Hugh C. Thompson, a Whistle Blower Hero

Hugh C.Thompson, Jr. Certainly not a household name. Born in 1943 he died this past January. Who was he? He was a hero. He was someone who observed something that was very wrong and did something about it. He chose not to standby and watch a horrible wrong be committed.

Hugh C. Thompson, who at that time was Warrant Officer Hugh Thompson was an Army Helicopter pilot who while flying a mission came upon the My Lai massacre, in progress. Risking his life and life of his crew, he landed his helicopter, confronted the troops involved in the massacre and stopped it. To do so he was forced to threaten to fire on his own troops.

After stopping the massacre, he coordinated the air evacuation of the injured Vietnamese villagers. He returned to his base and immediately reported the massacre to his superiors. The officers who are accused of ordering the massacre, Lt. William Calley and Captain Ernest Medina gained extraordinary notoriety in the days and months that followed this most darkest of days in our country’s history. However, until the recent announcement of his death, I dare say that I didn’t know who this brave man was.

The type of courage displayed by Hugh C. Thompson is seldom glorified. Observing and reporting wrongful conduct by members of some organization is seldom considered in a positive fashion. Rather, such persons are labeled as snitches or stool pigeons. In spite of this fairly prevalent attitude in industry and in some levels of government, our Federal Government does recognize and reward those who are willing to step forward and report wrongful conduct when they become aware of such conduct.

Such recognition exists in the operation of our Federal False Claims Statute. People can report wrongdoing and be financially rewarded for doing so. Reporting those who seek to rob our country by making false or inflated claims for reimbursement from our government is heroic conduct. Our group of experienced False Claim Act attorneys stands ready to submit and prosecute your claims.

Eventually the heroic conduct of Hugh C.Thompson was recognized by the United States when he was awarded the Soldier’s Medal, the military’s highest award for bravery not involving direct contact with the enemy. This medal was awarded to Thompson and his crew exactly thirty years after the date of the massacre.

We Taught Our Children…

If this life lesson has any meaning in a values-centered society, it means nothing less than we as citizens must hold companies that steal accountable for theft from our government.

You know, when companies are stealing from our government they are stealing from you. Companies steal by making false claims as government contractors, false Medicare and Medicaid claims and many other government benefit programs false claims.

We taught our kids that there are consequences that follow from stealing.
You may be talking to yourself and saying, “How can I blow the whistle? I am just a pebble on the beach. My employer and this overwhelming power of corporations can crush me like a bug. Oh, I just better go hide in the corner, keep my mouth shut and be a loyal soldier.” You know, you can be that person, or you can be a hero. You can be someone that goes along with fraud because you are afraid for your job, your family and your security. Or, instead you can be the kind of a person that we have represented over that last 30 years that says “NO – I’ve had – this is wrong and by my silence I am part of this fraud and cover-up.”

If you are reading this you may be having a crisis of conscience. I would urge you to call me and do the right thing. We can protect you, but most importantly, you can protect your good name.

I am proud to be a Founding Member of the Qui Tam Consortium, a select group of experienced trial lawyers that have fought the powerful companies of this country over the last 30 years and brought about positive changes in corporate behavior, product safety and government program honesty and security.

If you are wondering what the right thing to do is, we need to talk. You have only one good name.