Talk:Hugh Thompson Jr.

Known for

The article starts by stating that Thompson is "best known for his role in stopping the My Lai Massacre". This might imply though that the massacre did not occur. This sentence should be replaced by "he is best known for rescuing civilians from the My Lai massacre". I am not disputing Thompson's heroism, but it is a fact that the massacre was not stopped. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.27.183.188 (talk) 22:41, 23 May 2013 (UTC)

Unhappy congress man

I came across this sentence from the link attached and I couldn't help wishing this information and the congress guys name was a part of wiki article. Of cause, its going to generate a lot of friction, something I am getting tired of "But Mr Thompson was shunned for years by fellow soldiers, received death threats, and was once told by a congressman that he was the only American who should be punished over My Lai." [1]

If we found a reference that included the Congressman's name, I'd include it...but without, we can't really verify or put it in context. Sherurcij ^{(talk) (Terrorist Wikiproject)} 05:52, 7 January 2006 (UTC)

Found this: according to The Forgotten Hero of My Lai, the Hugh Thompson Story, a book published in 1999 by Trent Angers, powerful members of Congress, including the chairmen of the House and Senate armed services committees, tried to sabotage the prosecution of those responsible, and instead sought to have Thompson and his crew court-martialed for threatening the lives of fellow soldiers. No name, though. I imagine we could find out who was hard of those committees during the trials. Jokestress 19:53, 7 January 2006 (UTC)

Source of quotation

There is an exchange between Thompson and Lt. Brooks in the article:

Thompson: Let's get these people out of this bunker and get 'em out of here.
Brooks: We'll get 'em out with hand grenades.

Thompson: I can do better than that. Keep your people in place. My guns are on you.

Where is this from, though? There is no source given, and it's hard to judge its accuracy—was it recorded on tape? Simply an amalgamation of differing accounts? The article doesn’t say. Wiki Wikardo 04:50, 26 May 2006 (UTC)

In addition to that, I believe some sort of an explanation should be added. This quote is just stuck in the middle of the paragraph with nothing referring to it.say1988 22:12, 31 May 2006 (UTC)

Lawrence Colburn verified the quote[2], I'll add context in the article. Sherurcij ^{(talk) (Terrorist Wikiproject)} 23:03, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

I think the quote in question can stay, as it was verified by a published interview with an eyewitness. But the other exchange ("What's going on here, Lieutenant?"...) is still suspect. The source given, a 1999 book by T. Angers, may be a dramatized account. Unless some independent authentication can be found, I don't think it can stay. Rexodus (talk) 04:09, 23 June 2012 (UTC)

Medina

The article contains the sentence:

Returning to the helicopter however, they saw Captain Ernest Medina run forward and begin shooting the wounded who had been marked

Now I am not that familiar with the massacre, but from what I have seen was that Calley was the senior officer that participated in the massacre, whic would eliminate Medina. This is what causes my confusion with this statement.say1988 22:24, 31 May 2006 (UTC)

Calley was indeed the one considered "in charge" of the massacre, but they mention having seen Medina "blowing away" a woman as they landed[3], not Calley. Sherurcij ^{(talk) (Terrorist Wikiproject)} 23:05, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

THREE platoons of Capt. Medina's company participated in the massacre-Calley was CO of 1st Platoon. Falange (talk) 14:46, 18 July 2008 (UTC)

Military ethics

When I was a soldier at Fort Campbell, KY (1986-1989) I recall reading a 'training circular' about military ethics which included the story of Warrant Officer Thompson's actions. It made quite an impression on me.

I think he took quite a risk, doing what he did; the other Americans might have shot him, you know.

I also heard that despite making a few radio calls he otherwise did little or nothing to report the incident. I mean, of course he said it happened, but I mean reporting it as a crime. If I recall correctly what I read 20 years ago, he waited until he was out of the army before notifying his congressman, out of fear of retribution.

Can we dig into this? --Uncle Ed 22:36, 20 October 2007 (UTC)

That's incorrect. He immediately reported the massacre through the proper channels. Senior Americal commanders investigated the incident, but covered it up.Antarctica moon (talk) 20:46, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

That is indeed incorrect. In television interview Thompson described how he was shunned by fellow soldiers after his return from Vietnam for reporting the incident. For example, when he would go into the officers club and sit down, everyone nearby would stand up and go sit elsewhere.VilePig (talk) 01:40, 1 May 2013 (UTC)

On this 40th year anniversary date of the My Lai massacre, I find myself posting a question that has often lingered in my mind: How was it that a subordinate warrant officer to the fully commissioned ranks possessed the ethical wherewithal, courage and general fortitude to stand up and risk his own life, and well being long after the fact, to do what was right in what we generally are told is the "fog" of war? I presume several of the lieutenants, captains and senior officers were predominantly graduates of West Point or university ROTC programs.

What I feel needs to be explored is what in Hugh Thompson's character compelled him to absolute selflessness at a moment it counted the most? What do our military leaders need to be taught in leadership training - whether it is an enlisted person attending instruction, or an officer candidate/cadet/midshipman enrolled in an ethics class - in a formal setting to ensure they comport themselves to the highest standards and demand the same of all under their charge?

I wish I could contribute somewhat to providing answers, but that is why I have posted here. I feel there cannot be more at stake for the United States as there is now, and ensuring the leaders directing our "boots on the ground" are guided by a rigorous system of values - perhaps stemming from, but not limited to, a higher divine authority. Wiki wrangler (talk) 17:10, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

I've often asked myself the same question. Even the Americal's Divisional commander, Major General Samuel Koster, was involved in the coverup, and he became superintendent of West Point - the paragon of American military virtue. I really admire Hugh Thompson, and consider him a great American. I think much of the reason why he intervened was because of the upbringing his parents gave him. He was described as a "just a poor high school graduate from the mountains of Georgia, but he knew right from wrong and acted on it." But there's no real formula for this type of bravery. You either you have it in you or you don't - Thompson was that one in one hundred thousand that had it. Antarctica moon (talk) 05:59, 17 March 2008 (UTC)

Child extracted by Andreotta

In the Andreotta and Colburn articles (massacre section, 4th from last paragraph), it says the child that he extracted was a boy, but in the Thompson article, it says the child is a girl. Where's the source on this information? John2kx (talk) 06:10, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

Never mind, I found the information in Colburn's page. The child who was rescued was Do Ba, who is male. I fixed the error on Thompson's page. John2kx (talk) 06:35, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

WikiProject class rating

This article was automatically assessed because at least one WikiProject had rated the article as start, and the rating on other projects was brought up to start class. BetacommandBot 04:04, 9 November 2007 (UTC)

Accuracy/Typo?

"In the early morning hours of March 16, 1968, Thompson's OH-23 encountered no enemy fire over My Lai 4. Spotting two possible Viet Cong suspects, he forced the Vietnamese men to surrender and flew them off for a tactical interrogation."

The wording "Thompson's OH-23 encountered no enemy fire" is either awkwardly phrased or factually incorrect (based on the sentence afterward). Sucks that I can't immediately check the reference for accuracy myself. Who actually reads books anymore? Could I ask someone else to check this please? Thanks. Elgordon (talk) 04:27, 11 January 2011 (UTC)

Hugh Thompson Foundation?

The article mentions a Hugh Thompson Foundation, but the website seems to be an empty Apache directory listing, and I can't seem to find more info on it except for a small Wordpress blog with 2 single sentence articles. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Xeon06 (talk • contribs) 01:17, 9 February 2011 (UTC)

Wikipedia is not a forum.

Dear readers:

Please remember the talk page guidelines of Wikipedia. In particular

• Wikipedia is not a forum.

Please remember the biography guidelines. Biographical articles should not be used as memorials to the subject. The talk page should not be used as memorials to the subject either.

I have removed forum-type statements and memorial-type statements from this page, notwithstanding my complete agreement with their thoughts and sentiments. Wikipedia editors should remove such statements in the future.

Sincerely,  Kiefer.Wolfowitz 11:25, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

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Direct vs indirect

Small thing, but in the sentence "As a direct result of what he experienced, Thompson experienced post-traumatic stress disorder, alcoholism, divorce, and severe nightmare disorder," I've deleted the word "direct." Some of these issues are indirect results in the sense that they're consequences suffered over time and not immediately caused by the event. Sadiemonster (talk) 17:34, 1 February 2024 (UTC)

Calley's Pardon

The article as it is mentions that Calley was never pardoned, but fails to mention that Calley ended up serving only three years out of his life sentence and most of that in just house arrest. 86.115.101.135 (talk) 00:06, 20 February 2024 (UTC)