Customer Reviews

The Price of Honor

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Every military officer who is stationed at the Pentagon or going to be stationed at the Pentagon must read this book. David Hackworth presents the reader with an exciting and sobering view of the weapons acquisition process "inside the Beltway." Hack is able to blend his considerable military experience, forged through three wars, with his incredible feats as a "front-line journalist" to give the reader a realistic view of how America fights its wars and the power struggles behind the weapon systems America uses. Hack takes the reader on a journey to the places he himself has been and allows the reader to feel the raw terror of being at a Special Forces Firebase being overrun by North Vietnamese; being on the ground, outgunned and out-generaled in Somalia; trying to figure out who is the worst of two evils in Bosnia; and fighting the funding battles inside the Pentagon. Hack is able to do this with incredible realism, because he has been to all those places and done all those things. Hack makes the reader part of the plot. He draws you in and makes you love and/or hate the principal characters. This is one of those books, you do not want to end. If you want to find out what life is like behind the scenes in the weapons systems acquisition business, read this book. If you want a snapshot of what Vietnam was like, read this book. If you want see what Somalia and Bosnia looked like during the latter part of the last Century, read this book. If you are a military officer, fighting the endless budgetary wars within the Pentagon, read this book.

This book has it all...action, sex, politics and mystery. Well written and accurately presented. This is a good book. Read It.

Sandy Mangold Colonel, USAF (Retired)

As a former Special Forces senior NCO and a fan of David Hackworth personally and his writings, I was intrigued about what he could do with fiction. Colonel, ya did good! Some say the ending is not believable. I say, so what? It is a work of fiction, after all. It isn't supposed to be believable. It is pure escapism and a darn good read. I really could not put the book down until I was finished in two days. Hack's characters were believable as were their actions of men molded in combat and bound together like brothers. Men who would back each other up no matter the cost. Hack's descriptions of the movers and shakers operating in our government today is more than plausable, given the snakes crawling around in D.C. these days. You have a winner, Colonel. A sequel, perhaps?

I normally stay away from non-fiction authors who write fiction because their fiction usually is rarely as good as their non-fiction (the Late Carl Sagan comes to mind.) However, I made an exception for David Hackworth's first novel.

This exception was well worth it. I enjoyed the book as a good, well done read. The plot about the Military Industrial Complex (MIC) and greed is well thought out. I had a problem with some of the climax because some of it turned into stuff from a really bad conspiracy movie. This is a good solid adventure to be enjoyed.

Finally, I would like to make a comment about Hackworth being an SF groupie. That's total BS. He led the equivalent of a Ranger unit in Korea, and his actions in Vietnam from My Canh to his quest to improve small unit training showed that he walked the walk. I really believe that he respects those who live, not speak, the warrior spirit. And if they happen to be SF types, so be it.

I just finished "The Price of Honor" and was seriously disappointed. I have read all of Hackworth's other works, and although not always agreeing with him, found them all insightful and interesting. Not this book. In some parts its actually pretty ludicrious, particularly all the conspiracy-theory nonsense and the Vietnam Vet who relives the war in the forests of Montana. Some of the characters are simply thinly-guised real life people, and the F-44 is a thinly-guised F-22...

The best parts of the book are the combat narratives from Somalia and Bosnia. Hackworth has extensive knowledge in both areas and considerable combat experience as both a solider and journalist. In authoring a plot, he stumbles badly. Overall, for readers of Hackworth, there should be enough fiction in his non-fiction to satisfy you (if you get what I mean). If you are determined to read, get in paperback.

David Hackworth is not just another retired Army Colonel writing a book. His credentials in writing this novel are displayed on every page. I have read his previous books and just finished reading The Price of Honor immediately after reading Grisham's The Bretheren. Both were good books but Hackworth's was better. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. I liked everything about it including the brief entry and reference to real life personalities. It is truly a fast paced, action packed novel that has a ring of credibility on every page. I notice a previous review stated that the ending was not believable. I beg to differ, for a novel, in my opinion the ending was more believable than Grisham's The Bretheren (although I would give that book a high rating also). In this book Hackworth deals with the Vietnam War,the country's wars since that time, soldiers and officers and the military/industrial complex. The latter is particular noteworthy when considering the recent crash of the V-22 Osprey. Colonel Hackworth does a masterful job and I would recommend this book everyone I know.

I have read and enjoyed Col. Hackworth's previous works. He is the consumate "truth-teller". In "The Price of Honor", Sandy Caine's search for the "truth" about what occurred in Vietnam follows Hack's principles. The few combat scenes are well told and page turning, but too brief. The comaraderie between good officers and men in the Special Forces is on target. Where Hack goes somewhat astray in this tale is the foray into Sandy Caine's sexual activities with Abigal Mancini. While the depictions may arguably provide the reader insight into their relationship, Hack should have fallen back on the more subtle and less graphic. For more on SF ops and the frustration to win hearts and minds, try "Immaculate Invasion". Or, for more on Somalia, try "losing Mogadishu", or "Backhawk Down". While not a top on my list, I'd compare it to a W.E.B. Griffin genre. Next time Hack (and I do hope this is just the beginning of his fiction writing)...stick to the guns and leave out the bedroom details.

Colonel David Hackworth has been there. Vietnam, Korea, etc. Because of the knowledge he has endured, if you will, his first fiction novel, The Price of Honor has an electricity to it that is all enveloping. The details are sharply defined. The issues, both from a military standpoint and a personal standpoint stand in sharp focus. There is no sparing of the language, the blood and emotion. The gritty realism, tempered with liberal editorializing on the plight of the Armed Forces is a revelation for those who just get their news from CNN. I know, it's fiction, but it is often only through fiction that the truth can truly be uttered, even though it may be said with sadness. And just to keep us in the emotional loop a bit longer, the develping relationship between Sandy and Abbie has sparks of its own. A great cast of characters, well fleshed out. A bit of humor, a bit of technology, clandestine operations, political skeletons, lust for power, lust for it's own sake, unsparing combat realism, and just enough mushy stuff to keep me riveted. With the book's generous length, I really felt I acquired more than a passing fancy or momentary hatred for the characters. I got into it, I got involved. I'm glad I did.

Colonel David Hackworth [Hack] has drawn from the experiences of his storied military background and juxtaposed them with his findings as a war reporter-national security critic to write his first novel. The story line develops around the budding career of a young Army captain who has all the right moves: West Point graduate, Airborne Infantry, Ranger, Green Berets. Sandy Caine is the latest scion in a long and distinguished family linkage to the Long, Gray Line. Distinguished, that is, with one exception. Sandy's father had died under mysterious and seemingly dishonorable circumstances in Vietnam [more about that later]. Sandy is like any loyal and dedicated soldier who embraces the Code of Duty, Honor, Country. He goes where the guns are sounding. Where they are sounding are God forsaken places like Somalia and Bosnia. Sandy quickly proves himself to be wise and capable beyond his years in a series of difficult situations. One during which, he makes contact with a seasoned warrior, Sergeant Major Dan Perkins, who had served with his father in Vietnam. Perkins says something to Sandy alluding to his father's valor under fire, but is killed before he can fill Sandy in. The plot then spins around sandy's quest for clarification of the truth about his father. Of course, Sandy has to have a love interest, and here he proves to be not so wise and capable. Perhaps, just a little naive. She's Abigail Mancini, a reporter for a Washington newspaper trying to make the big time with a hot story out of...seems like wherever Sandy happens to be. She gets under Sandy's skin and into his bed. Ultimately, of course, She gets involved with Sandy's search for the truth, finds that herein lies a real story and we're off to the races. Hack takes us through Somalia, then Bosnia, with intermittent trips back stateside to develop political intrigue and coverup of the facts surrounding the death of Sandy's father. Along the way, Hack editorializes, through Sandy's experiences, on the follies of US involvement in every corner of the world: how we screw up doing what we shouldn't be doing. As Yogi would say, its deja vu Vietnam all over again. Inept and or corrupt politicians charting the course. Gutless dilitante generals prosecuting the war. Careerism [a dirty word] in the military. Its Anton Myrers' Courtney Massingale types from Once an Eagle vs a young Sam Damon. But this time, the good guy wins...and he gets the girl. Hack needs to follow up on "Honor", promote young Sandy a few times, and take us with him up the line. There is something powerful the way Hack communicates, through fiction, the devastating impact, which is all too real, of our Government misadventures on people's lives. Besides, does Sandy really get to keep the girl?

For some excellent reviews you need only use your mouse to move downwards. What they say in many more words can be broken into two basic factors needed for a good novel. All too often a writer is master of one but lacks the other. Hack is a master of both. Hack knows his subject and tells a good story.

When you read HONOR take the time to revisit Hack's original work, ABOUT FACE.

COL David Hackworth possesses by self-mastery the knowledge of combat and leadership, and there is no one today who is more qualified to opine on the state of our military and the people, both civilian and military, who lead it. The PRICE OF HONOR is truly a fine work of fiction, action-packed and filled with passion that can only come from one of America's most decorated heroes.

As a soldier and Infantryman, the PRICE OF HONOR serves as a stark reminder that the soldier who risks his life to support and defend our constitution and our way of life should be the top priority of our leadership. As someone who simply enjoys reading, the book is a fantastic story about soldiers and combat, politics and power, and one that kept me reading through the night and into the early morning hours.

COL Hackworth is back, telling it like it is, but this time he uses a work of fiction as his vehicle of truth. Begin reading THE PRICE OF HONOR and you will not be able to set it down. You will find yourself like me, anxiously awaiting his next book.