Thanks for the thread. I tried to read the responses, but it looks like John Kerry has infiltrated. I know that Calley did not represent the American way, contrary to suggestions from the usual moles. Hugh Thompson was a fine example of America's forces, carrying American values around the world. We are an honorable people, with few exceptions. We don't all possess the courage to act on our convictions, as Thompson did, but most of us would like to think we'd do exactly as he did. We don't all measure up to that standard, but most of us are at least honorable enough want that to be the standard. May Hugh Thompson rest in peace. He earned it.
It's kind of funny you mention that. Last summer (2004) when the Swift Boat Veterans book was released, much ado was made about Kerry's photo being in the Vietnamese war museum. In the photo published in "Unfit For Command," that's Hugh's picture in the background. I never asked him how he felt about that. I think that there are some acts that speak for themselves; Hugh not only stopped the bloodshed that day, but evacuated a number of the wounded as well. If the Vietnamese see him as a hereo for having done so, so be it.
I think the Iraqi attorney who took the risk to get Jessica Lynch's location to Coalition forces was made of the same stuff as Hugh. Despite whatever human frailties or imperfections either of the two men displayed in the rest of their lives, when it really counted they displayed the type of integrity and courage I think the rest of us pray we could show under similar circumstances.