David Hackworth devoted himself to the US Army and fast became a living legend. In 1971, however, he appeared on television to decry the doomed war effort in Vietnam. With About Face, he has written what many Vietnam veterans have called the most important book of their generation.
From Korea to Berlin, from the Cuban missile crisis to Vietnam, Hackworth’s story is that of an exemplary patriot, played out against the backdrop of the changing fortunes of America and the American military. It is also a stunning indictment of the Pentagon’s fundamental misunderstanding of the Vietnam conflict and of the bureaucracy of self-interest that fuelled the war.
Heavily decorated Colonel Hackworth narrates his life and disillusionment during Vietnam. Orphaned before he was a year old, he found his home at 15 in the Army. In Korea, heroism gave him a battlefield commission at 20. During the Cold War, he commanded at the Berlin wall and the Cuban missile crises. But Vietnam led to disillusionment.
From age fifteen to forty David Hackworth devoted himself to the US Army and fast became a living legend. In 1971, however, he appeared on television to decry the doomed war effort in Vietnam. With About Face, he has written what many Vietnam veterans have called the most important book of their generation.
From Korea to Berlin, from the Cuban missile crisis to Vietnam, Hackworth’s story is that of an exemplary patriot, played out against the backdrop of the changing fortunes of America and the American military. It is also a stunning indictment of the Pentagon’s fundamental misunderstanding of the Vietnam conflict and of the bureaucracy of self-interest that fuelled the war.
Heavily decorated Colonel Hackworth narrates his life and disillusionment during Vietnam. Orphaned before he was a year old, he found his home at 15 in the Army. In Korea, heroism gave him a battlefield commission at 20. During the Cold War, he commanded at the Berlin wall and the Cuban missile crises. But Vietnam led to disillusionment.
875 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1989
About the author
David H. Hackworth
15 books139 followersColonel David Haskell Hackworth, also known as "Hack", was a highly decorated soldier, having received 24 decorations for heroism in combat from the Distinguished Service Cross to the Army Commendation Medal. He was a prominent military journalist. During his time as a journalist, Hackworth investigated many subjects, including an assertion into the accused improper wearing of ribbons and devices by Admiral Mike Boorda, an investigation which is speculated to have driven Boorda to committing suicide.
Hackworth is also known for his role in the creation and command of Tiger Force, a military unit formed during the Vietnam War to apply guerrilla warfare tactics to the fight against Vietnamese guerrillas.
Hackworth is also known for his role in the creation and command of Tiger Force, a military unit formed during the Vietnam War to apply guerrilla warfare tactics to the fight against Vietnamese guerrillas.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 293 reviews
October 21, 2022
I clearly remember, during the First Persian Gulf War, seeing Col. Hackworth on TV, being asked how he thought Gen. Schwartzkopf would attack Iraq from his positions in Kuwait. Ignoring what the talking heads had been theorizing, Hackworth said, "This is how I'd do it" and quickly sketched out exactly the battleplan that, over the next 36 hours, was used to destroy the Iraqi Army as a fighting force. One of America's most decorated soldiers (he joined at 14), Hackworth was widely believed to be the model for the "Col. Kurtz" character in APOCALYPSE NOW. In fact, he created and led Tiger Force, which successfully applied night-action guerrilla warfare tactics to the fight against North Vietnamese guerrillas. His finest moment probably came in 1971, when the Army's youngest colonel said on national television: "This is a bad war, it can't be won... we need to get out." Hackworth also predicted that the N. Vietnamese flag would fly over Saigon in four years--the only senior officer to burn up his own career to tell the truth about the Vietnam War. After many years of self-imposed exile on Australian Gold Coast ("As far from the USA as I can get and still speak English," he said) and a solid career as an author and military journalist, he died in 2005. An American hero.
January 21, 2022
I remember watching Colonel Hackworth's colorful reports from the battlefield during the First Gulf War. I hadn't given his book more than a second thought until a friend of mine from Brazil started reading it last December. My friend, Paulo, told me that his hero, Navy Seal Jocko Willink, recommended it as his favorite book. I thought I had better give it a try.
I was really torn. I loved the book, but I was saddened by the way it ended. Hack felt it was necessary to blow the whistle and expose the fraud by giving an unauthorized interview to the media about our progress in Vietnam. Did it make a difference? Probably not. He just added to the litany of what had become so obvious. In the process, he ruined his chance to make General officer. He could have made more meaningful changes from within. In the long run, I believe he regretted the path he chose. It was a bitter end to a wonderful story about an orphan and fifteen-year-old enlistee, climbing from buck Private to Colonel.
The war stories are riveting, entertaining, and insightful with plenty of examples of great leadership contrasted with a few examples of poor leadership. At times, the book sounded bitter and even a little vindictive but just remember that you always hurt the one you love, and it is apparent that Hack's first love was the Army. What he didn't love was the career minded, ticket-punching officer and the Army's zero-defect approach which is impossible to attain. Zero defects often led to "fudging" with the "M2 pencil" on everything from officer evaluations to ribbons and accommodations, weapons trials, and after-action reports. Hack used this book to voice his concern about the type of officer coming out of West Point during the Cold War. There are too many of the Harvard business manager types and not enough warriors. He said that many abandon the Army at the first opportunity and get rich by prostituting themselves out to defense contractors. He also provides several examples of how the Army's award system has been degraded over the years. He felt that the only accommodation that still means anything is the Purple Heart (of which he had 8). He also feels that the peacetime Army has to do a better job of accommodating the mavericks and innovators that tend to get forced out between wars because these guys make the best fighters. He mentions Stonewall Jackson, US Grant, and Patton as a few examples. He was also very critical of training and infiltrated training battalions to see what was being taught when the cadre were not present. For crying out loud, they were training infantry units about to ship off to Vietnam in the snow! Need I say more?
The book was written in 1990 but with the collapse of the Afghan Army and "wokeness" in the military, I believe it is still very relevant today. In fact, the parallels are uncanny. Thirty years after, we are all witnesses to the fact that history repeats itself.
Hackworth claims that General Abrams called him the greatest Battalion commander he's ever seen. He's also a very entertaining writer too. Enjoy the book.
I was really torn. I loved the book, but I was saddened by the way it ended. Hack felt it was necessary to blow the whistle and expose the fraud by giving an unauthorized interview to the media about our progress in Vietnam. Did it make a difference? Probably not. He just added to the litany of what had become so obvious. In the process, he ruined his chance to make General officer. He could have made more meaningful changes from within. In the long run, I believe he regretted the path he chose. It was a bitter end to a wonderful story about an orphan and fifteen-year-old enlistee, climbing from buck Private to Colonel.
The war stories are riveting, entertaining, and insightful with plenty of examples of great leadership contrasted with a few examples of poor leadership. At times, the book sounded bitter and even a little vindictive but just remember that you always hurt the one you love, and it is apparent that Hack's first love was the Army. What he didn't love was the career minded, ticket-punching officer and the Army's zero-defect approach which is impossible to attain. Zero defects often led to "fudging" with the "M2 pencil" on everything from officer evaluations to ribbons and accommodations, weapons trials, and after-action reports. Hack used this book to voice his concern about the type of officer coming out of West Point during the Cold War. There are too many of the Harvard business manager types and not enough warriors. He said that many abandon the Army at the first opportunity and get rich by prostituting themselves out to defense contractors. He also provides several examples of how the Army's award system has been degraded over the years. He felt that the only accommodation that still means anything is the Purple Heart (of which he had 8). He also feels that the peacetime Army has to do a better job of accommodating the mavericks and innovators that tend to get forced out between wars because these guys make the best fighters. He mentions Stonewall Jackson, US Grant, and Patton as a few examples. He was also very critical of training and infiltrated training battalions to see what was being taught when the cadre were not present. For crying out loud, they were training infantry units about to ship off to Vietnam in the snow! Need I say more?
The book was written in 1990 but with the collapse of the Afghan Army and "wokeness" in the military, I believe it is still very relevant today. In fact, the parallels are uncanny. Thirty years after, we are all witnesses to the fact that history repeats itself.
Hackworth claims that General Abrams called him the greatest Battalion commander he's ever seen. He's also a very entertaining writer too. Enjoy the book.
November 6, 2011
After selling over one million copies of "About Face", who among us can truly judge the depth of this man's impact on our military and on our society? Possessed of a warrior's DNA, this fighter walked away from the Army frustrated and disillusioned about our conduct in the Vietnam War. Make no mistake, he must have seen something very real and very disturbing for him to do an "About Face" and resign.
The book establishes David H. Hackworth's bona fides early on with a description of his early life and military career. A man committed to excellence and the well being of his troops, he came to confront the blind face of upper echelon command in Vietnam and it wore him down and drove him out.
Americans don't like to repeatedly hear all that went wrong in Vietnam. It's uncomfortable and embarrassing. But "Hack" had to bring out the truth as he saw it because for him, it was about protecting his troops. He claims to have written "About Face" for fellow warriors, past, present and future. Based on his subsequent behavior of covering numerous wars as a correspondent after he left the Army, and listening to his decidedly "pro-grunt" viewpoints, I cannot dispute his assertion.
Students of military history and leaders in business and the military would do well to consider the failures, issues and ideas put forth in this book. Rest in peace, Colonel, and thank you for your insight!
John E. Nevola - Author of The Last Jump - A Novel of World War II
The book establishes David H. Hackworth's bona fides early on with a description of his early life and military career. A man committed to excellence and the well being of his troops, he came to confront the blind face of upper echelon command in Vietnam and it wore him down and drove him out.
Americans don't like to repeatedly hear all that went wrong in Vietnam. It's uncomfortable and embarrassing. But "Hack" had to bring out the truth as he saw it because for him, it was about protecting his troops. He claims to have written "About Face" for fellow warriors, past, present and future. Based on his subsequent behavior of covering numerous wars as a correspondent after he left the Army, and listening to his decidedly "pro-grunt" viewpoints, I cannot dispute his assertion.
Students of military history and leaders in business and the military would do well to consider the failures, issues and ideas put forth in this book. Rest in peace, Colonel, and thank you for your insight!
John E. Nevola - Author of The Last Jump - A Novel of World War II
September 13, 2012
This book contains some of the best first-person accounts of combat from the Korean War and the Vietnam War that I have read anywhere. Col. Hackworth, who was America's most decorated living soldier until his death in 2005, also explains in the book what went wrong with the U.S. military establishment after the Vietnam War and offers suggestions for how to reform it, many of which were profitably implented years later. ABOUT FACE is colorful, easy to read, inspiring and presents valuable insights into the nature of war and the human character. Recommended for adults and secondary school students with an interest in the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
July 10, 2008
Excellent!!! Few people alive now understand war the way this Hero did. Should be required reading for all senators and congressman and the president of the U.S. Going to war with any intention other than winning decisively and as quickly as possible is just another way to get kids killed. Im a combat vet with 23 years in the Army and I feel cheap when I read about what this man went through. War is ugly, and it is about killing, and if you dont understand this then you need to brush up on what war is. Wars should not be started unless you intend to crush those you go up against. I think it should also be required High School reading. At the time of his death David was the most decorated war veteran alive and few people have had to see what he lived, And David hated war. But he also knew what going to war was was and how it should be done. Its not a political tool, its the final answer after all other tools have been exhausted.
January 23, 2022
About Face is Hackworth's first book, the one he really wanted to write, and a damn fine memoir about loving the Army, building a career, and then burning it to the ground after decades of systemic betrayals. Hackworth grew up as an orphan in California, and lied about his age to join the Army in 1946, when most people were glad to be getting out. He learned the trade in the elite occupation forces at Trieste (TRUST), and then the hard way in Korea with the 27th "Wolfhounds" Infantry Regiment, where he was battlefield commissioned as an officer. Between Korea and Vietnam Hackworth bounced around the civilian world and Nike missile anti-aircraft units, marked as a soldier with the potential for stars, even as he was caught between his abrasive nature and the '100% efficiency' culture of the New Army; a 100% efficiency often achieved by fudging results.
Vietnam was what finally broke Hackworth. He fought with the 101st Airborne, and remade and commanded the 'Hardcore Recondo' battalion (see Steel My Soldiers' Hearts), but he became incredibly cynical at the hamfisted use of firepower, the ticket-punching attitude of careerist officers, and the way that a combination of strategic obscurity and improper training in infantry basics was getting thousands of American soldiers killed for no damn reason at all. Despite time in command, in training schools, and in the Pentagon, Hackworth couldn't move the machine, and so in 1971 he blew everything up by giving a candid interview to ABC's Issues & Answers where he dramatically countered the "Vietnamization/Light-at-the-End-of-the-Tunnel" Pentagon line. The response was immediate and drastic. Hackworth was followed, wiretapped, investigated for numerous crimes, and finally forced to resign, where he fled to Australia ("As far away as I could get from America and still speak English") to make his own way. And then after 18 years he writes this book, and uses it to launch a second career as a war reporter and defense analyst.
That's the duality of Hackworth. Unquestionably a brilliant soldier; uneducated orphans lying about their age to enlist do not get groomed for the highest command without an immense amount of talent, luck, and energy, Hackworth was also an egoist and a braggart of the highest order. Rules simply did not apply to him, and Hackworth and his men stole jeeps, partied hard on base, ran brothels, scavenged everything they could get their hands on, dealt out 'NCO justice', slept with other men's wives, lied about everything that might get them in trouble, etc. etc. There's a lot to learn from in Hackworth's earlier career (sweat the details, an organization only learns what the boss checks, focus on the fundamentals, loyalty runs downwards before it runs up), but the big deal, his Issues & Answers interview, seems mostly like the last futile gesture of a broken man. What could be done in 1971 to save the war? What did the American people not know, that was heroically revealed? The timeline reveals that Hackworth's alleged crimes were dug-up mostly as a response to the blatant attack of his TV interview; other officers got away with the same or worse. But I have a sense that in some grander sense, his interview was all for the best. General Hackworth would have imploded hard enough to take out a side of the Pentagon.
Everything in this book is written to contrast 'Hackworth the Warrior, Stud of Studs, Master of Battle' against the 'Perfumed Princes' who lies failed to achieve victory in Korea or Vietnam, and who betrayed the trust of their troops and the American people by defending a cabal of incompetence that covers up inadequate training and shoddy procurement. The writing is pulpy, the stories slanted, but this is his first book and both writing and facts are more considered and balanced, before years of "Hack the Great War Correspondent" went to his head. Whatever else, Hackworth had charisma, and it shines through. Even though I don't want to like him, I can't help it.
Vietnam was what finally broke Hackworth. He fought with the 101st Airborne, and remade and commanded the 'Hardcore Recondo' battalion (see Steel My Soldiers' Hearts), but he became incredibly cynical at the hamfisted use of firepower, the ticket-punching attitude of careerist officers, and the way that a combination of strategic obscurity and improper training in infantry basics was getting thousands of American soldiers killed for no damn reason at all. Despite time in command, in training schools, and in the Pentagon, Hackworth couldn't move the machine, and so in 1971 he blew everything up by giving a candid interview to ABC's Issues & Answers where he dramatically countered the "Vietnamization/Light-at-the-End-of-the-Tunnel" Pentagon line. The response was immediate and drastic. Hackworth was followed, wiretapped, investigated for numerous crimes, and finally forced to resign, where he fled to Australia ("As far away as I could get from America and still speak English") to make his own way. And then after 18 years he writes this book, and uses it to launch a second career as a war reporter and defense analyst.
That's the duality of Hackworth. Unquestionably a brilliant soldier; uneducated orphans lying about their age to enlist do not get groomed for the highest command without an immense amount of talent, luck, and energy, Hackworth was also an egoist and a braggart of the highest order. Rules simply did not apply to him, and Hackworth and his men stole jeeps, partied hard on base, ran brothels, scavenged everything they could get their hands on, dealt out 'NCO justice', slept with other men's wives, lied about everything that might get them in trouble, etc. etc. There's a lot to learn from in Hackworth's earlier career (sweat the details, an organization only learns what the boss checks, focus on the fundamentals, loyalty runs downwards before it runs up), but the big deal, his Issues & Answers interview, seems mostly like the last futile gesture of a broken man. What could be done in 1971 to save the war? What did the American people not know, that was heroically revealed? The timeline reveals that Hackworth's alleged crimes were dug-up mostly as a response to the blatant attack of his TV interview; other officers got away with the same or worse. But I have a sense that in some grander sense, his interview was all for the best. General Hackworth would have imploded hard enough to take out a side of the Pentagon.
Everything in this book is written to contrast 'Hackworth the Warrior, Stud of Studs, Master of Battle' against the 'Perfumed Princes' who lies failed to achieve victory in Korea or Vietnam, and who betrayed the trust of their troops and the American people by defending a cabal of incompetence that covers up inadequate training and shoddy procurement. The writing is pulpy, the stories slanted, but this is his first book and both writing and facts are more considered and balanced, before years of "Hack the Great War Correspondent" went to his head. Whatever else, Hackworth had charisma, and it shines through. Even though I don't want to like him, I can't help it.
January 17, 2010
Colonel David Hackworth is one of America's most decorated soldiers. He was a "mustang," an officer who came up through the ranks. In Hackworth's case he was commissioned on the Korean battlefield. His book describes his love affair with the army, and how he felt our actions in Vietnam destroyed the trust he had in that institution. Soldiers fight often for their friends and comrades rather than for a glorified ideal. Small units develop a unity that perhaps most civilians fail to appreciate. They have to trust each other under very difficult conditions. "The incredible bonding that occurred through shared danger; the implicit trust in the phrase 'cover me' — these were the things that kept me going, kept me fighting here in Korea, and why I'd come back for more. . . ."
One often gets a sense of culture shock reading Hackworth's memoirs. For example, he belonged to an elite combat unit and as all such units are wont to do, they created an emblem for themselves, in this case, a skull. When Korean laborers saw the new sign, they immediately decamped. When asked why, they replied they could not work for anyone who had such little regard for human beings that he could do such a thing. "All of us may have become jaded enough to think the sign was a real masterpiece, but to the poor Koreans our attitude was simply barbaric."
Hackworth's reflections on the post-Korean army are instructive. Eisenhower and Chief of Staff Maxwell Taylor were engaged in a large restructuring of the armed forces; a conversion to a nuclear oriented service that required more training and fewer people. Morale was decimated, according to Hackworth when those with even one day less than the eighteen years required for permanent duty were RIF'd or given the option of remaining at a lower grade. Colonels were reduced to master sergeants over night. Battalions were eliminated and reorganized into five rifle groups designed for a nuclear battlefield. This became known as the Pentomic Army that was later eliminated as unworkable. Of more concern, was the insistence on "zero-defects."
Hackworth suggests the competition to be perfect led to "M-1 penciling." It was discovered that a pencil would make a hole in a cloth target that was identical to the hole made by an M-1 bullet. Soon units were turning in great marksmanship scores. Cheating in all manner of things became rampant. Perhaps the swindling had begun with the Korean Certificate of Loss statements where commanders would allow their troops to inflate kill records, "I don't know, but the Post-Korea Army had an unquenchable thirst for perfection which parched the throats of even the most desiccated leaders, and the M-1 pencil was the only water to be found. A CO simply couldn't fail. . . . Our sham of perfection set an unspoken precedent for bigger lies down the road, each and every one of them would ricochet back on the Army as an institution, with the repercussions of it all enough to shake America to its core."
One often gets a sense of culture shock reading Hackworth's memoirs. For example, he belonged to an elite combat unit and as all such units are wont to do, they created an emblem for themselves, in this case, a skull. When Korean laborers saw the new sign, they immediately decamped. When asked why, they replied they could not work for anyone who had such little regard for human beings that he could do such a thing. "All of us may have become jaded enough to think the sign was a real masterpiece, but to the poor Koreans our attitude was simply barbaric."
Hackworth's reflections on the post-Korean army are instructive. Eisenhower and Chief of Staff Maxwell Taylor were engaged in a large restructuring of the armed forces; a conversion to a nuclear oriented service that required more training and fewer people. Morale was decimated, according to Hackworth when those with even one day less than the eighteen years required for permanent duty were RIF'd or given the option of remaining at a lower grade. Colonels were reduced to master sergeants over night. Battalions were eliminated and reorganized into five rifle groups designed for a nuclear battlefield. This became known as the Pentomic Army that was later eliminated as unworkable. Of more concern, was the insistence on "zero-defects."
Hackworth suggests the competition to be perfect led to "M-1 penciling." It was discovered that a pencil would make a hole in a cloth target that was identical to the hole made by an M-1 bullet. Soon units were turning in great marksmanship scores. Cheating in all manner of things became rampant. Perhaps the swindling had begun with the Korean Certificate of Loss statements where commanders would allow their troops to inflate kill records, "I don't know, but the Post-Korea Army had an unquenchable thirst for perfection which parched the throats of even the most desiccated leaders, and the M-1 pencil was the only water to be found. A CO simply couldn't fail. . . . Our sham of perfection set an unspoken precedent for bigger lies down the road, each and every one of them would ricochet back on the Army as an institution, with the repercussions of it all enough to shake America to its core."
April 11, 2022
'About Face' is touted by retired navy SEAL and prominent podcast author Jocko Willink as his favorite book, and the book from which he learned the most about leadership. This is high praise, and as a result of this praise I was inspired to tackle 'About Face', an 875 page tome and a meditation about one man's life in the military.
David Hackworth, the author, is a controversial figure. He has a highly decorated and distinguished military career, but ultimately he ended up living out his days outside of the United States, all but exiled after his open criticism of the US military in general and its performance in Vietnam in specific brought an end to his career in a firestorm of controversy.
In About Face, Hackworth takes us through his entire military career, from the earliest days, through his time in the Korean War, to his days in the Pentagon, and finally to Vietnam where the story more-or-less comes to an end. The detail is both exhaustive and exhausting; many pages are dedicated to Hackworth's time in an office job in the pentagon, and his frustration with the same. The book could have benefitted significantly from an editor, as there are probably 400 - 500 very solid pages in the meandering 875.
Hackworth's tale raises an eyebrow in more than one place. In one section, in Korea, Hackworth mentions leveling his firearm at another US soldier and threatening to shoot him if he doesn't handle a prisoner as Hackworth would prefer. 'I jabbed one of them in the ass with my bayonet. "We'll take him back, won't we guys?", I asked, leveling my M-1. "Sure, sergeant," was the kids' startled reply' In another, he mentions tapping his 38 revolver against the helmet of a helicopter pilot and telling him he'll shoot him if he doesn't "land the bird"; Hackworth is painting the pilot as cowardly here, and portrays himself as the hero who would threaten another man's life just so he can get down into the thick of things.
These accounts of threatening the lives of fellow soldiers in a combat zone have to me the ring of fisherman's tales; I can see arms spread far apart as Hackworth intones, 'He was this big; you could see him now if only he hadn't jumped right out of the boat'. This situation is not helped by the fact that Hackworth openly admits to lying throughout the book; he essentially steals (he calls it scrounging), lies, and cheats his way through any battlefield he's on, justifying it by saying he's doing it for his men. In Vietnam, Hackworth even sets up a steam room/brothel, arguing that since he can make sure the sex workers within are 'clean', he's protecting his men from venereal disease. Hackworth is also open about his extensive marital infidelity to a wife who, as far as the reader can tell, was patiently waiting for him at home while raising two children.
If Hackworth is willing to engage in these sorts of practices, and have his gate sentries take down and repost signs every time his commanding officer visits because he and his CO disagree on what the name of his outpost should be, I can't help but wonder whether he might embellish a bit to inflate his legacy.
The last chapter of the book turns into an impassioned defense of his tarnished legacy. As the facts of his activities came out in the press after Hackworth's indictment of the US military, it is clear he became increasingly concerned about how he would be perceived. He makes an appeal that he is credible, pointing out that he has told his story 'warts and all' (even mentioning the brothel to further advance this point). However, I was left questioning whether the tale truly was 'warts and all'; Hackworth had a keen understanding of how the average person's values differ from his own, and while the brothel and his marital infidelity would certainly read as 'tell-all' details to the average person, these characteristics (and many others) fit in firmly with Hackworth's ultra-macho vision of what a military 'stud' ought to be. Viewed through this lens, the entire 875 pages is nearly all self-aggrandizing in one form or another.
Despite all of these challenges, the book does have value that can be extracted. Hackworth writes with passion about the mistakes made by the military in the Vietnam war, and on the eve of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, his warnings make the blood run cold. He talks of a military that is out of step, evaluating a guerilla war using WWII standards, failing to understand what factors motivate the indigenous population, and losing both the battles and the war because it fails to understand either the strategic or tactical victory conditions. His warning is that the military's chief failing is its total inability since 1945 to learn from it mistakes, due to rampant careerism in the upper echelons, a 'zero defect' mentality of needing perfect evaluations to advance, and the influence of the military-industrial complex. These points hit like sledgehammers in the modern context and are difficult to deny.
Further, there are positive examples of leadership that can be extracted from the book. It is clear, for all of his bravado, that Hackworth cared about being a good leader and taking care of those around him. The importance of listening and thinking about what is really needed at the cutting edge of an organization are important and well-taken, and numerous examples are offered throughout the book of selflessness and excellence in leadership.
Ultimately, the book is long, ponderous, and its content somewhat dubious in nature. The lessons to be extracted are remarkable, but come at too high a price for me to be able to offer a strong recommendation. Instead, I recommend 'Extreme Ownership' by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin; it would appear the student has become the master.
David Hackworth, the author, is a controversial figure. He has a highly decorated and distinguished military career, but ultimately he ended up living out his days outside of the United States, all but exiled after his open criticism of the US military in general and its performance in Vietnam in specific brought an end to his career in a firestorm of controversy.
In About Face, Hackworth takes us through his entire military career, from the earliest days, through his time in the Korean War, to his days in the Pentagon, and finally to Vietnam where the story more-or-less comes to an end. The detail is both exhaustive and exhausting; many pages are dedicated to Hackworth's time in an office job in the pentagon, and his frustration with the same. The book could have benefitted significantly from an editor, as there are probably 400 - 500 very solid pages in the meandering 875.
Hackworth's tale raises an eyebrow in more than one place. In one section, in Korea, Hackworth mentions leveling his firearm at another US soldier and threatening to shoot him if he doesn't handle a prisoner as Hackworth would prefer. 'I jabbed one of them in the ass with my bayonet. "We'll take him back, won't we guys?", I asked, leveling my M-1. "Sure, sergeant," was the kids' startled reply' In another, he mentions tapping his 38 revolver against the helmet of a helicopter pilot and telling him he'll shoot him if he doesn't "land the bird"; Hackworth is painting the pilot as cowardly here, and portrays himself as the hero who would threaten another man's life just so he can get down into the thick of things.
These accounts of threatening the lives of fellow soldiers in a combat zone have to me the ring of fisherman's tales; I can see arms spread far apart as Hackworth intones, 'He was this big; you could see him now if only he hadn't jumped right out of the boat'. This situation is not helped by the fact that Hackworth openly admits to lying throughout the book; he essentially steals (he calls it scrounging), lies, and cheats his way through any battlefield he's on, justifying it by saying he's doing it for his men. In Vietnam, Hackworth even sets up a steam room/brothel, arguing that since he can make sure the sex workers within are 'clean', he's protecting his men from venereal disease. Hackworth is also open about his extensive marital infidelity to a wife who, as far as the reader can tell, was patiently waiting for him at home while raising two children.
If Hackworth is willing to engage in these sorts of practices, and have his gate sentries take down and repost signs every time his commanding officer visits because he and his CO disagree on what the name of his outpost should be, I can't help but wonder whether he might embellish a bit to inflate his legacy.
The last chapter of the book turns into an impassioned defense of his tarnished legacy. As the facts of his activities came out in the press after Hackworth's indictment of the US military, it is clear he became increasingly concerned about how he would be perceived. He makes an appeal that he is credible, pointing out that he has told his story 'warts and all' (even mentioning the brothel to further advance this point). However, I was left questioning whether the tale truly was 'warts and all'; Hackworth had a keen understanding of how the average person's values differ from his own, and while the brothel and his marital infidelity would certainly read as 'tell-all' details to the average person, these characteristics (and many others) fit in firmly with Hackworth's ultra-macho vision of what a military 'stud' ought to be. Viewed through this lens, the entire 875 pages is nearly all self-aggrandizing in one form or another.
Despite all of these challenges, the book does have value that can be extracted. Hackworth writes with passion about the mistakes made by the military in the Vietnam war, and on the eve of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, his warnings make the blood run cold. He talks of a military that is out of step, evaluating a guerilla war using WWII standards, failing to understand what factors motivate the indigenous population, and losing both the battles and the war because it fails to understand either the strategic or tactical victory conditions. His warning is that the military's chief failing is its total inability since 1945 to learn from it mistakes, due to rampant careerism in the upper echelons, a 'zero defect' mentality of needing perfect evaluations to advance, and the influence of the military-industrial complex. These points hit like sledgehammers in the modern context and are difficult to deny.
Further, there are positive examples of leadership that can be extracted from the book. It is clear, for all of his bravado, that Hackworth cared about being a good leader and taking care of those around him. The importance of listening and thinking about what is really needed at the cutting edge of an organization are important and well-taken, and numerous examples are offered throughout the book of selflessness and excellence in leadership.
Ultimately, the book is long, ponderous, and its content somewhat dubious in nature. The lessons to be extracted are remarkable, but come at too high a price for me to be able to offer a strong recommendation. Instead, I recommend 'Extreme Ownership' by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin; it would appear the student has become the master.
September 22, 2021
“I just have seen the American nation spend so much of its wonderful, great young men in this country. I have seen our national wealth being drained away. I see the nation being split apart and almost being split asunder because of this war, and I am wondering to what end it is all going to lead to.” -Hackworth
It sad how history can repeat itself and not learn from its lessons. I found ironic that I was reading this book as the global war on terrorism in Afghanistan came to an end. The parallels between that war and Vietnam are uncanny.
Hackworth was truly a different breed. Hardcore warrior with some amazing stories of first hand combat in Korea and Vietnam. His ability to analyze the situations and comprehend big picture goals is admirable. He saw the mistakes we were making and was man enough to call America out on it. America definitely needs more men like him. Great book and I recommend it to anyone wanting to know more about this period of time.
It sad how history can repeat itself and not learn from its lessons. I found ironic that I was reading this book as the global war on terrorism in Afghanistan came to an end. The parallels between that war and Vietnam are uncanny.
Hackworth was truly a different breed. Hardcore warrior with some amazing stories of first hand combat in Korea and Vietnam. His ability to analyze the situations and comprehend big picture goals is admirable. He saw the mistakes we were making and was man enough to call America out on it. America definitely needs more men like him. Great book and I recommend it to anyone wanting to know more about this period of time.
June 11, 2011
About Face: The Odyssey of An American Soldier by Col David H. Hackworth and Julie Sherman. It was released in hardcover in March 1989. This 875 page book chronicles the 25 year career of David Hackworth. The writing is excellent and interesting. In one section of the book, Colonel Hackworth proceeds to describe his effort to turn the 4/39th into an effective fighting force. Casualties went down and morale went up. The 60 pages he devotes to the 4/39 and 9th Infantry Division provide valuable insight on how political influences and personal ambitions affected the lives of soldiers who served their country. This part of the book was expanded into the book Steel My Soldiers' Hearts: The Hopeless to Hardcore Transformation of the U.S. Army, 4th Battalion, 39th Infantry, Vietnam (released in 2002) by Col. (Retired) David H. Hackworth and his wife Eilhys England. Read in May 2005.
July 25, 2018
This should be required reading for Army officers and career NCOs. Hackworth was an arrogant, opinionated, messed up son of a bitch who had blind spots about himself that any reader can see. He's an autobiographer who clearly loves his subject. He's wrong a lot of the time.
But he's still worth reading, because he's not always wrong, and when he's right, he hits hard. His searing indictment of the Army in Vietnam didn't earn him friends--in fact it earned him enmity that lasts to this day from many in his generation--but he said what needed to be said, and brings a valid, valuable perspective on fighting in a doomed war that has a lot of sad relevance for those of us who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. He demands to be reckoned with and talked about and fought over, and his ideas deserve wide exposure and much consideration.
But he's still worth reading, because he's not always wrong, and when he's right, he hits hard. His searing indictment of the Army in Vietnam didn't earn him friends--in fact it earned him enmity that lasts to this day from many in his generation--but he said what needed to be said, and brings a valid, valuable perspective on fighting in a doomed war that has a lot of sad relevance for those of us who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. He demands to be reckoned with and talked about and fought over, and his ideas deserve wide exposure and much consideration.
July 25, 2012
I was a thirtenn year NCO when I read this and came out of the stupor I was in about the military. I saw that there were better ways of serving my country than pushing a broom in a motor pool. I think this is a must read for all officers and career enlisted soldiers. I would have done 30 if not for the Clinton years. I would have tried to emulate the values Col Hackworth expressed in this book. All I can say is read this cover to cover more than once. I'm starting my 4th read....
RIP
David Hackworth
RIP
David Hackworth
Want to read
January 14, 2019++++++
Notes: saw this from Tim Ferriss' Tribe of Mentors* in the Navy SEALs interview and thought it was a recent book like a Navy submarine Captian's book called 'Turn This Ship Around'** about corporate leadership and turnarounds. But this is from the 1980s! (Well...1989) How did I not know about this book years ago? This guy was a legend! The reviews are amazing.
It's 875 pages, phew I gotta get a copy. I've gotta read David Halberstam's The Reckoning thick long book in tiny writing and Daniel Yergin's The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, and Power which will take months. And Arthur M Schlesigner Jr's A Thousand Days: John F. Kennedy in the White House
Aagghh must read faster!
*Oops linky link here: Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World
**Turn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders by L. David Marquet
Notes: saw this from Tim Ferriss' Tribe of Mentors* in the Navy SEALs interview and thought it was a recent book like a Navy submarine Captian's book called 'Turn This Ship Around'** about corporate leadership and turnarounds. But this is from the 1980s! (Well...1989) How did I not know about this book years ago? This guy was a legend! The reviews are amazing.
It's 875 pages, phew I gotta get a copy. I've gotta read David Halberstam's The Reckoning thick long book in tiny writing and Daniel Yergin's The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, and Power which will take months. And Arthur M Schlesigner Jr's A Thousand Days: John F. Kennedy in the White House
Aagghh must read faster!
*Oops linky link here: Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World
**Turn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders by L. David Marquet
November 2, 2023
Colonel David H. Hackworth’s memoir, “About Face,” provides a candid and insightful account of his experiences throughout his entire military career. This work offers valuable lessons in leadership and strategy, making it essential reading for both military officers and leaders in various domains.
Hackworth’s unwavering dedication to his troops and his willingness to acknowledge his own shortcomings contribute to the book’s authenticity. The narrative emphasizes the human element of command, emphasizing trust, adaptability, and the critical nature of ethical decision-making. These principles are universally applicable, extending beyond the military context.
“About Face” transcends its military focus, offering enduring insights into effective leadership. It underscores the imperative of prioritizing the welfare of those under one’s command. In an evolving landscape of leadership, this memoir serves as a beacon of enduring qualities that define exceptional leaders. For those seeking to grasp the essence of leadership excellence, “About Face” is an indispensable resource.
Hackworth’s unwavering dedication to his troops and his willingness to acknowledge his own shortcomings contribute to the book’s authenticity. The narrative emphasizes the human element of command, emphasizing trust, adaptability, and the critical nature of ethical decision-making. These principles are universally applicable, extending beyond the military context.
“About Face” transcends its military focus, offering enduring insights into effective leadership. It underscores the imperative of prioritizing the welfare of those under one’s command. In an evolving landscape of leadership, this memoir serves as a beacon of enduring qualities that define exceptional leaders. For those seeking to grasp the essence of leadership excellence, “About Face” is an indispensable resource.
May 1, 2023
I was surprised by this one, I went into it not knowing much about Col Hackworth or why he needed to make his odyssey over 800 pages long. Once I started, though, I knew I needed to finish it. There is a lot of wisdom in these pages, punctuated with some genuinely funny moments and observations. While he does occasionally pat himself on the back a little too hard, he generally comes off as likable and grounded. His opinions on issues like careerists and the acquisitions process that have been plaguing the military for decades come from all his years of experience. Highly recommend this book for leaders in the military, especially on the officer side.
Thank you Kyle for the Christmas gift! I doubt I'd have picked this one up on my own, missing the great lessons here. Thanks brother.
Thank you Kyle for the Christmas gift! I doubt I'd have picked this one up on my own, missing the great lessons here. Thanks brother.
April 29, 2024
David Hackworth was born in Ocean Park, California in 1930. Hackworth lied about his age, joining the Merchant Marine at age 14. He wound up serving in the South Pacific during World War II on a Merchant Marine ship. He wound up officially enlisting in the United States Army in 1946. He served in Korea and Vietnam, eventually obtaining the rank of Colonel. This is the personal memoir of his military career. It was a pretty interesting book if you are into military history or these specific wars. I bought this at my used bookstore locally, and was pleased with the purchase.
January 13, 2023
I wish I would have read this book as a new 2ndLt. He has dozens of phenomenal examples on leadership and training that could be applied to any unit or any leader.
January 12, 2024
Longest book of my entire life, but I would say strongly that it was worth it. I spent the entire semester with COL Hackworth and he is most definitely the reason I didn't hit my reading goal for the year, but the stories and history contained within this book are critical to the development of the Army leader. Understanding the mind of the Vietnam-era soldier and the struggles he faced is essential to understanding today's Army and the challenges and frustrations that any leader of soldiers will continue to face today. I am so glad that I spent as much time as I did with this book and feel like I am able to walk away with a better understanding of leadership, of history, and of today's Army.
April 10, 2023
This book gave me a lot of mixed emotions. I have often heard people nearing the end of their time in service lament about the current generation who serves, and reminisce about what it was like “in their day”, and I often brush that off, but reading David Hackworth’s account of what he and others went through throughout Korea and Vietnam, as well as the esprit de corps they fostered and discipline they demanded of themselves, makes me believe that some of the tales of the “Old Army” are true. With that, there are many negative aspects to that, but I couldn’t help but feel like the account of Hack was something akin to what I had been promised while in college, a life of adventure in the army.
I think this book, along with Catch 22, are the two most accurate accounts of the Army that I have ever read. The amazing part is that when placed side by side it is hard to discern which of them is fiction, which speaks to the truth found in both of them.
I think this book, along with Catch 22, are the two most accurate accounts of the Army that I have ever read. The amazing part is that when placed side by side it is hard to discern which of them is fiction, which speaks to the truth found in both of them.
March 12, 2023
It’s hard to emphasize how much this book resonated with me, or how profound COL David “Hack” Hackworth’s takes on the Army are/were. It affected me deeply. Through post-WWII Italy, the Korean War, the peacetime 50s-early 60s, and Vietnam, Hack’s criticisms ring true with what I think about the Army (and especially the officer corps) to a tee.
- The army has no sense of itself
- discipline and training are the only things we should care about (we often do whatever we can to avoid both)
- although officers are incentivized to prioritize them last, Soldiers are all that matter (ticket-punching hugely devalues officership, and misses the point of the army)
- The military industrial complex oversteps its bounds in every conceivable way
Hack is funny as hell. It’s the military kind of humor - the humor that makes me nostalgic for a military I’ve so desperately longed for, and never quite felt I earned a place in. America’s fighting men and women will always be my favorite part of this country, and will always be the core of its military, despite the Army’s many abuses and neglects on their behalf. I think there will always be sorrow in my heart for never having had the privilege and horrors of being one myself.
Hack:
“I hated military men who play golf”
- The army has no sense of itself
- discipline and training are the only things we should care about (we often do whatever we can to avoid both)
- although officers are incentivized to prioritize them last, Soldiers are all that matter (ticket-punching hugely devalues officership, and misses the point of the army)
- The military industrial complex oversteps its bounds in every conceivable way
Hack is funny as hell. It’s the military kind of humor - the humor that makes me nostalgic for a military I’ve so desperately longed for, and never quite felt I earned a place in. America’s fighting men and women will always be my favorite part of this country, and will always be the core of its military, despite the Army’s many abuses and neglects on their behalf. I think there will always be sorrow in my heart for never having had the privilege and horrors of being one myself.
Hack:
“I hated military men who play golf”
August 16, 2007
It was a damn shame when Hackworth died a few years back. America could really use his military insights in this war-torn era that we find ourself in. I always enjoyed reading his columns on his website, and when I saw his book (first edition!) for a mere $5 about a year ago at the library's bookstore, I grabbed it.
It took me awhile to get around to it. The one thing I really thought was missing was his post-Vietnam anti-nuclear weapons activities. It would have been interesting to compare this self-described warrior's early life and soldiering, with the American expat's protests in the 80s.
This is an easy and interesting read. Not as well written as The Forgotten Solider (what is?) but it provides interesting insight into the mindset of the Pentagon (i.e. bad training, inability to learn from mistakes, propaganda) that I think is applicable today with the war in Iraq, and even with it.
It took me awhile to get around to it. The one thing I really thought was missing was his post-Vietnam anti-nuclear weapons activities. It would have been interesting to compare this self-described warrior's early life and soldiering, with the American expat's protests in the 80s.
This is an easy and interesting read. Not as well written as The Forgotten Solider (what is?) but it provides interesting insight into the mindset of the Pentagon (i.e. bad training, inability to learn from mistakes, propaganda) that I think is applicable today with the war in Iraq, and even with it.
February 21, 2008
A disturbing read, and one that at times left me feeling the same frustration and infuriation the author felt at the machinations of the American military bureaucracy and its impact on both his troops and the people of Vietnam. This is sort of a companion piece to Soldier, the memoirs of Anthony Herbert, whose life was in many ways parallel to that of David Hackworth - both came from blue-collar origins, entered the Army as adolescents and ultimately became high-ranking officers; both were devoted to their troops and got increasingly alienated by an uncaring system, and ultimately retired feeling frustrated, angry, sad, betrayed, and deeply disappointed by the organization to which they'd dedicated most of their lives.
July 7, 2021
About Face indeed. This is an epic...covering personal experience from the 40s to the 80s by someone that lived it—and has ten Silver Stars and 8 Purple Hearts to prove it. I enjoyed the anecdotes and the leadership lessons. I feel this was a bit too long and could have benefitted from culling some of the superfluous bits. I can’t say that I disagree with his parting thoughts or his conclusions. The biggest critique is that he has one strategic perspective and it is the only right one. Col Hackworth owns tactical and operational failures but cedes no ground when it comes to the strategic.
February 9, 2008
Great Book!! This man had steel cajones!! Lying about his age to join the US Army right after World War II. This book chronicles his life from then until the Vietnam War! Hack was a true American fighting man. A shame we lost him a couple of years ago. The man is due his Medal of Honor and they need to award it to him. This book is still recommended reading for NCO's in the Army to this day
January 12, 2020
This is what I really wanted “Once An Eagle” to be - contrasting the ‘warriors’ and the ‘ticket-punchers’, dealing with their mistakes, without quite as much cliche and stereotyping.
July 25, 2023
One of the best biographies I’ve read.
January 31, 2022
What makes this book is its radical honesty. Dude comes clean w all the cringe, stuff that most repress even from themselves. So suddenly you (I) find him the most trustworthy narrator despite the fact that he has just revealed that he is a maniac.
Hack's story arc is remarkably similar to Ernst Junger, author of Stahlgewitter. Troubled youth finds order in the army and then remarkably cheats death while actively seeking it. Both become great philosophers after surviving.
Stahlgewitter also complains at length about how the commanders don't know shit. And About Face gives enough detail on the process of trying to change the fact that they don't know shit some philosophical weight. My personal takeaway: institutions project their self-reinforcing bullshit and whether you step out of it or stay until you are a five star general you really aren't going to change anything. This I think is esp true of non-market driven institutions, in my experience academia.
Every American of my age has read/watched countless Vietnam stories, but 99% of those are complaints of outsiders looking in. This book offers a sense of the tactical and strategic realities.
And it's unfair to highlight Vietnam because the Korea section was incredibly strong.
Hack's story arc is remarkably similar to Ernst Junger, author of Stahlgewitter. Troubled youth finds order in the army and then remarkably cheats death while actively seeking it. Both become great philosophers after surviving.
Stahlgewitter also complains at length about how the commanders don't know shit. And About Face gives enough detail on the process of trying to change the fact that they don't know shit some philosophical weight. My personal takeaway: institutions project their self-reinforcing bullshit and whether you step out of it or stay until you are a five star general you really aren't going to change anything. This I think is esp true of non-market driven institutions, in my experience academia.
Every American of my age has read/watched countless Vietnam stories, but 99% of those are complaints of outsiders looking in. This book offers a sense of the tactical and strategic realities.
And it's unfair to highlight Vietnam because the Korea section was incredibly strong.
November 6, 2021
Nonfiction book published in 1971 by a lifelong military man who came out against the Vietnam War. He details his experience in the Korean War which mainly sets up his experience as a soldier and a good one. Switching to the Vietnam War, he sees soldiers in charge who are too young and experienced to handle troops and read situations correctly. He highlights Peace Negotiations in which American negotiators were young and had been Vietnam less that 6 months facing North Vietnamese who were older, experienced and had been fighting the war for 20 years or more. Author saw this as a major sign of disrespect and disregard. He also explains how corporations who’s business was war weapons often seemed to be the entities calling the shots about the war and truly in charge. Good book.
November 25, 2020
An excellent memoir of a warrior awarded the purple heart (wounded in action) eight times. He lied about his age to get into the military when he was fifteen. He fought in Korea and Vietnam. The author was very critical about how the Vietnam war was being fought by the United States and tried to make improvements but they usually fell of deaf ears.
December 6, 2019
Despite the epilogue being a “self serving justification”, this book documents many leadership lessons that remain significant even years after Hack’s death. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone wishing to improve their leadership abilities.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 293 reviews