Ernest Medina, key figure in My Lai Massacre, dies at 81

SN (Join to see) - There were witnesses. One chopper pilot, Hugh Thompson, Jr., told his door gunner to fire on Americans if they attempted to stop his rescue efforts of civilians, and reported all he saw to his CO. I was taught to follow the UCMJ and Geneva Convention. Most of the perpetrators have admitted their own culpability. Any commanding officer that covered this up deserved harsh court martial. One General lost a star and had a DSM stripped for covering up the incident. One 2nd Lieutenant was convicted which in and of itself is shameful. The excuse, "I was just following orders," just doesn't get it.

We executed Nazis for far less. I will not condone the murder of 504 civilians when three weapons were found.

This is what I saw in the Cleveland Plain Dealer on November 20, 1969. I know many Vietnam vets that despise this just as Hugh Thompson did.

http://media.cleveland.com/plain-dealer/photo/2009/11/my-lai-page-a1---half-page-15ec9996b53962ae.gif

COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen F. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen MAJ James Woods SPC Woody Bullard Sgt Wayne Wood Lt Col Charlie Brown SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SFC Shirley Whitfield CSM Charles Hayden Maj Marty Hogan LTC Greg Henning Maj William W. 'Bill' Price SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT John " Mac " McConnell SSG Jon Hill SGT Jim Arnold CPL Dave Hoover

A very black day/incident for the military. Think he got away with way too much, but eventually we all face our maker.

SGT (Join to see) - Thank you for the history share David.

It takes real personal courage to do what Hugh Thompson Jr. did. Not easy to be a whistleblower in uniform back then. There's a reason "fragging" was mentioned in many war movies and in stories by some Nam Vets. Don't know how true it was but just the rumor mill of such behavior during a war that drafted all kinds of Americans, it definitely sounded feasible to me.

‘ruh

SGT Philip Roncari Well said!

SSG Jon Hill -I was sent to the NCO Academy at Ft Hood after my return from Vietnam,well before the My Lai tragedy but the professionalism and discipline was a constant theme then also.