However, Taco Heaver's sneering that "there ain't no such title" proves
even less that Hackworth's list of medals.


Taco Heaver wrote:
That is not my comment, it is the comment of the US Army and the DOD.

And does that make it any more relevant?

DSK

As a guy who soldiered for 35+ years I'll wade in on this issue.

COL Hackworth was a great combat soldier and a real example to all of us. I
was disappointed by the Ranger Tab issue but it takes nothing from his
proven bravery in battle.

That the "most decorated living soldier" did not rise above the rank of COL
indicates that the Army felt he did not rank above his peers when it came to
important attributes required of senior leaders.

I deeply respect COL Hackworth for his military accomplishments. However
his ability as a journalist leaves me unimpressed.

Butch
"DSK" wrote in message
. ..
However, Taco Heaver's sneering that "there ain't no such title" proves
even less that Hackworth's list of medals.


Taco Heaver wrote:
That is not my comment, it is the comment of the US Army and the DOD.

And does that make it any more relevant?

DSK

DSK,

I made the statement that Hack's main purpose in his web site was self
promotion in an effort to sell books, his magazine and newspaper columns,
and his lecture circuit. The fact that he promotes himself as "America's
most decorated living soldier" when the US Army has no idea who is the most
decorated soldier, does show that he is more interested in self promotion
than the truth.



"DSK" wrote in message
. ..
However, Taco Heaver's sneering that "there ain't no such title" proves
even less that Hackworth's list of medals.


Taco Heaver wrote:
That is not my comment, it is the comment of the US Army and the DOD.

And does that make it any more relevant?

DSK

On Wed, 29 Sep 2004 13:18:41 +0000, Butch Davis wrote:

As a guy who soldiered for 35+ years I'll wade in on this issue.

COL Hackworth was a great combat soldier and a real example to all of us.
I was disappointed by the Ranger Tab issue but it takes nothing from his
proven bravery in battle.

That the "most decorated living soldier" did not rise above the rank of
COL indicates that the Army felt he did not rank above his peers when it
came to important attributes required of senior leaders.

But he did rise to that rank rather quickly, especially considering his
start as an enlisted man (at 15 years old). The Army must have felt
he had some important attributes.

I deeply respect COL Hackworth for his military accomplishments. However
his ability as a journalist leaves me unimpressed.

I wouldn't dispute that, but I will stop and listen to anyone with his
experience and accomplishments.

That's silly. If a Lexus commercial contains mechanical facts about the car
AND suggests you'll lead a happier life and get more girls if you buy the
car, does the hype necessarily negate the mechanical facts?

"Taco Heaven" wrote in message
news:BSy6d.137784$D%.75698@attbi_s51...
DSK,

I made the statement that Hack's main purpose in his web site was self
promotion in an effort to sell books, his magazine and newspaper columns,
and his lecture circuit. The fact that he promotes himself as "America's
most decorated living soldier" when the US Army has no idea who is the
most
decorated soldier, does show that he is more interested in self promotion
than the truth.



"DSK" wrote in message
. ..
However, Taco Heaver's sneering that "there ain't no such title" proves
even less that Hackworth's list of medals.


Taco Heaver wrote:
That is not my comment, it is the comment of the US Army and the DOD.

And does that make it any more relevant?

DSK

On Wed, 29 Sep 2004 13:35:29 +0000, Taco Heaven wrote:

DSK,

I made the statement that Hack's main purpose in his web site was self
promotion in an effort to sell books, his magazine and newspaper columns,
and his lecture circuit. The fact that he promotes himself as "America's
most decorated living soldier" when the US Army has no idea who is the
most decorated soldier, does show that he is more interested in self
promotion than the truth.

Of course the Army knows who has the most decorations. They don't use the
term "most decorated" because they don't want to get into comparing
decorations. Is the Medal of Honor worth two Silver Stars, three ...?

WaIIy wrote:
On Wed, 29 Sep 2004 13:18:41 GMT, "Butch Davis"
wrote:

As a guy who soldiered for 35+ years I'll wade in on this issue.

COL Hackworth was a great combat soldier and a real example to all of us. I
was disappointed by the Ranger Tab issue but it takes nothing from his
proven bravery in battle.

That the "most decorated living soldier" did not rise above the rank of COL
indicates that the Army felt he did not rank above his peers when it came to
important attributes required of senior leaders.

Audie Murphy didn't either.

Combat effectiveness doesn't necessarily translate into
administrative/planning leadership.

Of course, a full bird colonel isn't chump change.

What was your rank?


Absolutely...

Further, there are billets that are almost a guarantee to lock you out
of a star or a flag. Not many sub captains become admirals.


--
We today have a president of the United States who looks like he is the
son of Howdy Doody or Alfred E. Newman, who isn't smarter than either of
them, who is arrogant about his ignorance, who is reckless and
incompetent, and whose backers are turning the United States into a pariah.

What, me worry?

Doug,
This is a discussion that neither one of us will win. What we do agree on
is that Hack was very success in his chosen field of being a soldier.
Beside that we will have to agree on disagreeing.


"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
That's silly. If a Lexus commercial contains mechanical facts about the
car
AND suggests you'll lead a happier life and get more girls if you buy the
car, does the hype necessarily negate the mechanical facts?

"Taco Heaven" wrote in message
news:BSy6d.137784$D%.75698@attbi_s51...
DSK,

I made the statement that Hack's main purpose in his web site was self
promotion in an effort to sell books, his magazine and newspaper columns,
and his lecture circuit. The fact that he promotes himself as "America's
most decorated living soldier" when the US Army has no idea who is the
most
decorated soldier, does show that he is more interested in self
promotion
than the truth.



"DSK" wrote in message
. ..
However, Taco Heaver's sneering that "there ain't no such title"
proves
even less that Hackworth's list of medals.


Taco Heaver wrote:
That is not my comment, it is the comment of the US Army and the DOD.

And does that make it any more relevant?

DSK

You might be correct, but the army says you are incorrect.

According to an Army memo, "It has been a long-standing and unwritten policy
of the Army that no single soldier or veteran is ever named officially as
the most decorated person in a conflict or in a particular period of time."
The Army did not even keep a central medal database until the mid-1970s. It
has never searched through its millions of individual records to find top
medal winners.






"thunder" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 29 Sep 2004 13:35:29 +0000, Taco Heaven wrote:

DSK,

I made the statement that Hack's main purpose in his web site was self
promotion in an effort to sell books, his magazine and newspaper columns,
and his lecture circuit. The fact that he promotes himself as "America's
most decorated living soldier" when the US Army has no idea who is the
most decorated soldier, does show that he is more interested in self
promotion than the truth.

Of course the Army knows who has the most decorations. They don't use the
term "most decorated" because they don't want to get into comparing
decorations. Is the Medal of Honor worth two Silver Stars, three ...?

That the "most decorated living soldier" did not rise above the rank of
COL indicates that the Army felt he did not rank above his peers when it
came to important attributes required of senior leaders.

Unless Hackworth has experienced a major personality change in the last few
years, he probably did not rise above Colonel because he was too outspoken.
In many organizations, you only rise so high unless you are willing to toe the
company line.