Webmost know the now famous line from the film apocalypse now, which showed robert duvall standing in a bombed out field saying:“i love the smell of napalm in the morning. ” the guy who actually said that was colonel david hackworth. In january 1969, one of the most promising young lieutenant colonels the us army had ever seen touched down in vietnam for his second tour of duty, which would turn out to be his most daring and legendary. Webalthough the couple’s relationship was something of an open secret within their family, it seems that col. Ryan never felt comfortable enough to discuss his sexuality openly. His nephew, joseph ryan, told the post that his uncle was a private person. How to wake up washington and win the war on terror, crown forum (new york, ny), 2007. Born in boston, massachusetts, colonel david hunt served in the u. s. Army as a career soldier. He deserves to take it; As does [major general julian] ewell, as does [colonel ira a. ] hunt. But the [lieutenant] colonel i call lark, a west pointer, was a victim. He had 16 years of service, 4 years with troops. What the hell did he know about commanding a. Webin today’s episode, you’ll hear the remarkable story of us army colonel david hackworth, a man whose name is synonymous with leadership and valor. From his enlistment at the age of 15 to becoming one of the most decorated soldiers in u. s.