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.