Required reading for US military officers An absolutely superb candid account of David Hackworth's long careerin the US Army. His unflinching review of the mistakes made at everylevel from training to front line combat is breathtakingand appearsto still be true today. Last week 8 US GI's were KIA when their combatbasein an isolated valley surrounded by enemycontrolled mountainswas overrun by a large enemy force. That was in Afghanistan 2009 butit could easily have been Khe Sanh Vietnam 1968! As Hackworth statesrepeatedly lessons learned the hard way are simply not passed on tothose who need them. He notes the total one hour of training on mines atFt. Lewis with no demonstrator mines at a time when mines werecausing 50% of US casualties in Vietnam! This book should be requiredreading before anyone is commissioned as a Second Lieutenant but it isalso fascinating for those of us who enjoy military history.
Who Am I To Judge? 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 progrunt 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.
Hackworth Always Gets It Right! This is a great book and if you are in the military is a must read! If you are in combat it is a must read and a must reference book that should be taken with you into your theatre of operations. Colonel Hackworth has done it all and he's done it right! Learn at the hands of the Master.
Lessons learned I read this book when it was first published coincidentally a few years before I retired from the Army. I read it cover to cover in two or three sittings the door to my office in West Point's Thayer Hall closed so I wouldn't be disturbed.I've thought a lot about it in the years since. As a twotour veteran of Viet Nam who put this uniforms in the closet after Desert Storm I found countless lessons and insights the story of his rebuilding of a dispirited ineffective infantry battalion in Viet Nam for example is a classic of thoughtful leadership a hard campaign fought against bad habits and weak leadership. Viet Nam was my war Hack told the story well.But lately I've thought more about the longer term lessons learned. In particular I recall Hack's evocation of a particularly sad moment in the Army's history when the efforts to reduce the force after Korea led to a particularly brutal culling out of the officer ranks. Many reserves on active duty with less than 18 years' service there were many then were given the choice of eviction without pension or arbitrary reduction to enlisted grade for the rest of their service. My family was military and I remember this sad time I was in the seventh grade.Quite beyond the humiliation of many fine decorated soldiers service record meant nothing in this exercise it was just a numbers game it resulted in an entrenched cynicism in the survivors. Their Army had slaughtered its own morale and it was during the Presidency of Ike one of the Army's own. The result was a generation of officers without a sense of loyalty to the Army because the Army was not loyal to itself.
Above the Rest About Face is an extraordinary book. It's not only the best book I've read about a soldier it is the best book I've read period. I say that because it posesses an emotional reality that flat out inspires. It provided me with strength to straighten out my life and go to law school at fifty years old.
Required Reading for Military and Politicians When the nation's most highly decorated soldier speaks up everyone should listen. Those serving in the military of all ranks and especially the policy makers who put our young men and women at risk.Hackworth served from 19451971. The title is due to his change of heart from being a gungho hard charging soldier who did not question the Army to one who became disallusioned and dared to speak out. No institution corporate or government likes criticism. Hackworth showed his bravery not only in battle but having the courage to speak out and challenge the statusquo.This is a fanstastic read well written humourous touching sad moving Hack captures all of the emotions and sacrifices a soldier makes during a career and the isolation he endures when he turned against the military and spoke out.An excellent narrative about an interesting man in interesting times. His advice should be heeded by all who want to be true leaders those who are willing to lead by example listen to the troops and do what is right no matter the cost. We could use a lot more David Hackworths in all walks of life.
Essential professional reading for soldiers It is almost 20 years to the day since I first read this book as a cadet at RMC Duntroon and it is difficult for me to think of any other single book that influenced how I viewed my profession as much as 'About Face'. Not only were Hackworth's descriptions of smallunit combat and command vivid and gripping but his views on what leaders should do how they should set their priorities and train and lead those under their command not to mention the consequences when the basics were not addressed were if anything more resonant and memorable. Hackworth was an advocate and champion of the 'soldiers soldier' focused on the basics of smallunit leadership and development by personal example and his account of how the 'big army' institutional biases of the postWW2 US Army deviated from this ideal and encouraged short term careerist and 'zero fault' mentalities that caused so much pain and anguish in Vietnam was not only convincing but also painted a picture that I am sure I have seen reflected at times in my own army since.With the benefit of hindsight it is possible to identify a few limitations in 'About Face' that the reader should consider Hackworth's views are obviously highly coloured by personal experience and the further away he gets from his personal experience and area of expertise which is really small unit training leadership and tactics his observations become a bit less valuable which is apparent towards the end of the book.
An honor to read Opinions vary on Colonel Hackworth's political views but nobody questions his integrity and bravery. About Face is an extremely thorough autobiographical look at Hack's career from his humble beginnings as an underage recruit in the Merchant Marines all the way to his resignation. It is a fascinating journey. Hack had a way with words that only a grunt can truly appreciate. He was the true master of guerrilla warfare in the US Army. His courage in battle sometimes verged on foolhardiness but is was unquestionable.Hack will be sorely missed by many of us. I recommend this book highly for anyone with an interest in leadership military history Korea Vietnam or just the journalist David Hackworth. It gives a well rounded picture of what built him and who he was as a man. This book is a must read.
about face My son had it taken away in Ranger Training! But was enjoying what he read book in good condition.
About Face Excellent book. I served briefly under David Hackworth and wish i had got to know him better.
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