About Face: Odyssey of an American Warrior [Hardcover]

David H. Hackworth (Author), Julie Sherman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A battle-scarred veteran of Korea, Hackworth served successive tours in Vietnam, becoming increasingly alarmed by declining standards in the Army and the dead-end policy in Southeast Asia. Matters came to a head during a 1971 television interview in which he criticized Army leadership, training and tactics in the field. For this the colonel was shamefully hounded into premature retirement, a potential Army superstar who was suddenly perceived as a dangerous renegade, according to this memoir written with freelancer Sherman. The engrossing autobiography of a fierce and fiercely outspoken warrior, it is also an inside account of the demoralization of a once-proud army during a period when "no one could afford to tell the truth, make an error, or admit to ignorance." The colonel makes sweeping condemnations in this passionate, profane, sometimes intemperate book (admirers of military historian S.L.A. Marshall will cringe at Hackworth's savage attack). In the end he calls the army "this rotten whore I'd been in love with for twenty years." Photos. Military Book Club main selection; author tour.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Authentic combat leaders--the real warriors--are apt to be professional misfits, especially off the battlefield. In this book America's most decorated living soldier tells his life story in formidable detail with outstanding battlefield realism. Colonel Hackworth left the Army and went into exile over the conduct of the Vietnam War. Like all good autobiographies, his often tells more than he intended. This is as earnest and self-revealing as Anthony B. Herbert's Herbert: The Making of a Soldier (LJ 9/1/82), but less laconic. A rousing good book which will be useful to military professionals as well. Military Book Club main selection.
- Raymond L. Puffer, U.S. Air Force History Prog., Los Angeles
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 875 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1st edition (March 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671526928
• ISBN-13: 978-0671526924
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #381,374 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #100 in Books > History > Military > Korean War

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AuthorZone.Com Book Review, July 31, 2003

By 

AuthorZone.Com Book Review (Knoxville, TN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: About Face: Odyssey of an American Warrior (Hardcover)

Excellent book. Well written, easily read, thought provoking. Is long, but not cumbersome.

I first read 'About Face' written by Col. David Hackworth during the late 1980s. I found it extremely valuable in helping me...a woman with little knowledge of anything military, understand better my children's dad, a land based Viet Nam combat vet and the problems he had to deal with before his death.

As the wife of yet a second Viet Nam combat vet, special forces, I suggest this book for anyone who wants a better understanding of the debt of gratitude and respect we citizens owe those willing to serve in The United States Military.

Reviewed by: molly martin

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars should be required reading for all seving military leaders, July 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: About Face: Odyssey of an American Warrior (Hardcover)

I first came to hear of ABOUT FACE from a friend and fellow NCO in Korea. He said I might think it was good, Was that an understatement. I read About Face in one fourteen hour plane ride back to Korea. I've read it three more times so far and recommend it to all my friends deserving the title Non-Commisioned Officer. I truly believe that all military leaders should read this and take from it; Hack's wisdom and experiance dealing with the military, Integrity and soldiering.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Man, A Great Book, A Great Read, August 7, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: About Face: Odyssey of an American Warrior (Hardcover)

I bought this book when I was about 11 years old and a big fan of "war stories". I am now approaching twenty and have read this book at least once a year since first purchasing it, to the extent that it is now in three parts and the photographs have fallen out. This book is an intense, gripping, readable but most of all honest and believable account of one of America's greatest warriors and his experiences...from the forested slopes of Trieste in 1946 to being chased around Washington DC by Army Intell goons in 1971, this book, while entertaining, will also teach you everything you need to know about duty, honour,bravery and honest patriotism, qualities that come hard to find in the era of Iran-Contra, Tailhook, Whitewater and the like... This book will make you laugh, cry and think. Please, read it.