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

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 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.

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

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

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

The point is that just because he's trying to sell books and make a living,
it doesn't mean that the information he presents is necessarily erroneous.
Conversely, would you be more comfortable with a writer who worked for free?

"Taco Heaven" wrote in message
news:mMA6d.137986$D%.29521@attbi_s51...
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

Doug,
You are correct, but just because he is a highly decorated soldier does not
necessarily make any of the information he posts is the truth. If you visit
his web site he has very inflammatory headlines and then asks his audience
to let him know if it is true. Yet I could not find any area where he
either verifies or denies the allegations.

If he really wanted to know the truth, he would do a little follow up on his
own before publishing email with inflammatory headlines. A honest
journalist would never do what he is doing At the very least they would
ask for a rebuttal from those he is accusing. Any respectable journalist
would take the anonymous email and use that as the beginning of their
investigation.

He follows the rules of journalism that the National Enquire and The Star
use.






"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
The point is that just because he's trying to sell books and make a
living,
it doesn't mean that the information he presents is necessarily erroneous.
Conversely, would you be more comfortable with a writer who worked for
free?

"Taco Heaven" wrote in message
news:mMA6d.137986$D%.29521@attbi_s51...
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

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 ...?