"When God puts me in critical situations, in God’s power I hope to stand up for what I believe and to speak for those who can’t speak for themselves, no matter the cost,” says The Rev’d Rob Sutherland, CSC, holding an image of US Army Warrant Officer Hugh Thompson (Image supplied)"

“Warrant Officer Thompson’s actions — his moral courage — remind me that the actions of one person standing up for what is right can save lives, can change a war and can change the morality of an Army.  What we do in war matters,” says The Rev’d Rob Sutherland CSC

Please be advised that this content may be distressing for some readers — it includes references to war and a massacre.

I have served in the Australian Army with people of such outstanding physical and moral courage that it is hard to focus on a single person. As a former chaplain, I personally know Australians who have earned the highest awards for bravery and valour. These people have risked, and some have given, their own lives to save others.  I can’t name all the numerous Australian soldiers whose moral courage inspires me — some issues are still being investigated — but this American’s actions are now publicly known.

During the Vietnam War, when US Army soldiers were shooting unarmed Vietnamese women and children in the village of My Lai, US Army Warrant Officer Hugh Thompson, twice landed his helicopter between the US soldiers and civilians to protect the villagers. After dismounting from his helicopter he confronted US Army Officers, even threatening to fire upon any American who shot unarmed civilians. The actions of Hugh Thompson and his two aircrew, Glenn Andreotta and Lawrence Colbum, stopped the massacre and saved lives that day.

Thompson refused to be part of a cover up of the massacre despite the personal cost. He was severely criticised, including by senior officers and Congressmen, and suffered horrendous, degrading personal and family intimidation, including death threats.

Eventually, the My Lai Massacre was acknowledged and 30 years after the massacre Thompson, Andreotta and Colburn’s courage were recognised with the Soldier’s Medal (Andreotta posthumously), the US Army’s highest award “for bravery not involving direct contact with the enemy”. During the 1998 award ceremony, then-Major General Michael Ackerman said: “It was the ability to do the right thing even at the risk of their personal safety that guided these soldiers to do what they did.”

Thompson’s actions are now used as an example of moral courage in officer training in Australia and the USA and have been depicted in books and films.

Warrant Officer Thompson’s actions — his moral courage — remind me that the actions of one person standing up for what is right can save lives, can change a war and can change the morality of an Army.  What we do in war matters.

God calls us to “sing the Lord’s song” even in tough times. When we say nothing we are condoning what is wrong — unless we have the courage to live and tell the world the message, the song that God gives us to sing, then the world will never know God’s love and life and hope.

When God puts me in critical situations, in God’s power I hope to stand up for what I believe and to speak for those who can’t speak for themselves, no matter the cost. Anglican Focus Link below:

 https://anglicanfocus.org.au/2025/10/22/what-courageous-person-inspires-you-and-why%e2%94%83the-revd-rob-sutherland-csc/