Steel My Soliders' Hearts; The Hopeless to Hardcore Transformation of A U.S. Army, 4th Battalion, 39th Infantry Vietnam

[14]. 441, [9] pages. Illustrations. Endpaper maps. Glossary. Ink date written on fep. David Haskell Hackworth (November 11, 1930 - May 4, 2005) also known as Hack, was a prominent military journalist and a former United States Army colonel who was decorated in both the Korean War and Vietnam War. Hackworth is known for his role in the creation and command of Tiger Force, a military unit which was formed in South Vietnam to apply guerrilla warfare tactics against Viet Cong guerrilla fighters. Hackworth is also known for his accusation in 1996 that Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Mike Boorda was wearing two unauthorized service ribbon devices on two of his uniform's awards denoting valor in combat. Although Admiral Boorda had served off the coast of Vietnam in the 1960s and believed he was authorized to wear the two wartime decorations for meritorious service, he did not meet the Navy's requirements. "Steel My Soldiers' Hearts" is a tour de force of frontline combat action beginning the moment Hackworth's Huey lands in the Delta in January 1969 and ending shortly after he collects his eighth Purple Heart. This is retired Colonel David Hackworth's account of his tour of duty in Vietnam commanding the 4/39th, an infantry battalion operating south of Saigon in the Mekong River delta. Poorly led, with frightfully high casualties, and fighting in the most dangerous of terrain, the 4/39th was a dispirited and demoralized group when Hackworth assumed command in January, 1969. Hackworth fired many of the senior officers and then put the 4/39th through "Combat 101, " which made him so unpopular that at one point he was warned of a bounty some of his men had put on him. Over the next five months, however, Hackworth would transform the 4/39 from "hopeless to hardcore, " dramatically reverse the casualty rate, score some victories over the Viet Cong, and earn the respect of his troops. First edition. First edition/first printing [stated].…