(no subject)

Hugh Thompson, an Army helicopter pilot who rescued Vietnamese civilians during the My Lai massacre, reported the killings to his superior officers in a rage over what he had seen, testified at the inquiries and received a commendation from the Army three decades later, died yesterday in Alexandria, La. He was 62.

I remember reading an essay Harlan Ellison wrote about My Lai when I was about thirteen. Ellison also wrote about the Kitty Genovese murder-- much different circumstances, but basically another case of 'this could've been stopped if someone had stepped forward'.

Hugh Thompson was someone who stepped forward. I know that I never met him, but I'll miss knowing he's out there.