24/03/2025
Warrant Officer Hugh Thompson Jr. was a United States Army helicopter pilot who played a heroic role in stopping the My Lai Massacre during the Vietnam War. On March 16, 1968, Thompson and his crew—Glenn Andreotta and Lawrence Colburn—were flying a reconnaissance mission when they saw American soldiers slaughtering unarmed Vietnamese civilians in the village of My Lai.
Realizing the extent of the massacre, Thompson landed his helicopter between the soldiers and the remaining civilians, ordering his crew to fire on any American troops who continued the killings. He also rescued several Vietnamese, including a group of children, by evacuating them to safety. His actions helped expose the massacre, which resulted in hundreds of civilian deaths.
Despite his bravery, Thompson was initially criticized by military officials, and his efforts to report the massacre were suppressed. It wasn't until 1998, decades later, that he and his crew were recognized for their heroism with the Soldier’s Medal, the U.S. Army’s highest award for valor not involving combat.
Thompson’s actions are now seen as a rare example of moral courage in war, standing against atrocities even when it meant opposing fellow soldiers.
