The Hero who stood up to the My Lai Massacre (1968)

A whole part of our Vietnam video didn’t end up getting animated until just now, so we posted the extended cut to Patreon. If you want to watch it while supporting our channel, you can check it out here: / simplehistory
Perhaps the most disgraceful event ever in US military history was the My Lai Incident, where hundreds of unarmed civilians lost their lives at the hands of American soldiers. There was at least one American, Hugh Thompson, however, who followed his conscience and, together with his two crew mates, prevented even more casualties in this horrific incident.
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Credit:
Show Created by Daniel Turner (B.A. (Hons) in History, University College London)
Script: Robert de Graaf
Narrator: Chris Kane
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[@Simplehistory]

A whole part of our Vietnam video didn’t end up getting animated until just now, so we posted the extended cut to Patreon. If you want to watch it while supporting our channel, you can check it out here: www.patreon.com/join/simplehistory

[@pyeitme508]

ok

[@SerinityMajovcheLuen]

Im vietnamese, ignore my name việt nam

[@Randomvideo915]

I can't open link 😢

[@davidspencer8373]

Like video

[@collinpearson5456]

This story is fake and the American troops. Were not targeting innocent people

[@Unhuman143]

A soldier who goes to war is tough, a soldier who goes to war and keeps his humanity its a true strong warrior

[@user-wi9se5ll3j]

Lies, we are animals and to keep balance in the circle of life we must act so. 1 billion is to much for the earth, we act like we own her when she is the one who created us. She’s crying and must be saved from humanity, humanity is a lie, it’s evil and destructive.

[@ClipperValiant]

@@user-wi9se5ll3jand your doing so much by sitting in your chair replying to this video, bravo 😂

[@user-wi9se5ll3j]

@@ClipperValiant thank you, both his and my comment are doing the same thing though. Spreading our world views. And yes even you are doing the same thing.

[@ClipperValiant]

@@user-wi9se5ll3j you are actually really mature, good on you man, you have my respect 👍

[@user-wi9se5ll3j]

@@ClipperValiant and same with, your response shows me that weather you like my thoughts or not you still took the time to respond. Unlike other people who read the first few words and hate write.

[@soulknife20]

Yup. He was a true American hero and got hosed for doing the right thing. It takes true courage to stand up for the right thing. Thompson did, suffered for it, but in the end, he knew he did the right thing

[@shawnofdanaukota3843]

Just like Joe Darby too.

[@halothere6995]

As well as a Vietnamese hero

[@happygomonkey]

imagine being that guy when you get to heaven

[@user-wi9se5ll3j]

If only the Indigenous people in America knew about the brave Vietnamese people…

[@CrossOfBayonne]

He wasn't the only one, During WWII Felix Sparks stopped the Dachau massacre in Germany when the 157th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division shot Waffen SS guards when the camp was liberated in April 1945 and I did mention earlier this in the Biscari video

[@Kyle-nz8fu]

A strong man stands up for himself. A stronger man stands up for others

[@PROVOCATEURSK]

The strongest man builds utopia with the working class.

[@michaela3441]

Barnyard. I definitely respect that reference 🫡🫡

[@Kyle-nz8fu]

@@michaela3441 🫡

[@Voidi-Void]

​@@PROVOCATEURSKThe weakest man pretends to do that while abusing the system to make a utopia only for himself.

[@ExoticXOXO]

I always loved that movie

[@BRIZZY-fq5jw]

"if they open fire,then return fire".. that took balls!!

[@PROVOCATEURSK]

I would say he didn´t care about people getting killed.

[@Cthulhuwarlord]

@@PROVOCATEURSKwhat?

[@civilsecuritylite12054]

​@@PROVOCATEURSK Tf are you on, bro?

[@gooddioOH6614]

@@PROVOCATEURSKbro… what you on…

[@sebl9198]

@@PROVOCATEURSK mouthbreather take

[@DialgaMarine3]

It’s sad how the military spent decades slandering him and painting him as a traitor. His actions helped end the war sooner, meaning he not only saved a lot of Vietnamese lives but also many more American troops as well.

[@user-oz1nn3uh6q]

反戦運動の結果多くの両軍の兵士の命を救ったのはもちろん、彼の行動がアメリカ人の名誉を守りました。 どれだけ悲惨で辛い状況の中でも愛と誇りは忘れてはいけません。

[@phucpham-yummytoasty4610]

@@user-oz1nn3uh6q i'll drink to that

[@MrGreen-fi5sg]

​@@user-oz1nn3uh6q Thank you. ❤

[@shanewoody4232]

​@@s0nnyburnettdon't be sour that God gave victory to the Vietnamese for that is the reason the killing Fields in Cambodia stopped and curbed China's power in that region

[@justinwillingale2086]

​@@shanewoody4232 You mean that Vietnam were the most experienced and battle hardened troops by the end of the war with fighting America and when China came around sought to invade Vietnam, Vietnam just wiped them out due to lack of experience Chinese military had no training ECT a lot of reasons china lost.

[@takodahager4165]

My grandpa was a Vietnam vet who served around the same time this happened. And when he was still around he told me how much he was against it. There's always a few good men out there. RIP Grandpa 🫡🇺🇸

[@captainazrale4404]

Glad to know! ❤️

[@PROVOCATEURSK]

Why didn´t he choose prison instead? Going to a foreing country to kill the working class, really?

[@kellychuang8373]

Also can say very bold and also hopefully he didn't meet this guy Miguel Angel "Mike" Valles older cousin to the notorious serial killer Richard Ramirez of the 1980's later on. It would be surprising and horrifying at the same time.

[@Xingmey]

sure he was against it...30 years later...

[@kellychuang8373]

@@Xingmey Can say that's also good to hear since there was something off on that conflict and the guns issued to the troops really can be a problem too along with the rest of the climate there.

[@bigboi2k390]

As a Vietnamese I confirm I heard about some stories similar like this from my grandfather My grandfather was one of the very few young man who get a opportunity to have a good educational and he knows some English at that time, he tell me he heard and saw an American soldier was executed by his captain because he refused to killing all the villagers of my grandfather village, my grandfather didn't remember all the words that soldier use to mock his captain. But my grandfather tell me he will always remember that soldier last quotes and his disgusting eyes to his captain and his fellow soldiers "you all psychopath". That soldier name is Jared that all my grandfather can remember 😢😢😢😢😢

[@ririlub]

RIP Jared 😔🙏

[@baichenluo7880]

@@ririlub Press F to pay respects

[@suspiciousstew1169]

RIP

[@ririlub]

@@baichenluo7880 f

[@videorandomdiscord1898]

you're lying, it's easy to see that

[@Glacier480]

A true soldier doesn't fight for what he hates infront of him. A true soldier fights for what he loves behind him.

[@Asturian-vm3sk]

And that's exactly why they committed the atrocity, weeks of losing their brothers to VC bushwhackers, and the villagers either being directly responsible for the casualties or helping the ones who were.

[@gary9346]

Yeah that mindset is used to excuse what happened here. The Vietnamese were not "behind" the average American soldier. They were in front of them. And they were hated. Worked with enough Vietnam vets over the years to learn that.

[@laccless]

extremely easy to say

[@RavenPendragon14]

People still refuse to admit that what many of our soldiers love is having power over people's lives with no consequences 😅

[@istoppedcaring6209]

that is however easy to say if you have not seen friends die or be maimed in front of you, suffered the hardships of harsh outdoor living whilst getting harsh punishments for any refusal to carry out orders or even for insulting officers. soldiers are the greatest victims of war, they suffer all the worst of it and that needs to finally be recognized and they need to be given priviliged status in return for orderly conduct, not some crumbs thrown their way but litterally freeing them from income taxes for frontline combat soldiers as well as preference for government employment. it is equallity in it's purest form.

[@themanwhosleptin2517]

William Calley died in April 2024. He was the only soldier convicted for involvement in the massacre. He was sentenced to life imprisonment but his sentence kept on being reduced until he was pardoned after a few years of house arrest. Many people, including politicians and media figures, supported Calley and befriended him. He died at the age of 80. Unfortunately, Hugh Thompson and Lawrence Colburn were treated very poorly. They received death threats, were harassed, and were assigned increasingly dangerous missions. It’s unfortunate Thompson, Andreotta, and Colburn were recognized for their heroism so late, but history will remember them for being true heroes.

[@inoribettor]

meh its alright, william calley got cursed in life, he was 5 foot 3 lol

[@heruiksanudin8942]

USA values always supporting war criminal and cursing good people

[@zap9021]

@@inoribettor5 foot 3 shouldn’t have lasted 80 years

[@sgt_slobber.7628]

Stand up for what’s right, and you will be Blasted for it by Everyone in all directions!!!!!:/

[@comettamer]

It takes a particularly tough breed of soldier to stand up against his own comrades to stop a senseless bloodbath. Glory to Hugh Thompson and his crew. May they rest peacefully.

[@PROVOCATEURSK]

The only heroes refused to go to that war and to kill the working class.

[@Asturian-vm3sk]

It wasn't senseless, many of the men and some of the women in the village were in fact VC, they were the one setting up sharpened pungi sticks and landmine's along the trails the US troops patrolled; how come the villagers were never injured by those traps? they walked those same trails as the GI's did; either they were very lucky or they knew exactly where they were. And after weeks of casualties the US troops began noticing that, and its not hard to conclude who were the one's responsible.

[@dreadnought4141]

Doesn’t change the fact that this was an atrocity clear and simple. They were unarmed combatants, women and children. Reducing ourselves to that kind of slaughter makes us no better than the enemies we’re supposed to stand up to. What’s the point of fighting if you can’t even preserve the values you are supposed to hold dear?

[@YoutubeCO713]

​@@Asturian-vm3skclown

[@comettamer]

@@Asturian-vm3sk So, because some of them may have been VC, the whole village had to go? Nah, that's some bullshit. There was no reason to slaughter the whole village. Just as there's no reason for the indiscriminate bombing practices the US (and other countries) engage in today.

[@zacharyballif3212]

I was reading about the lieutenant who instigated the massacre that during the trial it was revealed he couldn't read a map. As I understand it My Lai is a major topic at Westpoint when it comes to the subject of failure in leadership and what kinds of horrific atrocities can result from it.

[@jay_mw]

A lieutenant that can't read a map is to be expected.

[@mathiasbartl903]

What about Ernest Medina, a man who served 12 years as an enlisted man and the graduated top of his class in ocs.

[@Raindiation]

Can’t spell lost without LT

[@teuflhunden]

​@@jay_mw fucking butter bars

[@harrisondejoux8520]

​@teuflhunden of course it was.

[@vladanlausevic1733]

The thing is that the whole Vietnam War is one of the most shameful events in history

[@PROVOCATEURSK]

Captalists will always try to destroy the working class.

[@phucpham-yummytoasty4610]

Indeed, they acted on the premise of The Red Scare, which, became untrue during the few next years. So all that bloodshed, all that strife, was all for nothing.

[@gambitacio]

@@phucpham-yummytoasty4610Yet the workers parts are the ones that let their workers die the most.

[@viktoriyaserebryakov2755]

@@phucpham-yummytoasty4610 Documents are out bro, that's not why it happened at all.

[@aznmochibunny]

Based upon what I have learned, it seems that Ho Chi Minh sent the US president letters requesting for help but was repeatedly ignored, so he turned to communism. The Vietnam War was a fight for freedom against French colonialism until the US butt in on the pretense of The Red Scare. The Vietnamese people don't even refer to that war as the Vietnam War, but as the American War.

[@blue-skyuniform]

has the US ever apologized for what happened in My Lai Massacre the US often says what other countries have done in the past, but the US sometimes seems blind to what they have done

[@teddybier6103]

Of course not… they are the superior brave ones and all the others are the baddies…

[@jaredreyna3773]

Nop it’s like tryna get China to apologize for the Tiananmen Square Massacre

[@halothere6995]

They talk about what Britain, france, China, Russia even canada did but never what they did

[@thunderconcerto9807]

They didn't.

[@somedude9383]

Every country does this, it shouldn't surprise you

[@johnnicastro5931]

It is so brutal to think Andreotta had just seen a horrible display of evil and then was killed only 3 weeks after. What is even worse is when you look at the gravestone in the video you realize he was only 20 years old.

[@Aaron-fb6mb]

Jesus. May he Rest in peace. It’s really sad he should’ve been up there on that stage with them

[@timminh468]

There are good men in evil armies and there are evil men in good armies - Tim Minh

[@Banana_behind_the_slaughter]

Rest in piece.

[@blackbird7781]

What is even worse is there is evidence the military purposely got him killed

[@theravingtimes9582]

Probably one of the most tragic parts of this story is that Andreotta was eventually killed by the Viet Cong one month after risking his life to help Thompson and Colburn prevent the My Lai Massacre from escalating or being hidden from the public. He was only 20 years of age at the time of his death.

[@dutchmilk]

viet cong?

[@Henry1527k]

He stops the soldiers from killing civilians, not the Viet Cong. Thats why he was still Viet Congs enemy

[@REALMARCHINADER]

​@@dutchmilkThe Viet Cong was an epithet and umbrella term to call the communist-driven armed movement and united front organization in South Vietnam

[@jokodihaynes419]

"But the thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies"-Lawkeeper Equity Mlp Ace Attorney EOJ

[@DarkTaylick]

That’s why I have no friends, can’t be stabbed in the back if everyone is your enemy

[@lukayaroslav9914]

Nah, betrayal always comes from enemies disguised as friends.

[@MoGumbo_]

This is like saying "like saying the worst part about theft is that you lose something". Fake deep

[@verticalflyingb737]

​@@MoGumbo_ I mean, it's from a video game series that involves you interrogating a parrot.

[@slmb_b]

@@MoGumbo_sbeve

[@bunbunwarrobots4744]

I’m a Vietnamese and i was learned in history class about My Lai massacre, it was terrifying, mad respect for the soldier who didn’t want to participate in that massacre

[@ZHBraden13]

Did they teach you about the Đắk Sơn massacre?

[@RoyJNg]

@@ZHBraden13 I learned it from my grandparents as well as stories Viet Cong would torture villages, burn every religious sites and etc. As for the US soldiers, my grandparents spoke very highly of them and said the soldiers treated them with respect and decency. Otherwise compared to the My Lai "massacre", the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese killed more Vietnamese then the US soldiers. When the Tet offensive started, the first people that were killed were actually the Vietnamese people. Not downplaying the war crimes of what the US soldiers did, but the North and Viet Cong were worst.

[@QuanPham-ty2xl]

​@@ZHBraden13 they teach us alot, like a lot, you don't know how many village in has been massacre in Vietnam, many has been destroy by bombs or napalm, so many monuments, so many death

[@NgocTruc-zi8mh]

@@ZHBraden13cho tôi biết thêm thông tin

[@user-oh6eg4ny3h]

Hugh Thompson and his helicopter crew were not the only guys that didn’t participate in it. Some of calleys men in my lai didn’t follow orders. One soldier told calley strait to his face he wasn’t gonna kill any of the civilians and calley pointed a gun at him threatening to kill the soldier if he didn’t kill any civilians, The soldier said to calley “if you think you can get away with it go ahead and kill me. Calley lowered his weapon and went off to kill other civilians. Another soldier made an excuse to calley telling calley that the soldier was gonna “secure the outer part of my lai” when in reality he was just going to the outer perimeter of my lai just so he doesn’t have to kill civilians. Another example in my lai was the only casualty by us forces in my lai. A soldier who intentionally shot himself in the foot and made a lie up that his gun discharged and got medically evacuated from the area. He said he shot his foot was because “I didn’t want to kill any civilians” In a different situation with the controversial group tiger force. One amercian soldier witnessed his men killing civilians and he got so angry he threatened to kill his men if they shot any more. He reported it to his superiors the killings but the superiors instead said “he was the crazy one”

[@theflaggedyoutuberii4311]

Shout out to Atlanta; One of our brothers stopped the tragedy from continuing.

[@Scp-682-]

I am also from Atlanta and this man is a saint.

[@nathyboi21]

Respect to Georgia (the state)

[@user-eh9op4mq4s]

@@nathyboi21 Respect to Georgia (the OG one)

[@HistoroAIReels]

Hugh Thompson was a true hero who endured great hardships to do the right thing. Not everyone has the courage to stand up for what's right. Thompson did what very few can - he chose to stand by his principles, no matter how much he had to struggle for it.

[@user-oh6eg4ny3h]

There were some soldiers in my lai as well that didn’t get involved in killing civilians. One example was the only casualty in my lai by us soldiers. A soldier who shot himself in the foot and made a lie up that his gun discharged. So he got medically evacuated. Another soldier told calley his superior strait to his face he wouldn’t kill civilians. Calley threatened to kill the soldier if he didn’t follow orders but the soldier said to calley “if you think you can get away with it go ahead and shoot me” Calley lowered his weapon and went off the kill more civilians.

[@HistoroAIReels]

@@user-oh6eg4ny3h This is a powerful reminder that even in the midst of horrific events, there are individuals who stand up for what is right, regardless of the personal risk. The courage of those soldiers who refused to participate in the My Lai Massacre is a testament to the strength of human conscience and morality. Their actions deserve to be remembered and honored. Thank you for shedding light on these acts of bravery.

[@user-oh6eg4ny3h]

@@HistoroAIReels yea there’s a misconception that whenever a massacre happens that everyone that was there commits the war crime when that’s not always true that there will be people who want nothing to do with it. A separate situation for example was even in ukraine where a squad of Russians were ordered by superiors to kill civilians and two members of the squad refused and one of them was killed and the other was wounded by a grenade that his superiors threw. He played dead and the civilians that survived the kill pit pulled out the Russian out and saved him who didn’t partake in the killings after the Russians soldiers left the area.

[@HistoroAIReels]

@@user-oh6eg4ny3h "Absolutely, it's essential to recognize that not everyone involved in such horrific events is responsible for the crimes committed. This story from Ukraine is a powerful example of individuals standing up against orders and showing remarkable bravery. It’s crucial to remember these nuances and not paint everyone with the same brush."

[@user-kr7yh8vw9m]

Well done Simple History, well done. Once again you outdid yourself. The My Lai Massacre was truly a disgraceful atrocity that shouldn't be taken for granted especially for all the civilians who have lost their loved ones. May Hugh Thompson and his crewmates rest in peace, they were true heroes🕊🫡.

[@Asturian-vm3sk]

Must be nice living in sunny La La land.

[@ffffffff5500]

​@@Asturian-vm3skMost coherent comment ever

[@GlitchBoy-ws5in]

Don't vote for politicians with ideologies that lead to this s**tshow then, but it seems like the USA didn't learn its lesson and voted people who dehumanized Minorities like Vietnamese and support wars.

[@Opandort]

Tôi là người Việt Nam và tôi rất kính trọng người lính High Thompson này, cảm ơn anh vì đã dũng cảm đứng lên vì sự thật

[@user-oh6eg4ny3h]

Some of the soldiers involved in my lai didn’t follow orders to massacre civilians, one soldier told calley he refused and calley threatened to shoot but the soldier still refused and taunted calley saying “if you think you can get away with it shoot me” Another soldier made up a excuse to calley saying he was gonna secure the perimeter on the outer ends of my lai when in reality the soldier was using it as a excuse to not kill any civilians. One soldier the only casualty in my lai by the amercians shot himself in the foot saying it discharged by accident. so he can be medically evacuated but in reality he didn’t want to shoot civilians so he used his wound as a way to get out.

[@jokodihaynes419]

"I was just following orders"-The Nuremberg Trials

[@Fordo007]

The defense that only works if you win the war.

[@tiagomonteiro130]

You mean the Kangaroo court that blamed Germany for the Katyne massacre while the Soviets actually did it.

[@barccy]

@@tiagomonteiro130 M&R Pact document with secret agreement conveniently turns up just in time for the trial. It proves Germany is guilty of conspiring to invade Poland, but somehow doesn't result in indictment of the USSR co-conspirator as also guilty of war crimes.

[@capncake8837]

@@tiagomonteiro130 Germany wasn’t actually found guilty of committing it, though.

[@viktoriyaserebryakov2755]

@@barccy Well of course. The Soviets and the Americans were at odds post WW2, so why do you think they let the Soviets off the hook for their crimes? Because the Soviets let the Brits and Americans off for their crimes.

[@BrowncoatGofAZ]

Not hard to see how people turned against the military after this atrocity, especially when they tried to cover up. Shame everyone else in the military got lumped together with the butchers, though.

[@MajorJakas]

Between this, the corpse mules created out of our own soldiers, operations such as Northwoods, Earnest Voice, and Artichoke, and the entire career of people such as Michael Aquino, are big enough problems to justify the demonization of all service members. True patriots get jobs and build their own country. Opportunistic children join the military today for the various benefits.

[@MajorJakas]

Shame on our military. Shame on our country. Shame on both our living and dead patriots. Shame.

[@justaperson3641]

Yes it was cia propaganda for sure 👍🏻 My uncle fought in Vietnam and he told me that he heard about it and everyone said they were mad about it. So if everyone is mad then why did it happen? Feds. That’s what.

[@BrowncoatGofAZ]

@@justaperson3641 that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

[@brano13177]

​@@justaperson3641If you think a normal person can't commit atrocities like this of their own volition in times of war: your deluded and in denial Things like this happened in prior wars long before the concept of a "fed" Quit chewing tinfoil so you can lie to your ego

[@Shaosprojects]

Can I just say that the animation quality has gotten infinitely better? The 180 degree spin at the start of the video, Thompson's expressions, the depiction of the My Lai memorial, it's all top notch!

[@workingguy6666]

At this point I'm wondering if some of those guilty "Army" officers were actually CIA. This seems like a tactic the CIA would have used at the time.

[@kremepye3613]

🎯

[@ronaldjewell5426]

It never was an official war !! The whole war was CIA! As about every conflict afterwards!! Skuttlebutt that Biden laden was employed by CIA since Russia invaded Afghanistan, same with Saddam insane, Noriega of Panama ( he wore an airborne patch as did his elite guards did after a buddy help train them, don't forget Cambodia, Iran, Cuba!!!

[@officercat7907]

2 hours later: (this comment is not available)

[@elvenkind6072]

They were ordinary soldiers, all though heavily stressed after long "search and destroy" missions in the jungle (and even longer ones after this incident). Vietnam was a mostly CIA-affair in the start, under Kennedy.

[@عليياسر-ك9ظ]

​@elvenkind6072 Intelligence: Do you want the man to be killed because he is watching us?

[@QuangPhúcTrương-n5q]

I am a Vietnamese, when I learned about the My Lai massacre. I feel very indignant at what those damn American soldiers did to my people. I also thank the American soldiers who turned their backs on their comrades to save innocent people. Not all American soldiers are evil.

[@BrianLee1990-l4k]

Thank you for understanding the situation. It's happening right now in the middle east.

[@jannickchristensen101]

This is crazy, i just saw a clips on the my lai massacre a few days ago and thaouht to myself " man it would be cool to see simple history do and episode on Hugh thompson" bravo gentleman! Bravo!

[@kellychuang8373]

Yes even more insane there were a lot of others as well said the serial killer Richard Ramirez had a relative who really relished in practices such as that only much more during his time anyway really Google and YT all you can about that and also contributed to this guys killing spree.

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

The incident that made a lot of us with Vietnamese blood look at the whole "Needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" with a head tilt.

[@KESTRAL23]

are you vietnamese? :)

[@lucaswatanabe9429]

I am

[@SeoulMan]

I'm Korean American myself. Had the Korean War gone on longer, stuff like this could have happened too.

[@timngim583]

@@SeoulMan But yet South Koreans today behave like they're Americans

[@nixey738]

​@@lucaswatanabe9429give that white man some Vietnamese pssy for saving your people. This is why so many bwc get viet ladies

[@intersubjective7129]

Thompson was a hero, there is no dispute on that, but he wasn't the reason it was uncovered. The internal investigations he initiated had actually stalled while he was still deployed. Ronald Lee Ridenhour deserves credit for his unrelenting pursuit of this incident. He was just a door gunner for a recon unit unrelated to Calley’s when he heard the rumors about what happened. Out of his own initiative he pursued the story by tracking down everyone who was spreading the story within the army at the time until he found a soldier in the hospital who had his own plans to murder Calley and his squad over what happened. Ridenhour talked him out of it, but he became the first key witness to the crime. Ridenhour was then sent back to the states where he followed up by writing to the president and every congressmen he could with all his evidence. Only one took up the issue, a democrat from Arizona launched a congressional committee and from there it snow balled. Ronald L. Haeberle came out with his photos of the incident and Nixon couldn't cover it up after that. What Thompson did took courage to stand up against such evils, and what Ridenhour did took audacity to seek it out and expose it.

[@intersubjective7129]

@@thecursed01 I totally get it, english is a hard second language, not like Mandarin or Arabic but still very difficult for some people. lol

[@Asiandiskool]

Being half Vietnamese and hearing this massacre for the first time, I'm just like wtf? 😬 What really bothers me is that so many people participated and only one person got convicted and only served 3 years of house arrest. What kind of justice is that?

[@PROVOCATEURSK]

Who taught you that democracy and capitalism care about justice?

[@Asiandiskool]

@@PROVOCATEURSK Countries as a whole don't care about justice if they're able to sweep it under the rug.

[@your_-_mom]

@@PROVOCATEURSKmillions of German citizens were raped and killed by communists

[@aleisterlavey9716]

Regular War dynamics

[@stevenschnepp576]

"What kind of justice is that?" It really isn't. That's part of why that era is looked at as one of the most shameful in US military history.

[@pootis388]

I like how the thumbnail had Sergent Barnes on it lol

[@judyhopps9380]

The interesting thing about Barnes is he's probably right. The village had weapons, an NVA/VC bunker complex a mile away, and one of his men had been killed by an assassin and tied to a tree there. The question is if the villagers were willingly or unwillingly helping the Communists.

[@pootis388]

@@judyhopps9380 yeah fr

[@Long_cter_VN]

I will always be grateful to Mr. Thompson for saving the Vietnamese people and speaking out about the My Lai massacre.

[@jankusthegreat9233]

I wonder how many were covered up

[@YahTemple]

We'll never know but one is already too many.

[@AB-gk8cs]

Many. If you want to read about that topic, I can recommend f. e. "War without fronts" by Bernd Greiner.

[@Germain-ys8zz]

I wonder how many north Vietnam covered up because everyone seems to just look past their atrocities that seemingly magically caused what was likely half of south Vietnam to flee or die trying maybe something to do with their re education camps but we will never know

[@phucpham-yummytoasty4610]

Yeah, in My Lai case, there were survivor willing to told the story. Who knows how many massacre happened without any witness to tell the story

[@theotv5522]

The ironic thing is as a Vietnamese myself, this incident was not included in our academic history books. That’s how communism works. They hate being portrayed in such weakness despite being constantly attacked by US bombings. Most stories taught to kids in schools are basically propaganda. I have to look up online to know stories like this even existed.

[@sonh788]

All the atrocities still not officially acknowledged today

[@MachinedFace88ttv]

0:37 ahhh yes the classic playground game of jumping in place , the animators really have gone above and beyond. .

[@tingispingis]

Imagine getting offended over a 5 second clip of cartoons jumping in a history video

[@MachinedFace88ttv]

@@tingispingis just a lil constructive crit, i thought it was a lil funny is all . GGs

[@Kakaový_Chlebíček]

@@tingispingisbro actually took it seriously 😭

[@jokodihaynes419]

My grandpa was still training when this happened he was disgusted when he found out

[@kojiisme]

I grew up just 10km from the Mỹ Lai Massacre site, so this tragedy is deeply personal to me. Hugh Thompson’s bravery in exposing the truth shines a light on the brutal reality of what happened to innocent civilians. But Mỹ Lai was just one of many massacres-countless others occurred in places like Mộ Đức(not very far from My Lai) and across Vietnam that remain lesser-known. These hidden atrocities are a painful reminder of the widespread suffering endured by my people, and it’s crucial we never forget.

[@kylebrown2314]

Thats why conscription is stupid. How can you expect people to follow the rules and not commit crimes against humanity when they don't want to be there in the first place?

[@jokodihaynes419]

"History can say whatever it wants but rarely does it remember anything correctly"-Lawkeeper Equity Mlp Ace Attorney EOJ

[@armannstraughter3296]

Lol!

[@WarPigstheHun]

Not this time. Thanks to our free press every American child is taught starting at 8 years old, that we wrongfully invaded Vietnam, and even had slavery longer than most European countries and STILL have racism issues to this day, and so on and so on.

[@ronanchristiana.belleza9270]

Better than mah VicTORS writes history

[@fuxkag3908]

I don't understand are you arguing this never happened

[@LokiTheGodofMischief]

Yeah this wasn't the ONLY incident in Vietnam

[@thecursed01]

it was one that got made known to the public and had someone stand up to it happening, unlike most other incidents. that's what makes it more memorable. not that the massacre happened, but that finally somebody had the cojones to confront his fellows

[@LokiTheGodofMischief]

@@thecursed01 According to American officials this was the only incident of American troops committing war crimes but serial killer Richard Ramirez his cousin also did heinous things.

[@thecursed01]

@@LokiTheGodofMischief officially maybe. reminds me of: what is the difference between a family with kids in a car, a wedding celebration and a terrorist camp? don't tell me, tell the american pilots!

[@someguy1865]

War crimes are committed by every side. Allies or Axis, communist or democratic, central power or entente

[@jaymoar3561]

Two wrongs don’t make it right, Jesus says to turn the other cheek.

[@PROVOCATEURSK]

@@jaymoar3561 Have you heard Jesus say it? Do you have it on a video? Or someone said that in a book?

[@nguachi3n]

Tell me a case abound Vc?

[@Silvreina]

You can't compare Allies and Axis. There is clear difference between the SS slaughtering millions vs. A few US divisions mowing down Waffen-SS

[@maximilianodelrio]

​@@PROVOCATEURSKare you always this dense and annoying?

[@bedraggle4149]

how did bro pull out an entire pitchfork out of a pocket

[@crushingvanessa3277]

Thanks for making a visual of this. I want to make a 1/72 model of the Helo with Thompson arguing with Brooks, I thought of when he was arguing with Callie.

[@bretfulton3975]

When I was little I had an uncle who flipped tf out when there was rice for dinner. He got super crazy. Come to find out he bayoneted a vc fighter and cut open his stomach and rice poured out so he went into full on PTSD mode

[@Aaron-fb6mb]

Jesus

[@Aaron-fb6mb]

I’m curious what did he say at dinner? Was it more anger or fear or sorrow or what? I hope he’s at peace today

[@bretfulton3975]

He got semi violent he chucked his plate got up went outside and was crying really hard. He stopped stared off into nothing with this blank face and told 8 year old me the story. He said dude chucked a grenade and killed 2 of his friends so he charged him and stuck him. Rice was in his belly still whole. Then my mom said he's to young to be hearing this. He said he will be a man one day and that was it mom made me go play somewhere else.

[@oogieboogie5941]

​@@bretfulton3975 Shout out to your mom

[@brianmarcum8306]

Calley has passed away! It is not a loss to mankind!

[@Mr-Vyn]

Thank this person who stood up for my people I don't know either anybody in my family has either died or survived the my Lai massacre

[@TheWarchiefZekeJaeger]

5:33 That goes hard, ngl Goddamn

[@afifzahiruddinrohaizan52]

This is what war really does to us. Not for protection but for killing. Frustration, stress, and blood thirst turn what claim to be honorary soldiers into monsters.

[@mcwildstyle9106]

Who’s here after hearing Lt. Calley died?

[@tranhlee]

„war… war never changes“ 😢

[@ShadeOps45]

I've been watching this channel for years and it's awesome to see how the animation has changed to the point you could do a 360° around the character!

[@user-nf8id6di9b]

yeah, they have improved quite a lot

[@emgab1481]

Nice to see that you somewhat returned to your simplistic non cartoonist animation and serious topics

[@AmericanBrit9834]

The United State's past is far from spotless but the My Lai massacre is absolutely inexcusable.

[@marcoeugenio1021]

God Bless Maj Hugh Thompson, for helping the villagers during the My Lai Massacre.

[@PROVOCATEURSK]

If I was a god I wouldn´t allow people to command me what to do. Be careful.

[@thetrueyuu8474]

Frustration begets rage, rage begets violence beyond all means.

[@GunnerHeatFire]

I Genuinely adore these videos. Most of these stories that aren’t taught in education, should at least be mentioned in most American schools.

[@radajradaj]

7:18 epic reference

[@jokodihaynes419]

Ace Attorney Forever

[@radajradaj]

woah 4 likes for 23 minutes

[@railfanlynx]

Sgt Cally was a brakeman for the FEC railway during the strikes in the 1960s

[@railfanlynx]

(FEC = Florida East Coast Railway)

[@kremepye3613]

So he was a Scab too, makes sense, man firmly hard boot in his mouth, wonder if he was a CIA asset.

[@railfanlynx]

Maybe simple history could cover the Florida east coast railway strikes of the 1960s in exchange for a ton of discret WW2 operations?

[@tranhuyuc8987]

how long has it been, a vietnam war story?

[@davidjordan697]

You would wonder how many My Lais never got reported.

[@Peter_Turbo4]

Around half of Vietnam’s are estimated to be the result of such events.

[@bilbonob548]

I mean, we only need to look at how the US government responded to wikileaks to see that the general transparency of military actions hasn't exactly changed.

[@appletherapy]

It happened easily because the real enemy was dressed up as civilians and used civilians as human shields is my guess.

[@rawrmonster6782]

@@appletherapy no it happened easily because the american military is just as fond of massacring civilians as every other military. men that sign up to kill others arent exactly good men

[@nifty6970]

@@appletherapy Do you think you should shoot through hostages in a heist, too?

[@GreyTales405]

Worst military accident probably have to be what's called "the sand creek massacre"

[@pyeitme508]

Yeah he did.

[@ericmadsen7470]

The animation is getting better since Simple History's early days. Great Job.

[@kellychuang8373]

That conflict was really a cluster f$%^ and messed up a lot of soldiers coming back home too.

[@Peter-kk6rg]

Respect from New Zealand

[@SunnyMitten]

Order 67 looks wild. 💀

[@Rurezan]

yo i found ya

[@CRebel-by9fb]

To stand up to not only your own friends, but particularly friends so loyal and also so dangerous they are willing to kill for you takes a breed of courage rare even among men that have courage.

[@hoaile1507]

To be honest, with what i learn from school this is not the only massacre happen in this war, but the only one people know about

[@user-pj3ch8ou2h]

Hearing this story brought tears to my eyes. I only knew about the My Lai massacre but didn’t know there was a small group of Americans who prevented more killings of civilians. Salute to Hugh Thompson and his crew.

[@Thrashmetalman]

Sadly most US citizens dont learn about this or care.

[@anthony_depaz]

They are too blinded by patriotism

[@Sovietman1922]

I remember when we learned this in 5th grade the massacre still haunts me and Hugh Thompson still holds my respect

[@HeyCarlosYTBR]

Many Vietnamese probably call him "The Hero of My Life" instead of "Lai."

[@Xingmey]

it's not even a funny pun

[@awp-erator4525]

​@@Xingmeylol

[@UnluckyCantaloupe4]

The world needs more good men like Hugh Thompson

[@domfortune1558]

Thank you, Hugh Thompson❤❤❤❤

[@Croissant-123]

Even in the times of War, soldiers still have to follow strict rules but these rules get forgotten when anger and revenge is placed on the soldiers minds

[@grandstrategist3133]

8:17 I like how they suddenly just pulled Pitchfork and torches out there Butt

[@juanindojorgijanad782]

Hugh Thompson was a true American folk hero for stopping the My Lai massacre.

[@Pooly_Drawn_Ghost]

A true American badass

[@keiththorpe9571]

Lt. Calley (the unit commander of the outfit which perpetrated the My Lai Massacre) died here just a couple of weeks ago. Guess he's now, at long last, answering for his crimes...for realz!

[@datniggaeazye.5968]

wow

[@PROVOCATEURSK]

So you believe that god should never stop any evil? Sounds evil.

[@themanformerlyknownascomme777]

least Calley admited that he made a horrible mistake later in life (took a couple decades, but better late then never I guess)

[@milkywayish9315]

Truly Inspirational

[@luisemoralesfalcon4716]

The hardest decisions take valor.

[@churclan000]

During the VN War the US did bombings in Cambodia and claimed they killed a mass number of VC and NVA as it was really…civilians. Lots of cover ups during this war

[@angryGinger62]

"I was told by others to do thus...or virtue was not convienient at the time...this will not surfice" - King Baldwin

[@No-name823]

Thank bro for doing clip about vietnam history ♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@duyphan4617]

Cảm ơn ông, ngài Thompson Thank you, Mr Thompson. 😢 🇻🇳

[@user-oh6eg4ny3h]

Some of the soldiers involved in my lai didn’t follow orders to massacre civilians, one soldier told calley he refused and calley threatened to shoot but the soldier still refused and taunted calley saying “if you think you can get away with it shoot me” Another soldier made up a excuse to calley saying he was gonna secure the perimeter on the outer ends of my lai when in reality the soldier was using it as a excuse to not kill any civilians. One soldier the only casualty in my lai by the amercians shot himself in the foot saying it discharged by accident. so he can be medically evacuated but in reality he didn’t want to shoot civilians so he used his wound as a way to get out.

[@duyphan4617]

@@user-oh6eg4ny3h yes. we acknownledged them being kind human among monsters.

[@user-oh6eg4ny3h]

@@duyphan4617 yea this was pure evil what happened with the civilians

[@Micahtron2000]

I heard this guy speak at my local church when I was in my twenties.

[@SuperODST1]

100 years earlier, Captain Silas Soule and Lieutenant Joseph Cramer did a similar act of heroism. In 1864, the 1st Colorado Cavalry massacred and mutilated nearly 500 Cheyenne and Arapaho non-combatants in the horrific Sand Creek Massacre. Captain Soule and Lieutenant Cramer were witnesses. They not only refused to participate, they kept their men from getting involved, and blew the whistle on it despite threats to their lives. The massacre was so horrific congress got involved, calling the perpetrators "monsters in the shape of men", and multiple groups decried its brutality. They even offered reparations to the natives! Soule testified against his former CO, despite threats to his life. He was murdered nearly six months after the massacre, almost certainly on the orders of that former officer. To this day, the letters Cramer and Soule's letters that blew the whistle are still read by the Arapaho and Cheyenne people every year on the anniversary of the massacre.

[@gary9346]

Didn't learn about this. Here's hoping this channel does something on it.

[@SuperODST1]

@@gary9346 It's one of the few times the US government actually had a decent response to atrocities against native Americans. It wasn't much in hard work, but the massive public and political outcry was significant in showing how "man of their time" nonsense is indeed nonsense.

[@user-oh6eg4ny3h]

Reminds me of a situation in the ukraine war where a squad of Russians were ordered to kill a whole bunch of ukraine civilians and 2 members of the squad refused and the superior thrown a grenade at them for disobeying and killed one and the other was wounded played dead. The soldier who played dead in the kill pit was saved by some Ukrainian civilians who also played dead until the Russian troops left. The Ukrainian civilians would report to ukraine soldiers who came by later and tell them the action the soldier took in not killing the civilians.

[@user-oh6eg4ny3h]

Reminds me of a situation in the ukraine war where a squad of Russians were ordered to kill a whole bunch of ukraine civilians and 2 members of the squad refused and the superior thrown a grenade at them for disobeying and killed one and the other was wounded played dead. The soldier who played dead in the kill pit was saved by some Ukrainian civilians who also played dead until the Russian troops left. The Ukrainian civilians would report to ukraine soldiers who came by later and tell them the action the soldier took in not killing the civilians.

[@user-oh6eg4ny3h]

Cpt soule was a supporter of abolition as well. He didn’t just believe in saving slaves but helping Indians too what a good person

[@mitchellbarton7915]

The sad thing is there are articles of the UCMJ that make it manditory for soldiers like Thompson to stand up against unlawful orders. But when command tells you to do something awful like this, you're branded a traitor for refusing because "it's war."

[@kjnguyen1385]

Lt Calley is dead and he’s completely monster

[@Aka.Aka.]

Thank you for showing this to the public

[@damiencrossley7497]

A man among men!

[@paulohaulo3961]

A man amongst boys*

[@KayMeyer-ii5sm]

It's men like him that made me want to join the military when I turned 18 but unfortunately they said I wasn't good enough because I didn't have my GED yet😢

[@sonicmaster047]

Sad part is this kind of thing is still happening today.

[@civilwildman]

Was this posted in reaction to the passing of William Calley (who was convicted for that event)?

[@GustavoSilva-ny8jc]

2:23 Became a genocide

[@AAAAAA-tj1nq]

Disgusting American War crimes. The fact that veitnamese ally with American now day disgust me

[@notannoyedbird1820]

Thank you Hugh Thompson

[@Bread-nx9fo]

If the Press hadn't been there imagine how they could've gotten away with it, absolutely disgusting.

[@009dracko]

As a Marine, I get it on why those who have been in active combat can snap and start blaming citizens for deaths of your brother's in arms.(Especially when those that you are trying to protect are provided help to the enemy, out of fear. Or are complicit with the enemy all together.)

[@Germain-ys8zz]

Not to mention the north Vietnamese didn’t exactly respect the rules of war

[@009dracko]

@@Germain-ys8zz True, very true.

[@nrsrymj]

You should blame the people in power who send you to die for profit.

[@Germain-ys8zz]

@@nrsrymj what do they gain by going to war? War cost money, resources and as it did in this case cause a major political issue what do they gain it’s not support it’s not money or resources if anything they lose profits everyone loses profits

[@bamantioindrahidayat1165]

​@@Germain-ys8zzwrong it's both politcal and economy reason and the best business you ever get in human history is through war so war generated more income than consume it so yes it profited from it

[@DoNotImpose]

we need so much more of this through out the military and police force