Readers React: Hugh Thompson deserves the Medal of Honor for stopping the My Lai massacre

To the editor: We can still do more to thank Hugh Thompson, the U.S. Army helicopter pilot who prevented even more murders of Vietnamese civilians by American soldiers in My Lai 50 years ago. (“A forgotten hero stopped the My Lai massacre 50 years ago today,” Opinion, March 16)

The thanks we as a nation should give him would include these words: “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty.”

That’s right: These are the words used for every recipient of the Medal of Honor. Thompson deserves no less.

Daniel Connell, Moorpark

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To the editor: I never heard the story before of how this courageous young helicopter pilot brought his chopper down in front of hundreds of innocent women, men and children who were about to be slaughtered, demanding that the American soldiers stop the killing.

Thompson was a true American hero in a time of incredible national shame.

Sam Platts, Sylmar

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To the editor: Please thank UC Irvine historian Jon Wiener for reminding us of the heroic and historic act of courage performed by Thompson during the Vietnam War.

I wish that Thompson was still alive so that we might fully honor him. However, we can take comfort in the fact that he lived his life knowing that he did a courageous thing.

Sometimes doing the right thing is its own reward.

Brad Lund, Santa Barbara

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