My Lai Heroism Honored

The Associated Press, March 6, 1998

WASHINGTON (AP)--Thirty years after one of the darkest moments 
in U.S. military history, three soldiers who happened upon the 
My Lai massacre and risked their lives to save Vietnamese civilians 
by aiming their weapons at fellow Americans were proclaimed heroes 
by the Army. 

"We stand in honor of their heroism, and we have taken too long 
to recognize them," Chaplain Donald Shea said Friday at an emotional 
ceremony by the granite walls of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. 
"Remembering a dark point in time, we are now a richer nation 
as their personal heroic service is woven into the fabric of our 
history." 

The ceremony was held to award the prestigious Soldier's Medal 
-- the highest award for bravery not involving conflict with an 
enemy--to Hugh Thompson, Lawrence Colburn and their comrade, 
Glenn Andreotta, who was killed in battle three weeks after My 
Lai. 

"It was the ability to do the right thing even at the risk of 
their personal safety that guided these soldiers to do what they 
did," said Army Maj. Gen. Michael Ackerman. "This afternoon we 
will finally recognize these men for their heroic actions ... that 
clearly capture the essence of Army values." 

Ackerman said the award was "a tribute to these great soldiers,
men who became a legend in their own time and whose actions ... 
have set the standard for all soldiers to follow." 

"I proudly and humbly accept it not only for myself but for the 
men who served their country with honor on the battlefield in
Southeast Asia," said former helicopter pilot Thompson, his voice
quavering with emotion. "This is a very important day for us," added
Thompson, who counsels veterans in Lafayette, La. 

Then Thompson, holding hands with companion Mona Gossen, and Colburn,
with his family behind him, walked to the memorial wall and rubbed 
Andreotta's name, etched in panel 48 E, on a piece of paper. 

"See where it is," Colburn said, his voice breaking as he pointed 
out the name to a friend. 

The My Lai massacre, which left some 500 Vietnamese civilians dead 
and led to the court-martial of Lt. William Calley, stands as one 
of the worst moments in American military history. 

Early in the morning of March 16, 1968, chopper pilot Thompson,
door-gunner Colburn and crew chief Andreotta came upon U.S. ground 
troops killing Vietnamese civilians in and around the village of 
My Lai. 

They landed the helicopter in the line of fire between American 
troops and fleeing Vietnamese civilians and pointed their own guns 
at the U.S. soldiers to prevent more murders. Colburn and Andreotta 
provided cover for Thompson as he went forward to confront the 
leader of the U.S. forces. 

Thompson later coaxed civilians out of a bunker so they could be 
evacuated, and then landed his helicopter again to pick up a wounded 
child they transported to a hospital. Their efforts led to the 
cease-fire order at My Lai. 

Jim Andreotta, who last saw his cousin Glenn 38 years ago when 
both were 11, was the only member of his family to attend. 

"I'm sure Glenn is looking down at us right now," he said. "I 
think he's feeling pretty good about it." 

Donna Talbott, a friend of Colburn, who is a salesman in Woodstock,
Ga., said the honor was "long overdue." "He's a genuine hero,
" she said. 

The ceremony also drew the attention of a first-time visitor to 
Washington, Vicki Vidak, a city councilwoman from Rohnert Park,
Calif. 

"I think it's too late, and I wonder why," said Vidak, 46. "But 
better late than never."