The highly decorated U.S. Army veteran, prolific journalist, television commentator, and author of several books, including his latest, Steel My Soldiers' Hearts (New York: Rugged Land LLC, 2002), talked recently with Naval Institute editors Fred L. Schultz and Gordon Keiser in Washington, D.C. Accompanied by his wife and coauthor, Eilhys England, Colonel Hackworth talked about how they came to write the new book, a tribute to the men of the Army's 4th Battalion, 39th Infantry, in Vietnam. The interview also covers current conditions in the U.S. military and the interview he never had with the late Admiral Jeremy M. Boorda, former Chief of Naval Operations (CNO).
Proceedings : After having written so much about other military subjects, why did you write this book at this particular time?
