We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/someone_you_sho_4.html Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:05:37 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification [Armorer's Updated Note: Rather than link to this post in today's H&I Fires, I decided to just repost it, because some of you don't click the links... yes, I know who you are. Co-blogger Bill is the original author of the post.] I would like to introduce you to someone: CW2 Hugh Thompson. A fellow helicopter pilot from my war... You probably don't recognize his name and you probably don't know what he did, but you will definitely recognize where and when he did it: My Lai, Vietnam--1968. What would you call a man who saw his friends committing murder... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/someone_you_sho_4.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/someone_you_sho_4.html Sun, 06 Jan 2008 10:14:32 -0600 I forgot what I wrote the last time this was posted, so I'll start from zero, here and now. That fellow has an earnest visage. I rate being earnest very highly. He also displayed great moral courage, which is sadly much rarer than physical courage. If more people had more moral courage, maybe we could get by without having to use the physical variety quite so much. R.I.P., Sir. P.s. Oh, he had the physical kind, too, going down to draw fire... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/someone_you_sho_4.html#comment-68309 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/someone_you_sho_4.html#comment-68309 Mon, 07 Jan 2008 00:08:51 -0600 *sigh* I do remember the name, Bill. I remember it because you've written about him before, and with the passion I've come to love, and expect, from you. You're a "do the right thing" guy, just like Thompson. I'm sure there's a special place in heaven for him right now. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/someone_you_sho_4.html#comment-68304 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/someone_you_sho_4.html#comment-68304 Sun, 06 Jan 2008 21:21:10 -0600 John, Well done, Sir. Sadly to say, he was a very rare breed and COMMANDS our respect. This is the lesson of Nuremburg and Watergate, plausable deniability is not a viable defense. This man's heroic action should be drilled into the bone, even into the very marrow of that bone of every American combatant. This covers the whole range. Yes, this includes the contractors and the CIA. Kat, when someone has said it perfectly, you don't add to it. I just want to say, "Thank you. I can not speak for the other vets." I came from that era, coming up on 60. It is very hard to explain those times, but yet we must. I noticed one day, John was making a comment on the "Global War on Terror." He crassed out the word, "Terror" and put in the word, "Whatever." I would suggest a new name, it would be "The Global War on Tyranny." To the both of you, my THANKS! Grumpy http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/someone_you_sho_4.html#comment-68294 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/someone_you_sho_4.html#comment-68294 Sun, 06 Jan 2008 14:45:34 -0600 Real heroes never die, Chief. This man will forever live our memories. As an example of what a really righteous man is, instead of the tin plated imitators we run into on a daily basis. He will continue to be an example, an example a chucklehead like me needs right now, of how a real man does what needs to be done, what it means to be a stand up guy. (And just to fling poo, 'cause I can, now why isn't this guy noted as the hero of My Lai instead of Sy Hersch(who swooped down like a vulture after Ridenhour did basically told everyone who would listen to him about it)? Incroiable.) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/someone_you_sho_4.html#comment-68293 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/someone_you_sho_4.html#comment-68293 Sun, 06 Jan 2008 14:13:51 -0600 "When they did this"...I mean, tried to cover up My Lai or using it as a battering ram against Vietnam and those who served. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/someone_you_sho_4.html#comment-68283 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/someone_you_sho_4.html#comment-68283 Sun, 06 Jan 2008 11:12:00 -0600 Inretelling the story of My Lai, this is the part that gets skipped. Someone had the decency to stand up and say it was wrong. Both the military and our general history minded folks are wrong when they did this. Without this part of the story, there were no heroes and every Vietnam Veteran was tainted with its stink. Without this part of the story, the military and many fine young men took away the moral that it was better to be quiet and take care of things "quietly". They did not learn that this was a lesson for all regarding the possible effects of war and bad leadership. nor learn the final lesson which is that, in an organization as big as the military, nothing will be a secret. By hiding it, they killed the heroes just as much as any anti-war folks. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/someone_you_sho_4.html#comment-68282 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/01/someone_you_sho_4.html#comment-68282 Sun, 06 Jan 2008 11:08:12 -0600