Three U.S. Army airmen Warrant Officer Hugh Thompson Jr. and Specialists Four Glenn Andreotta and Four Lawrence Colburn brought forth the truth about My Lai massacres through their open actions.
The soldiers took more than an information-sharing role since they got involved to prevent continued killings. Their aircraft viewed the murders of unarmed men from above. Thompson used his helicopter to interfere in the massacre by deploying it directly into the scene. The aircraft crew of Thompson deployed their helicopter in a position which separated American soldiers from the Vietnamese civilians. The soldiers received an order from the crew to stop the massacre or else they would fire upon them.
Some individuals survived because Thompson and his crew entered the scene. Due to their actions Thompson, his crew, and their helicopter made it possible for us to discover the details of this massacre which protected defenseless Vietnamese civilians.
Through his radio communications Thompson reported that excessive casualties were happening in the area. Something ain't right. There are bodies everywhere." The mass of bodies piled in a ditch revealed living people to him so he descended his helicopter to rescue them.
During their conversation Lieutenant Calley told Thompson he obeyed command orders. As he witnessed the scene he reported there were human beings with no weapons present.
Another soldier released gunfire at the ditch while Thompson spoke with Lieutenant Calley which resulted in additional fatalities. The crew members along with Thompson experienced shock at this moment. The soldiers returned to their helicopter to search for additional survivors among the population. A group of noncombatants tried to escape battle soldiers in the area. Thompson positioned his helicopter in front of the civilians to protect them after ordering his crew that any attempt by American soldiers to harm them would result in shots being fired. After landing nearby the civilians the crew ensured their safe transit to safety.
The historical facts about Thompson Andreotta and Colburn requirement our attention. Before his death the army attempted to distort their military record and altered Andreotta's narrative events. The truth regarding events from March 16, 1968 was disclosed accurately by these men.
You should dismiss any notion that a hidden informant exists to explain My Lai events. The public learned about My Lai when these courageous airmen witnessed the horrific events and made their best efforts to both put an end to them and inform higher authority. Their actions are what enabled us to discover the truth behind the events.
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U.S. Army
