What did Hugh Thompson do at My Lai?

What did Hugh Thompson do at My Lai?

Mr Thompson and his crew found US soldiers killing civilians at the village of My Lai on 16 March 1968. He put his helicopter down between the soldiers and the villagers and ordered his men to shoot their fellow Americans if they attacked the civilians.

What did Hugh Thompson do?

Hugh C. Thompson, Jr. (April 15, 1943 – January 6, 2006) was a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War. He is chiefly known for his role in stopping the My Lai Massacre, during which he was flying a reconnaissance mission.

What rank was Hugh Thompson at My Lai?

Major

Hugh Clowers Thompson Jr.
Years of service 1961–1964 (United States Navy) 1966–1983 (United States Army)
Rank Major
Unit Naval Mobile Construction Battalions 2nd Battalion, 123rd Aviation Battalion, 23rd Infantry Division
Battles/wars Vietnam War Tet Counteroffensive Mỹ Lai Massacre

Who were the heroes of the My Lai massacre?

Their names are Hugh Thompson, Larry Colburn and Glenn Andreotta. From their reconnaissance helicopter, they observed a large number of dead bodies in and around the village of My Lai. In all, 504 women, children and old men were killed that day by out-of-control U.S. troops.

What is Lieutenant Calley doing now?

Lt. William L. Calley, Jr. Calley was convicted on 22 counts of premeditated murder and sentenced to life in prison.

What happened to Lieutenant Calley from Vietnam?

Calley was found guilty of personally murdering 22 civilians and sentenced to life imprisonment, but his sentence was reduced to 20 years by the Court of Military Appeals and further reduced later to 10 years by the Secretary of the Army.

Who Ordered My Lai massacre?

Captain Medina told his troops that this was their chance to avenge their fallen comrades. One private, Dennis Bunning, later claimed that Captain Medina ordered them to kill everyone; their intelligence briefing claimed that all My Lai’s women and children would be at the market that morning.

What happened to the soldiers at My Lai?

The My Lai massacre was one of the most horrific incidents of violence committed against unarmed civilians during the Vietnam War. A company of American soldiers brutally killed most of the people—women, children and old men—in the village of My Lai on March 16, 1968.

What happened to William Calley Jr?

Why is 1975 cited as the year the Vietnam War ended?

Phnom Penh fell to the Khmer Rouge on 17 April 1975, while the 1975 Spring Offensive saw the Fall of Saigon to the PAVN on 30 April; this marked the end of the war, and North and South Vietnam were reunified the following year.

What is William Calley doing now?

Though sentenced to life in prison, Calley ended up serving three years under house arrest after President Richard Nixon later reduced his sentence. After his release, Calley stayed in Columbus and settled into a job at a jewelry store owned by his father-in-law before he moved to Atlanta a few years ago.

Was Calley a scapegoat?

William Calley was guilty of murder. He was no scapegoat. Gary Kulik, the former editor of American Quarterly, is a veteran of the Vietnam war and a writer for the History News Service.