Soldiers for the Truth Foundation

Soldiers for the Truth Foundation is a United States nonprofit advocacy organization focused on military reform. It describes its mission as informing the public, Congress, and the news media about the training, readiness, equipment, leadership, and institutional performance of the U.S. armed forces. The organization is identified as a 501(c)(3) public charity, although its current operating status, leadership, finances, and public activity are not established by the supplied reference material. The foundation developed from opinion writing by Colonel David H. Hackworth, a decorated former U.S. Army officer and military commentator. Hackworth's articles, initially published under the title "Defending America," criticized what he regarded as failures in military preparation, senior-leadership accountability, procurement priorities, and the treatment of service members. The foundation combined advocacy with a media operation, publishing the online magazine Defense Watch and distributing email newsletters written by veterans, military specialists, family members, and other contributors. The organization claimed a membership of approximately 20,000, though that figure is historical and should not be interpreted as a current membership total. Its public agenda concentrated on practical military issues rather than conventional charitable relief. Soldiers for the Truth argued that troops should receive effective equipment, realistic training, and accountable leadership. During the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Hackworth and the foundation questioned the readiness of conventional units and criticized what they viewed as career incentives and wasteful spending among senior officers. The organization also became involved in debates over the protection provided to American troops operating in Iraq, particularly the adequacy of body armor. The foundation received national attention in 2004 after helping connect William Lawson, a relative of an Army reservist working as a prison guard in Iraq, with researchers associated with the television program 60 Minutes II. Lawson had argued that abuses at Abu Ghraib reflected wider failures of training, supervision, and authority rather than responsibility resting solely with low-ranking guards. The resulting media investigation contributed to broader public coverage of prisoner abuse at the facility. The foundation's role was that of a conduit and advocacy organization: it brought a source's concerns to journalists and framed the episode as evidence of systemic military and institutional problems. Another prominent campaign concerned body armor issued to U.S. Marines in Iraq. In 2007, incoming president John Falcon argued that Pentagon-approved Interceptor body armor did not offer sufficient protection against certain armor-piercing threats. Soldiers for the Truth promoted Dragon Skin, a commercially developed alternative, and cited an alleged Pentagon analysis concerning torso wounds among Marines killed between 2003 and 2005. The armor dispute reflected the foundation's broader approach of using veterans, service members, and outside technical information to challenge official procurement decisions. The claims and the comparative performance of the armor systems were contested in public debate, and the supplied material does not establish a final institutional outcome. The organization also prepared legal action concerning Vietnam veterans who had been exposed to Agent Blue, a defoliant used during the Vietnam War. The issue was personally significant to Hackworth, whose death was attributed in the reference material to a cancer associated with exposure to military defoliants. In addition, the foundation's board and editorial operation pursued a Freedom of Information Act matter seeking Department of Defense forensic records. The material states that Frederick Tanne helped involve the law firm Kirkland & Ellis in filing a final motion in federal court in Washington, D.C., on behalf of the foundation's editor. Soldiers for the Truth Foundation is therefore best understood as a historically documented military-accountability and information organization, not as a conventional consumer brand. Its identity rested on advocacy publications, veteran expertise, whistleblower contacts, and campaigns directed at military readiness, equipment, leadership, and government disclosure. Because the available material is concentrated on activity through the late 2000s and does not document later operations, its current status and present-day leadership remain uncertain.

Soldiers for the Truth Foundation emerged from the military commentary of Colonel David H. Hackworth, whose recurring opinion pieces began in the early 1990s under the title "Defending America." Hackworth used his writing, book proceeds, and reader donations to support an organization devoted to military reform and public accountability. Rather than presenting itself as a traditional veterans' assistance charity, the foundation sought to influence public debate over the preparedness and conduct of the U.S. armed forces. Its communications structure relied on a network of veterans, relatives, spouses, and military commentators. Weekly email newsletters were assembled by contributors including R.W. Zimmermann, Bill Rogers, Ray Starmann, Kate Aspy, Barry "Woody" Groton, Ed "Edgar" Schneider, and Kyle Elliot. Later contributors included author and civilian security analyst Paul Purcell, former editor in chief Ed Offley, Paul Connors, Matt Dodd, Roger Perry, and Lieutenant Colonel Karen Kwiatkowski. Kwiatkowski was known for criticizing the Pentagon's Office of Special Plans, which she characterized as an Orwellian institution. The foundation also published Defense Watch, an online magazine that used information from active-duty service members and veterans to criticize military leadership and policy. The foundation's central themes were readiness, training, leadership, procurement, and the welfare of service personnel. In October 2001, as the United States prepared military operations in Afghanistan, Hackworth publicly questioned whether many conventional units were adequately prepared for combat. He argued that the armed forces had been weakened by senior officers prioritizing career advancement and by spending decisions that did not sufficiently improve training or equipment. These arguments established the foundation's reputation as an adversarial military-reform voice. During the Iraq War, Soldiers for the Truth became involved in the public discussion surrounding the abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib. In March 2004, William Lawson, the uncle of an Army reservist serving as a prison guard, contacted the foundation after concluding that the guards risked becoming scapegoats for failures in training, authority, and prison administration. Foundation staff connected Lawson with researchers working on a 60 Minutes II report. The program broadcast its investigation within several weeks, contributing to national scrutiny of the prison and of the command structures responsible for it. The organization later focused on troop protection and military procurement. In 2007, John Falcon, identified as the incoming president, challenged the adequacy of the Interceptor body armor issued to Marines in Iraq. He cited an alleged classified or otherwise nonpublic Pentagon report suggesting that many Marines who died from torso wounds during 2003–2005 might have survived with more effective armor. Soldiers for the Truth supported the use of Dragon Skin, while Marines interviewed in connection with the campaign expressed general support for efforts to provide better equipment. The available material does not document a definitive procurement decision resulting from the campaign. The foundation also pursued recognition for Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Blue, a defoliant used during the Vietnam War. The subject had a direct connection to Hackworth, whose death was attributed in the source material to a cancer associated with exposure to the defoliants Agent Orange and Agent Blue. By 2007, the foundation was preparing legal action to compel the Pentagon to acknowledge and assist affected veterans. A separate transparency effort involved a Freedom of Information Act case seeking forensic records held by the Department of Defense. Frederick Tanne, identified in the source material as president of the board, helped bring Kirkland & Ellis into the matter and supported the filing of a final motion in federal court in Washington, D.C., on behalf of the foundation's editor. As of the historical period covered by the available reference, the foundation's board included Hackworth's widow Eilhys England, Major John Falcon, and Lieutenant Colonel Gary Stahlhut. The supplied sources do not establish whether the organization remains active, whether Defense Watch continues to publish, or who currently controls or leads the foundation. Its documented legacy is that of a veteran-centered military-reform organization using advocacy, journalism, legal action, and whistleblower contacts to challenge official accounts and press for changes in military equipment, training, leadership, and disclosure.

• 2007

  Body-armor campaign expanded under John Falcon

  [1]Soldiers for the Truth Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The foundation challenged the protection offered by Interceptor armor and advocated Dragon Skin for troops serving in Iraq.

• 2007

  Agent Blue veterans' case and Defense Department FOIA action

  [1]Soldiers for the Truth Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The organization prepared legal action concerning Agent Blue exposure and pursued Department of Defense forensic records through a federal FOIA matter.

• 2004

  Foundation helped connect an Abu Ghraib source with 60 Minutes II

  [1]Soldiers for the Truth Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  SFTT staff referred William Lawson to researchers whose reporting helped expose prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib to a broad television audience.

• 2001

  Hackworth questioned U.S. force readiness before Afghanistan operations

  [1]Soldiers for the Truth Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  As the United States prepared for operations in Afghanistan, Hackworth argued that many conventional units were not adequately trained or ready for combat.

• 1990

  Hackworth's military commentary formed the basis of the organization

  [1]Soldiers for the Truth Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  David H. Hackworth's recurring opinion writing, initially titled "Defending America," developed into the foundation's military-reform platform.

Veteran-informed, independent military-reform advocacy focused on readiness, troop protection, leadership accountability, procurement, and government transparency.

• Online magazine

  Defense Watch

  Defense Watch was the foundation's online magazine and a principal vehicle for its military-reform work. It published criticism of U.S. military leadership and policy, drawing on information attributed to active-duty service members, veterans, military writers, and other contributors. Its coverage centered on readiness, training, equipment, procurement, leadership accountability, and government transparency. The reference material documents it as an active publication during the foundation's historical period but does not establish whether it continues today.

• 2004

  Abu Ghraib prisoner-abuse coverage

  The foundation became involved in bringing information about alleged prisoner abuse and systemic failures at Abu Ghraib to television investigators. It was an advocacy and referral participant in coverage of the scandal, not an identified perpetrator.

  Source

Read more

• 2007Improved body armor for troops in Iraq

  United States · Iraq

  SFTT argued that Interceptor armor did not adequately protect Marines against some armor-piercing ammunition and promoted Dragon Skin as a more protective alternative.

  Outcome. The campaign generated public discussion and support from some service members, but the supplied material does not document a final procurement result.

  Source
• 2007Recognition for Agent Blue-exposed Vietnam veterans

  United States

  The foundation prepared legal action seeking Pentagon acknowledgment and assistance for Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Blue.

  Outcome. The available material does not establish the final legal or policy outcome.

  Source
• 2004Abu Ghraib accountability and media referral

  United States

  The foundation helped connect a source concerned about Iraqi prison operations with 60 Minutes II researchers, contributing to investigative coverage of prisoner abuse and broader questions about training, authority, and command responsibility.

  Outcome. The referral contributed to a televised investigation and intensified public scrutiny of Abu Ghraib.

  Source

• 2007

  Promote Dragon Skin as an alternative to Interceptor armorStrategy

  Background

  The foundation argued that the body armor issued to Marines in Iraq did not provide sufficient protection against certain armor-piercing threats.

  Action taken

  Under incoming president John Falcon, SFTT publicly campaigned for troops to receive Dragon Skin or other more protective armor.

  Aftermath

  The campaign received favorable comments from some Marines, but no definitive adoption or procurement outcome is documented in the supplied sources.

  Source

• 2007

  Pursue legal recognition for Agent Blue exposureOther

  Background

  The foundation linked Agent Blue exposure to unresolved health and benefits concerns among Vietnam veterans.

  Action taken

  It prepared legal action intended to compel the Pentagon to acknowledge and assist affected veterans.

  Aftermath

  The available reference does not report the result of the proposed action.

  Source

• 2007

  Advance a Freedom of Information Act request for Defense Department recordsOther

  Background

  The foundation's editor sought forensic records held by the Department of Defense.

  Action taken

  Frederick Tanne helped involve Kirkland & Ellis in filing a final motion in federal court in Washington, D.C.

  Aftermath

  The final disposition is not established by the supplied material.

  Source

1. 1Soldiers for the Truth Foundationen.wikipedia.org