Dennis Nobile Connection
A neighborhood friend, Dennis Nobile, introduced me to a fellow U.S. Marine, Jim Hackett, a combat Vietnam veteran who was awarded two Purple Hearts.

Soon Jim and I met for coffee, where I learned of his and his wife Jill’s commendable community service and his incredible life experiences from serving in combat, his entertainment acting profession and his lengthy law enforcement career.

Raised for the USMC
James P. Hackett, Jr. was born October 9, 1947 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, graduating from Mamaroneck High School in New York on June 18, 1965.

Jim earned a two-year scholarship to the “American Academy of Dramatic Arts,” a famous acting school in Manhattan, where he studied drama.

Going into acting aggravated his disciplined father, a grizzled WWII veteran, who had joined the U.S. Marine Corps immediately following Japan’s December 7, 1941 surprise attack at Pearl Harbor.

Jim was raised as a tough and tumble Marine, but then his father thought Jim was going soft.

Jim loved acting and he was impressed with his classmates, Danny Devito (“Taxi”), and Cleavon Little (“Blazing Saddles”), but he began realizing that his skill level was simply marginal.

Uncle Sam’s Greeting
In the spring of 1967, Jim received Uncle Sam’s draft notice: “Greetings. You are hereby ordered to report for induction into the Armed Forces of United States…” Jim’s father challenged him to join the Marines, and to prove his mettle, Jim signed up for a four -year stint and reported for boot camp at Parris Island in North Carolina on April 14, 1967.

Following boot camp, Jim received the Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) 5900 – Electronics, which infuriated his cantankerous drill sergeant as every other trainee went 0311 – Infantry Rifleman. Jim was sent to 29 Palms Marine Corps Base for “Radar Fundamentals Class.”

Jim graduated No. 1 – Top in Class, qualifying him for “Secret School,” which sent him to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, an Army Field Artillery Post.

During this 12-week course, Jim was introduced to the AN/PPS-6 Battlefield Surveillance Radar, nicknamed the “People Finder,” with an effective range of about 100 feet, which he found scary and a bit ridiculous.

James P. Hackett 1969 Vietnam

Vietnam Volunteer
In July 1968, Jim arrived at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina, assigned to an Infantry company’s radio section. Jim volunteered for a 13-month tour of duty in Vietnam in September ’68, earning him an immediate 30-day leave to see his family.

Afterwards, he traveled to Camp Pendleton for additional combat training; they exchanged his beloved M-14 for an M-16, which he despised.

He arrived at Danang Air Base on Thanksgiving Day assigned to the 11^th Marine Regiment, 1^st Marine Division, joining a “counter mortar radar” section connected to an artillery unit.

James P. Hackett 1969 Con Thien

His task was detecting enemy mortar teams and zeroing in Marine artillery.

Jim comically described their frustrations with their antiquated Korean War-era radar equipment when they simultaneously learned America just landed a man on the moon.

During Jim’s tour of duty, he experienced occasional combat action, and when asked to extend six more months, he signed right up, earning him an immediate 30-day leave and promotion to sergeant.

Shortly after Jim returned to Danang, President Nixon ordered the 3^rd Marine Division to depart Vietnam, and in July 1969, Jim’s unit was sent to cover their withdrawal. This took them into harm’s way at the treacherous mountain regions of The Rockpile, Con Thien and the DMZ.

James P. Hackett, Jr. Purple Heart

In the early hours of January 6, 1970, under the cover of monsoon rains, the Vietcong 409th Battalion attacked Jim’s fire base LZ Ross with mortars and sappers, penetrating their concertina wire.

The attack was repulsed by 4 a.m., resulting in 13 Marines and 38 Vietcong killed.

Jim received his first Purple Heart when a VC sapper threw a satchel charge, wounding seven in his squad. Jim’s legs, back and arms were peppered with shrapnel and he was medically evacuated to a nearby hospital, but he was soon back in the field.

On March 6, 1970 during a patrol searching for NVA troops, a firefight broke out and Jim was shot in his lower left leg, earning a second Purple Heart.

USMC Commendation Medal

By August 1970, Jim’s tour ended, sending him back to San Diego, where he was discharged eight months early.

Jim’s awards include two Purple Hearts, two Navy Commendation Medals w/ V Devices, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal w/ three Bronze Stars, Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ Palm, Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, New York State Conspicuous Service Cross and the American Spirit Honor Medal.

Always a Marine
Arriving home in Larchmont, New York, Jim couldn’t wait to purchase a 1967 Corvette and promptly readjust back into civilian life, and his beautiful Corvette easily paved the way with young ladies.

Soon,Jim returned to acting, notably with Joe Papp’s “Public Theater,” but his biggest parts came in California, landing roles on Dick Van Patten’s “Eight is Enough” and in Robert Mitchum’s “A Family for Joe” TV series. For a short stint, Jim was the voice of Saturday mornings’ “The Amazing Spiderman” on NBC.

As stage manager on the play “The Sound of Music” in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he met a beautiful actress, Jill Dooley, and they promptly began seeing each other.

James P. and Jill Hackett

They were married October 21, 1978 in Santa Barbara, Calif. It’s noted that Jill Hackett co-founded the Santa Clarita Master Chorale in June 1999. In 1982, Jim joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department as a reserve deputy.

He worked patrol, detective and vice functions in West Hollywood, Marina del Rey and Pico Rivera until transferring to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station in 1992.

Jim retired from LASD in 2014 with the rank of reserve captain and is now enjoying his newly created business, “Digital Factory Studios,” where he narrates and produces audio books for Amazon and Audible.

Jim is loving life and he loves America. Jim said, “Once a Marine, always a Marine. Not as lean, not as mean, but still a Marine.”

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.