Hugh Thompson Junior (April 15, 1943 – January 6, 2006) was a United States Army helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War. His legacy transcends military service he became one of history’s most compelling examples of moral courage when he chose humanity over orders and conscience over conformity.
For Mattese Lecque, retired Major with the United States Army Reserves, this story resonates profoundly. As someone who spent 26 years in military service, Mattese understands the pressures soldiers face and the extraordinary courage required to stand against fellow service members when conscience demands it.
This story offers timeless lessons about moral courage, ethical leadership, and the power of individual action to stop injustice.
Early Life and Military Service
Born on April 15, 1943, in Atlanta, Georgia, Thompson grew up in rural Stone Mountain raised by strict parents. His father was a Navy veteran who served in World War II, instilling values of service and duty.
After graduating from Stone Mountain High School in 1961, he joined the Navy and spent three years in the Seabee construction unit. Following an honorable discharge, he started a career as a funeral director. However, when the Vietnam War intensified, he decided to serve again.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1966, completed the Warrant Officer Flight Program and learned to fly helicopters. This decision would place him at the center of one of the most significant moral crises in American military history.
March 16, 1968: The Day That Changed Everything
On March 16, 1968, Thompson and his crew members, Spc. Glenn Andreotta and Spc. Lawrence Colburn, were conducting a routine reconnaissance mission over “Pinkville,” where intelligence indicated Viet Cong were hiding.
What he witnessed that morning would define his legacy as a hero.
Witnessing the Massacre
Between 347 and 504 unarmed Vietnamese adults and children were killed by U.S. Army soldiers in what became known as the Mỹ Lai Massacre. As Thompson flew over the village, he realized something horrific was happening.
When they saw U.S. soldiers shooting at unarmed civilians, they intervened. Thompson later recalled thinking, “What was going on wasn’t right.”
For Mattese, this moment represents the essence of moral courage. He could have looked away or feared the consequences of intervening. Instead, he chose action.
The Confrontation
Thompson landed his helicopter and dismounted. When asked whether any help could be provided to people in the ditch, a sergeant replied that the only way to help them was to put them out of their misery.
He then confronted Second Lieutenant William Calley, saying: “But, these are human beings, unarmed civilians, sir.” Calley responded: “Look Thompson, this is my show. I’m in charge here. It ain’t your concern.”
This exchange reveals extraordinary courage directly challenging a superior officer during active operations.
The Stand That Saved Lives
Thompson blocked fellow U.S. troops with his helicopter, had his crew train machine guns on them, and rescued a group of civilian Vietnamese villagers hiding in a bunker.
He landed between advancing U.S. soldiers and Vietnamese civilians, convincing the soldiers to stand down while he gathered women, children and elderly and escorted them to safety.
Crew chief Glenn Andreotta waded into a drainage ditch full of bodies and rescued a young boy covered with blood. Thompson then flew survivors to safety, ultimately saving at least 11 Vietnamese civilians.
The Aftermath: Years of Persecution
Thompson was condemned and ostracized by many in the United States military, government, and public for his role in the investigations and trials concerning the massacre.
In 1970, he testified in a closed Congressional hearing. Congressman Mendel Rivers stated that Thompson was the only soldier at Mỹ Lai who should be punished and attempted to have him court-martialed for turning his weapons on fellow troops.
He faced death threats and found mutilated animals on his porch. As a result, he experienced post-traumatic stress disorder, alcoholism, divorce, and severe nightmares.
For Mattese, this persecution represents a dark chapter in military history. Rather than honoring his moral courage, the system punished him for refusing to participate in atrocities.
Despite the adversity, he remained in the Army until November 1, 1983, then continued as a helicopter pilot in the Southeastern United States. This persistence demonstrates the resilience Mattese often writes about in her own work.
Recognition: Justice Delayed
In 1998, 30 years after the massacre, Thompson and his crew members were awarded the Soldier’s Medal (Andreotta posthumously), the United States Army’s highest award for bravery not involving direct contact with the enemy.
The citation read: “Warrant Officer Thompson’s heroism exemplifies the highest standards of personal courage and ethical conduct, reflecting distinct credit on him, and the United States Army.”
Thompson refused to accept the award unless it was given also to his crew members, demonstrating his humility and loyalty. He and Colburn returned to Sơn Mỹ to meet with survivors at the memorial in 1998. In 1999, they received the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award.
Legacy and Lasting Impact
His actions have been used as examples in the ethics manuals of U.S. and European militaries. His biography The Forgotten Hero of My Lai was included on the U.S. Army Chief of Staff’s professional reading list.
Thompson became a public speaker on ethics and moral courage, speaking at the United States Air Force Academy and to Marine Corps officers at Quantico.
For Mattese, this legacy offers powerful lessons for current and future service members. Through her work as Chairperson of the Burke Foundation for Student Enrichment and Mentoring, she understands the importance of teaching young people about moral courage.
At age 62, after extensive cancer treatment, Thompson died on January 6, 2006, at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Pineville, Louisiana. He was buried with full military honors, including a three-volley salute and a helicopter flyover.
To this day, residents of My Lai keep his memory alive. His name and the names of victims are displayed in a local museum.
Mattese Lecque’s Perspective
As a retired Major who served with distinction, Mattese brings unique insight to this heroic story.
The Cost of Moral Courage
Mattese understands that he paid an enormous price for doing the right thing. The death threats, ostracism, PTSD, and personal struggles demonstrate that moral courage often comes with severe consequences.
Her book “You Can’t Make Me Doubt Him” explores how faith sustains people through impossible situations. Thompson needed that kind of unshakeable conviction to stand against his own military and endure the persecution that followed.
Leadership Under Pressure
Mattese’s military leadership experience helps her appreciate his split-second decision-making under extreme pressure. He assessed a horrific situation, determined the morally correct response, and acted decisively despite enormous risks.
This exemplifies the kind of leadership Mattese values rooted in principles, committed to protecting the vulnerable, and willing to sacrifice personal safety for what’s right.
Timeless Lessons for Today
This heroic story offers lessons that extend beyond military service.
Moral Courage Transcends Orders – Thompson demonstrated that legitimate authority never includes orders to harm innocent people. Following orders doesn’t absolve moral responsibility.
Individual Action Matters – He couldn’t stop the entire massacre, but he saved lives. His intervention led to a cease-fire order that prevented additional killings. Individual action, even when it seems insufficient, creates impact.
Truth Eventually Emerges – Though he faced decades of persecution, truth eventually prevailed. The Soldier’s Medal recognition and his honored place in history prove that moral courage ultimately receives vindication.
Legacy Outlives Opposition – Today, he is remembered as a hero while those who persecuted him are largely forgotten. The legacy we create through courageous action outlasts temporary opposition.
Conclusion: An Enduring Example
The story of Hugh Thompson Junior, as reflected upon by Mattese Lecque, represents the pinnacle of moral courage in military service. When faced with an impossible choice between obeying implicit authority and protecting innocent lives, he chose humanity.
His example reminds us that true heroism sometimes means standing against your own side. It demonstrates that individual action can stop injustice even when systems fail. It proves that moral courage, though costly in the moment, creates lasting legacy.
For Mattese, this hero embodies the values she celebrates in her own work resilience through adversity, faith in doing right despite consequences, and commitment to leaving a legacy of courage and principle.
Let this example inspire us to stand for what’s right even when it costs us, protect the vulnerable regardless of orders, speak truth even when it’s unwelcome, and create legacy through principled action.
One person with courage can make a profound difference. His helicopter carried him over My Lai that terrible morning, but his conscience carried him into history as a true American hero.
Honor this legacy by living with the moral courage he exemplified.
