WHAT?! The damage was done by Lt Cally. Thompson was a HERO who saved lives and American prestige by putting himself on the spot for the innocent. He didn't blab to the press and self-promote, he simply did his job as an officer and a gentleman. It took nearly 20 years for his story to be told.
There are two main officers in this history. One showed the American forces to be everything the Fonda crowd alleged them to be and gave fuel to their anti-Americanism. The other showed what American courage truly is.
You are taking sides against the wrong officer in this story will be called on it!
I stand by my opinion. I think Im still entitled to do that. Im not saying what Cally did was right but I will say we would would not have heard about Cally if it werent for Thompson.
When you step off a huey and you tell your gunner to train on American soldiers you're taking a bold step. I don't believe I ever remember American forces having to actually fire upon American forces as they would the enemy.
Thompson did what was right that day and he never once blamed the military for what happened. The people he had animosity for were the ones back home who rather than handle Calley tried their best to cover up the incident.
The cover up is what hurt America. Not the crime.