My Lai: The Massacre that Changed the Course of the Vietnam War
My Lai burning, seen from a helicopter.
Image courtesy of the Library of Congress
Warrant Officer Hugh Thompson was flying a helicopter near My Lai when the shooting was at its full height. Flying lower, he spotted wounded civilians and marked their locations with smoke grenades.
Helicopter similar to Thompson's.
Image courtesy of the Bernard Lindenbaum Vertical Flight Researching Collection
Thompson afterwards helped ferry the wounded to safety where they could receive medical attention.
"These were not soldiers, these were hoodlums, and terrorists, disguised like soldiers."
~Hugh Thompson, describing the CC
Image courtesy of The BBC News
Medina's "Search and Destroy" order resulted in the massacre of over 500 civilians.
"I’m going to go over there, and get them out of the bunkers myself. If the squad opens up on them, shoot ‘em."
~Hugh Thompson