Hugh Thompson, Jr.: podcast appearances and interviews

Hugh Thompson Jr. is the program coordinator of the RSAC Conference and serves as the executive chairman of RSA Conference. An Army officer and war hero, he served as a warrant officer in the 123rd Aviation Battalion of the 23rd Infantry Division. Thompson is known for his role in ending the Mỹ Lai massacre on March 16, 1968, by stopping many killings and evacuating Vietnamese civilians alongside his crew. He reported the atrocities to his superiors and took immediate actions to halt the violence, which led to the cessation of ground operations in Sơn Mỹ. In 1970, Thompson testified against those responsible for the massacre, which led to charges against multiple officers and soldiers. While many of the accused were acquitted or pardoned, Thompson faced condemnation and ostracism from parts of the military and the public, and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, alcoholism, divorce, and severe nightmares as a consequence. Despite these hardships, he remained in the Army until 1983 and later worked as a helicopter pilot in the southeastern United States. In 1998, Thompson and his crew members, Glenn Andreotta and Lawrence Colburn, were awarded the Soldier's Medal, the U.S. Army's highest award for bravery not involving direct combat. Thompson and Colburn also returned to Sơn Mỹ to meet with survivors and received the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award in 1999. His experiences and actions continue to be recognized for their moral courage and impact.