Rating: 
Summary: Col. Hackworth at his worst!
Review: ABOUT FACE introduced to us the highly decorated controversial warrior, Colonel David Haskell Hackworth, USA (Ret.). The superbly-written best-seller eventually catapulted the "no-bull gunfighter" to the limelight as NEWSWEEK's war correspondent.
HAZARDOUS DUTY, the sequal to ABOUT FACE, while voicing valid points for reform, suffers from numerous deficiencies stemming from from his degenerated writing style. He uses too many over-used and over-done cliches and dramatics at the expense of substance. (Read, how he wished that he was a fly eyeing the CP of a paratroop unit during the Desert Storm, "dancers and prancers"/"Perfumed Princes" riding on their peacock chopper thrones, calling Schwarzkopf the "Nazi Colonel," the "REMFs" getting all the goodies while the grunts melt under heat or freeze, his "sixth sense" screaming etc.)
Furthermore, the book is presented in an incoherent manner as! he jumps from one point to another. One moment, he talks about mine problems faced by the American troops, and brings up Anthony Lake's response to his NEWSWEEK article. (Fine up to this point!) Then and there, he resorts to character assassination on Clinton aides and advisers--"Oxford policy geeks with as much combat experience as a GI Joe doll"--proceeding further to make a ludicrous suggestion: sending the President and his cronies to the minefields!
Last, but not least, his speculations on potential war theaters, such as Korea, are mostly hyped up. While there are many evidences indicating that NK may implode any time soon, there are no evidence suggesting increased military build-up by both Koreas.
Absolutely disappointing. Grotesque! F MINUS!!!
Rating: 
Summary: As a veteran of the Gulf War, Somalia and Bosnia.....
Review: After the fall of the Berlin Wall, my service has been as fast, furious and jumpy as Hackworth's book Hazardous Duty. Bottom line: I never sensed that he stayed around any one of these three conflicts I served in long enough to get a true appreciation of place (especially Bosnia). A interesting book, but I found the quality of writing was lacking. I felt his observations were many times not grounded in fact, in my humble opinion. I was particularly disappointed with his chapters on the Balkans. I felt like I was watching a cheap horror movie aimed to get the easy scare, then move on to the next one. But heh, who can claim to be an expert, apologies to Rebecca West. Kudos to him on his chapters on Somalia. Not being based in Mogudishu, I found them insightful.
Rating:
Summary: As a veteran of the Gulf War, Somalia and Bosnia.....
Review: After the fall of the Berlin Wall, my service has been as fast, furious and jumpy as Hackworth's book Hazardous Duty. Bottom line: I never sensed that he stayed around any one of these three conflicts I served in long enough to get a true appreciation of place (especially Bosnia). A interesting book, but I found the quality of writing was lacking. I felt his observations were many times not grounded in fact, in my humble opinion. I was particularly disappointed with his chapters on the Balkans. I felt like I was watching a cheap horror movie aimed to get the easy scare, then move on to the next one. But heh, who can claim to be an expert, apologies to Rebecca West. Kudos to him on his chapters on Somalia. Not being based in Mogudishu, I found them insightful.
Rating: 
Summary: Our political/military leaders should be forced to read this
Review: An interesting book - this gives the best dissection of the Somalia disaster that I have ever read. The author is very passionate and occasionally a bit too angry at the Army, but perhaps that is understandable considering his background. Nearly everything he says makes perfect sense; as an ex-Army officer, I can attest that what makes sense often has minimal impact on the decision-making of senior leadership.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: As a correspondant for Newsweek, Hackworth has the savy to keep the reader interested, even at times when he is mundane. A great first person take on military events of the past three decades. Hackworth definitely captures the mediocraty involved with politicos in "greatest military on the face of the earth". Hackworth can be compared to Richard Marcinko, who yearns for the truth be told with today's military. A definite read for both military and non-military folk.
Rating: 
Summary: Refreshing view
Review: As a correspondant for Newsweek, Hackworth has the savy to keep the reader interested, even at times when he is mundane. A great first person take on military events of the past three decades. Hackworth definitely captures the mediocraty involved with politicos in "greatest military on the face of the earth". Hackworth can be compared to Richard Marcinko, who yearns for the truth be told with today's military. A definite read for both military and non-military folk.
Rating:
Summary: Another Outstanding Book By Col Hackworth
Review: Col Hackworth does it again in giving the combat soldier's front line experiences, problems, and on site management of same. Combine this book with his book "About Face" and the Korean/Vietnam tragedies are seen in a much different light than that portrayed in and by the media and many politicians before, during, and after US military involvement in Korea and/or Vietnam.These books by Hackworth are not solely for the military student or professional. They are equally for the civilian politician and taxpaying public that provides for and/or pays the bills for the US (and many foreign) military establishments and similar activities. (Read also Amazon Book Review of "About Face" by Robert W Sheehy)
Rating:
Summary: Another Outstanding Book By Col Hackworth
Review: Col Hackworth does it again in giving the combat soldier's front line experiences, problems, and on site management of same. Combine this book with his book "About Face" and the Korean/Vietnam tragedies are seen in a much different light than that portrayed in and by the media and many politicians before, during, and after US military involvement in Korea and/or Vietnam.These books by Hackworth are not solely for the military student or professional. They are equally for the civilian politician and taxpaying public that provides for and/or pays the bills for the US (and many foreign) military establishments and similar activities. (Read also Amazon Book Review of "About Face" by Robert W Sheehy)
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: Col Hackworth gives a rundown on recent skirmishes the US has been involved in, and the inside track on a lot of Gulf War skinny that only he could find out because of his reputation and ability to slip through the standard Press security. A great read.
Rating: 
Summary: A good read, but "Hack" is in over his head.
Review: COL Hackworth knows how to see through the bull at the ground level and it shows. Unfortunately, this book shows the limits of his intelligence. While his assessment of the colossal screw-up at the ground level in Somalia is outstanding, his analysis of bigger picture issues shows how short-sighted he is. His criticism of Schwartzkopf during the Gulf War in particular completely misses some troublesome facts that Stormin' Norman had to deal with (a diverse coalition, logistics problems, pressure from Washington, etc). Hackworth is the kinda guy who makes a GREAT leader - at the lower levels. Despite his very high opinion of himself (seems to be reading too many press clippings), he would be a joke as a General.
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