I want to pay hommage to the those within the Armed Forces of America who go above and beyond normal levels of bravery to stand up for the rights of people everywhere. This is why, despite all the crazy foreign policy decisions made by hawks, we non-Americans feel so bound to the common men and women of America. (Can't help but think of Bradley Manning here too).

Hugh Thompson, Army helicopter pilot, with his door-gunner Lawrence Colburn and crew chief Glenn Andreotta came upon U.S. ground troops killing Vietnamese civilians in and around the village of My Lai. According to Chief My Lai prosecutor William Eckhardt, “When Thompson realized what was happening he put his helicopter down, put his guns on Americans, and said he would shoot them if they shot another Vietnamese.”. Both the American public and Vietnam veterans owe a debt of gratitude to these heroes of Mai Lai.

Read more at Suite101: Mai Lai and its Legacy: The Vietnam War Massacre, its Effects, its Heroes and Villains http://www.suite101.com/content/mai-lai-and-its-legacy-a48223#ixzz1HyfnIgiE