David Hackworth’s FOURTH Silver Star citation
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
ESTABLISHED BY AN ACT OF CONGRESS 9 JULY 1918 (AMENDED BY ACT OF 25 JULY 1963) AND AWARDED BY THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
SILVER STAR MEDAL
PRESENTED TO
MAJOR DAVID HASKELL HACKWORTH
UNITED STATES ARMY
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Third Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Silver Star to Major (Infantry) David Haskell Hackworth (ASN: OF-103837), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Major Hackworth distinguished himself on 4 March 1966 while serving as executive officer during a combat operation in the vicinity of My Phu, Republic of Vietnam. Upon entering the operational area, Major Hackworth’s unit made contact with a numerically superior Viet Cong force. During the early stages of the battle, Major Hackworth was airborne in a command and control helicopter. Later, he dauntlessly landed in the operation area amidst intense hostile fire to personally direct his men. Undaunted by intense machine gun fire, Major Hackworth remained with his men, exposed himself to hostile fire, and effected an assault on the hostile emplacements. After the platoon seized its objective, Major Hackworth joined another rifle platoon which had sustained heavy battle casualties among its officer personnel and was virtually ineffective. Major Hackworth went from squad to squad in the most forward positions and rallied the disorganized platoon. He rendered first aid, directed evacuation of the wounded, and insured that ammunition was redistributed while continuously subjecting himself to an intense volume of Viet Cong fire. Later, as the platoon was inadvertently strafed by friendly aircraft, Major Hackworth braved the heavy machine gun and rocket fire while moving to a radio to call the aviation units to cease their attack on the friendly force. He then arranged for medical evacuation of the seriously wounded. Again he exposed himself to intense hostile fire while running through a rice paddy to give visual landing guidance to the incoming aircraft. Due to the intensity of the hostile fire, the evacuation attempt was aborted. When darkness fell, reinforcements were brought in while Major Hackworth stood in the middle of an insecure landing zone with a flashlight guiding the landing of ten aircraft. He then supervised the evacuation of the wounded. His unimpeachable valor in the face of a numerically superior Viet Cong force was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Born: 11 November 1930 in Ocean Park, Calif…. A 14-year-old Hackworth lied about his age and entered the Merchant Marine during World War II, serving in the Pacific Theater… Still underage, he joined the Army and served in Italy… Earned a battlefield commission during the Korean War… One of America’s most-decorated soldiers, holding a record ten Silver Stars and shares the record of eight Purple Hearts with four other soldiers… Also awarded two Distinguished Service Crosses, eight Bronze Stars with “V” Device, a Distinguished Flying Cross, 34 Air Medals, and numerous others… Declined an offer to attend War College and eventually become a general, retiring as a colonel in 1971… Departed 4 May 2005… Interred: Arlington National Cemetery