Glenn Andreotta

Glenn Andreotta
author's name unknown · Public domain · source
Name	Glenn Andreotta
Birth date	1947
Death date	April 8, 1968
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Army
Rank	Specialist Four
Unit	123rd Aviation Battalion, Americal Division
Battles	Vietnam War
Awards	Soldier's Medal

Glenn Andreotta. He was a United States Army helicopter crew chief who served during the Vietnam War and is recognized for his role in intervening in the My Lai Massacre. A member of an Aeroscout platoon within the 123rd Aviation Battalion of the Americal Division, his actions on March 16, 1968, alongside pilot Hugh Thompson Jr. and gunner Lawrence Colburn, helped stop the killing of Vietnamese civilians. Andreotta was posthumously awarded the Soldier's Medal for his heroism, though he died in a combat incident less than a month after the events at Sơn Mỹ.

Early life and education

Born in 1947, Glenn Andreotta grew up in the United States during the post-World War II era. Details regarding his specific hometown and early family life are not extensively documented in public records. He attended local schools, and like many young men of his generation, his life was soon shaped by the escalating conflict in Southeast Asia. His educational path led him to enlist in the United States Army, where he would receive specialized training for aviation roles. This training prepared him for his eventual assignment as a helicopter crew chief in the demanding environment of the Vietnam War.

Military service

Andreotta entered military service and was assigned to the Americal Division, a major unit of the U.S. Army operating in the I Corps Tactical Zone of South Vietnam. He served as a Specialist Four and crew chief on an OH-23 Raven helicopter in the Aeroscout platoon of the 123rd Aviation Battalion. His duties involved maintaining the aircraft and operating its weapons systems during reconnaissance and light observation missions. The Aeroscout units worked closely with infantry forces, often flying at low altitudes to scout for Viet Cong positions and direct artillery fire, making them vulnerable to ground fire.

My Lai Massacre involvement

On March 16, 1968, Andreotta was part of a three-man crew, with pilot Hugh Thompson Jr. and door gunner Lawrence Colburn, flying a reconnaissance mission over the village of Sơn Mỹ. They witnessed American soldiers killing unarmed Vietnamese civilians in what would become known as the My Lai Massacre. After seeing wounded civilians in an irrigation ditch, Thompson landed the helicopter. Andreotta and Colburn provided cover while Thompson confronted the American infantry commander, Lieutenant William Calley. Later, Andreotta helped rescue a young boy from the ditch full of bodies, confirming he was still alive. Their direct intervention is credited with stopping further killings at that location.

Later life and death

Glenn Andreotta's life was cut short very soon after the events at My Lai. On April 8, 1968, just 23 days later, he was participating in a combat mission when his OH-23 Raven helicopter was shot down. The crash occurred near Quảng Ngãi Province in South Vietnam. Andreotta was killed in the incident, along with the pilot, First Lieutenant John D. Millikin. He was 21 years old at the time of his death. His remains were returned to the United States, and he was buried with military honors.

Legacy and recognition

For decades, the heroism of Andreotta and his crewmates was not officially recognized by the U.S. Army. The My Lai Massacre was a highly controversial and suppressed event, investigated by the Peers Commission. In 1998, thirty years later, the Army awarded Glenn Andreotta, Hugh Thompson Jr., and Lawrence Colburn the Soldier's Medal, the highest award for valor not involving direct combat with an enemy. A Department of Defense ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. finally honored their moral courage. Their story is now taught in military ethics courses and remembered as a powerful example of individual conscience in the face of atrocity during the Vietnam War.

Category:American military personnel of the Vietnam War Category:1947 births Category:1968 deaths