Steel My Soldiers' Hearts: The In-Country Transformation of U.S. Army, 4th Battalion, 39th Infantry, Vietnam |
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David H. Hackworth, Eilhys England
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Pages: 512 (Hardcover)
ISBN: 1590710029
Pub: Rugged Land Books
Pub date: 2002-05
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 111984
Reader Reviews:
intriguing and excellent (0/0 people found this helpful)
Hackworth leads the reader through the guts and all story of the Veitnam war. At first I was slightly put off by the overly miltary and masculine writing. After reflection however, I was able to read beneath the words and understand the meaning behind Hackworth's words. The battles, training, hiring and firing and his disputes with seniors all demonstrated the practical steps he took to turn round the culturn of his batallion, and towards the end of the book (I'm not sure if it was my better understanding or the writing) all became obvious.
This is an excellent book, and the analogies of Generals helicoptering in and never really understanding the issues faced by soldiers hit home with my business experience. The other key message toward the end of the book, is that a motivated workforce, as opposed to big ticket strategic solutions, win the day.
The book needs real reflection time to understanding the meaning of actions, but is one of the most relevent business management and leadership books I have read.
"Mr Infantry" is back... (6/6 people found this helpful)
One of the most fascinating chapters in Hackworth's autobiography "About Face" described his rebuilding of a deadbeat conscript infantry batallion (4/39) into the "Hardcore" - a unit that he trained to fight guerrillas in a guerrilla style. This book expands greatly on that chapter, describing his methods, philosophy and operations in detail. The odd detail here and there clashes with "About Face" but on the whole this is a fascinating account.
Hackworth writes crisply and clearly about combat and the military, knows and clearly loves turning raw troops into hardened veterans and conveys the aimlessness of much US policy in Vietnam.
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Categories
Amazon.co.uk places this book into the following categories:
Books -> Subjects -> History -> World History
Books -> Subjects -> History -> North America -> Vietnam War
Books -> Subjects -> History -> General
Books -> Refinements -> Language (feature_browse-bin) -> English
Books -> Refinements -> Age (feature_two_browse-bin)
Books -> Refinements -> Format (binding_browse-bin) -> Hardcover
Books -> Refinements -> Condition (condition-type)