perseus
Active member
These extracts are from Philip Zimpardo’s book ‘The Lucifer Effect (how good people turn evil)’ . Zimpardo was the psychologist who defended Chip Frederick, one of those convicted of abuses at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. He cites several cases of servicemen who broke with the pressure of loyalty to their countrymen to serve what they saw as a higher moral purpose. Are they heroes or Villains? Zimpardo thinks the former since it takes courage to break with ones peers and suffer the consequences. Just interested to know what others think who have served in the military.
Joe Darby at Abu Ghraib
These abuses became known when Sergeant Joe Darby U.S. Army Reservist who served as an M.P. at the Abu Ghraib prison, Iraq. After learning of the abuse Darby was the first person to take steps to alert the U.S. military command.
Not everyone thinks what Darby did was the right thing to do. For many, even in his hometown, Darby’s calling attention to the abuses was seen to be unpatriotic, un-American, and faintly even treasonous. He his wife and mother had to remain in military protective custody for several years in the wake of the many retaliation threats they received.
Hugh Thompson at Mai Lai Vietnam
While this massacre was unfolding a helicopter piloted by Warrant officer Hugh Thompson Jr. which was flying overhead to provide air cover set down to help a group of Vietnamese civilians who appeared to be still alive.
As Thomson and his two-man crew returned to their helicopter, they saw Captain Medina and other soldiers running over to shoot the wounded. Thomson flew his helicopter back over My Lai village, where soldiers were about to blow up a hut full of wounded Vietnamese. He ordered the massacre to stop and threatened to open fire with the helicopters heavy machine gun an any American soldier or officer who refused his order. When Thomson ordered that civilians be taken out of the bunker, a lieutenant (who outranked him) countered that they would be taken out with grenades. Thompson replied "I can do better than that, keep your people in place", he then ordered other helicopters to fly in for medical evacuation.
Thompson became persona non-grata in the military and for punishment was required to fly the most dangerous helicopter missions, eventually being shot down and suffering serious injury. In contrast Lieutenant Calley the only person convicted of the atrocity, was treated as a hero in some quarters with a song dedicated to him and being eventually pardoned.
Joe Darby at Abu Ghraib
These abuses became known when Sergeant Joe Darby U.S. Army Reservist who served as an M.P. at the Abu Ghraib prison, Iraq. After learning of the abuse Darby was the first person to take steps to alert the U.S. military command.
Not everyone thinks what Darby did was the right thing to do. For many, even in his hometown, Darby’s calling attention to the abuses was seen to be unpatriotic, un-American, and faintly even treasonous. He his wife and mother had to remain in military protective custody for several years in the wake of the many retaliation threats they received.
Hugh Thompson at Mai Lai Vietnam
While this massacre was unfolding a helicopter piloted by Warrant officer Hugh Thompson Jr. which was flying overhead to provide air cover set down to help a group of Vietnamese civilians who appeared to be still alive.
As Thomson and his two-man crew returned to their helicopter, they saw Captain Medina and other soldiers running over to shoot the wounded. Thomson flew his helicopter back over My Lai village, where soldiers were about to blow up a hut full of wounded Vietnamese. He ordered the massacre to stop and threatened to open fire with the helicopters heavy machine gun an any American soldier or officer who refused his order. When Thomson ordered that civilians be taken out of the bunker, a lieutenant (who outranked him) countered that they would be taken out with grenades. Thompson replied "I can do better than that, keep your people in place", he then ordered other helicopters to fly in for medical evacuation.
Thompson became persona non-grata in the military and for punishment was required to fly the most dangerous helicopter missions, eventually being shot down and suffering serious injury. In contrast Lieutenant Calley the only person convicted of the atrocity, was treated as a hero in some quarters with a song dedicated to him and being eventually pardoned.
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