Hugh Thompson, Jr.
| Hugh Clowers Thompson Jr. | |
|---|---|
Hugh Clowers Thompson Jr. in 1966
|
|
| Born |
April 15, 1943 Atlanta, Georgia, United States |
| Died | January 6, 2006 (aged 62) Pineville, Louisiana, United States |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
United States Navy United States Army |
| Years of service | 1961–1964 (United States Navy) 1966–1983 (United States Army) |
| Rank |
 Captain
|
| Unit |
Naval Mobile Construction Battalions 2nd Battalion, 123rd Aviation Battalion, 23rd Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Soldier's Medal Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart Air Medal |
Hugh Clowers Thompson Jr. (April 15, 1943 – January 6, 2006) was a United States Army Captain, and formerly a warrant officer in the 123rd Aviation Battalion, 23rd Infantry Division, who played a major role in ending the My Lai Massacre in Sơn Mỹ Village, Sơn Tịnh District, Quảng Ngãi Province, South Vietnam, on March 16, 1968.
During the My Lai massacre, Thompson and his Hiller OH-23 Raven crew, Glenn Andreotta and Lawrence Colburn, stopped a number of killings by threatening and blocking officers and enlisted soldiers of Company C, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 11th Brigade, 23rd Infantry Division. Additionally, Thompson and his crew saved a number of Vietnamese civilians by personally escorting them away from advancing United States Army ground units and assuring their evacuation by air. Thompson reported the atrocities by radio several times while at Sơn Mỹ. Although these reports reached Task Force Barker operational headquarters, nothing was done to stop the massacre. After evacuating a child to a Quảng Ngãi hospital, Thompson angrily reported to his superiors at Task Force Barker headquarters that a massacre was occurring at Sơn Mỹ. Immediately following Thompson's report, Lieutenant Colonel Frank A. Barker ordered all ground units in Sơn Mỹ to cease search and destroy operations in the village.
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Wikipedia