Vietnam War
My Lai Massacre
In March 1968, one of the most horrific incidents of the Vietnam war, a group of American soldiers (Charlie Company) killed over 500 Vietnamese citizens: children, women, and elderly in the village of My Lai. As this was happening, Hugh Thompson, an American pilot came in and landed between the villagers and the soldiers. He saw was what happening and threatened the soldiers to stop shooting the innocent villagers or he would shoot at them from his aircraft. The high ranking officials tried to cover the massacre up, but it was so cruel and unjust that people could not help but begin to spread the heartbreaking news about the incident.
Hugh Thompson Jr.[Above are scenes of what Thompson saw during the My Lai Massacre in 1968]
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Once Hugh Thompson returned to the United States, instead of being acknowledged and praised as a hero, he received death threats from the soldiers and American citizens. It wasn't until 30 years later that he was actually recognized for what he did and received a Soldier's Medal for heroism. Below is an interview of Thompson several years later discussing his experience and telling his version of the story during the My Lai Massacre.
"Somebody I guess who was actually lucky that day was one who just took a round right through the brain, because there was a lot of evil" |