Qualities of a Good Leader by Jacob

Qualities of a Good Leader by Jacob - August 2013 Scholarship Essay

Battle analysis of the My Lai Massacre taught me several valuable lessons on leadership, duty, responsibility, self-less service, honor, integrity, and personal courage.  These integral values both played a part in the horrible acts that occurred at My Lai as well as the very honorable acts by few.
            The My Lai Massacre was a horrific event that occurred during the Vietnam War.  On March 16th 1968 in the village of Son My between 347 and 504 civilians were massacred by the United States Army.  A joint task force of troops was told by intelligence that the village contained heavily resistant soldiers and no civilians were present.  However, no Viet Cong soldiers were present and the individuals in charge during the raid did not adapt to the conditions on the battlefield during the operation.  The American soldiers were fueled by bad intelligence and anger due to their own losses in recent days.  The Officers in charge that day did not display personal courage to overcome the changes on the battlefield.  The only person who was able to recognize what was occurring on the battlefield was a pilot.  The pilot; Warn Officer 1 Hugh Thompson, a new and low ranking man took displayed personal courage and duty that day.  He landed his aircraft and instructed his crew to open fire on American soldiers if any of them continued to kill the villagers.  He eventually changed the events that day and saved the lives of many innocent people.
            The lesson that I learned from this battle analysis is both very interesting and important to the development of my career.  I want to be able to be the leader like Hugh Thompson and challenge what is wrong.  The actions that he took that day required significant personal courage to do what was morally right even though it went against his own comrades.  I know if I base my career on these values I will have no regrets.