Hugh Thompson, Jr.
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Hugh Thompson was a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War. He is chiefly known for his role during the My Lai massacre, during which he was flying a reconnaissance mission.
Thompson, on seeing soldiers methodically killing civilians, landed his helicopter in between the soliders of Charlie Company and a bunker of Vietnamese non-combatants who were taking refuge in a bunker. Confronting the commanding officers of the company, he threatened to shoot anyone who opened fire on the surviving Vietnamese. Thompson then evacuated the remaining civlians by helicopter out of Son My.
Warrant Officer Thompson was trying to provide support for both US troops and to villagers. He believed that US troops were here to protect the civilians but upon witnessing several murders of civilians, Thompson and the crew realised what their own troops were doing. At this point, they stopped trusting the safety of the villagers to the ground troops, and proceeded to the evacuation with their own means and authority.
Thompson confronted the leaders of the troops. Several sources believe he would have been prepared to open fire on the US troopers if they did not let the helicopters proceed with the evacuation (Quote: He walked back to the aircraft. He said: "I'm going to go over and get them out of the bunker myself. If the squad opens up on them, shoot 'em." And he walked away Lawrence Colburn, [1] (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/pacificnw/2002/0310/cover.html)), and covered the villagers with his own body.
The crewmembers were credited with saving at least 11 lives, yet for long after they were reviled as traitors. Exactly thirty years later, the three were awarded the Soldier's Medal, the United States Army's highest award for bravery not involving direct contact with the enemy.
External links
- The Heroes of My Lai (http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/mylai/Myl_hero.html)
- LESSONS FROM MY LAI ON DRAWING THE LINE (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/pacificnw/2002/0310/cover.html)