It's kind of funny you mention that. Last summer (2004) when the Swift Boat Veterans book was released, much ado was made about Kerry's photo being in the Vietnamese war museum. In the photo published in "Unfit For Command," that's Hugh's picture in the background. I never asked him how he felt about that. I think that there are some acts that speak for themselves; Hugh not only stopped the bloodshed that day, but evacuated a number of the wounded as well. If the Vietnamese see him as a hereo for having done so, so be it.
I think the Iraqi attorney who took the risk to get Jessica Lynch's location to Coalition forces was made of the same stuff as Hugh. Despite whatever human frailties or imperfections either of the two men displayed in the rest of their lives, when it really counted they displayed the type of integrity and courage I think the rest of us pray we could show under similar circumstances.
There is such a world of difference between John Kerry and Hugh Thompson. The Communist Vietnamese displayed a photo of Kerry in their war museum because he helped them by serving on their side, for his own selfish reasons. They displayed a photo of Thompson because they reaped the benefits of his service to mankind, because it was the right thing to do. Guess which one they respect.
You're right. Mohammed Odeh al-Rehaief is one of my heroes. I'm sure we've also benefited from the actions of less honorable men and women, as the communists have been helped by Kerry; but al-Rehaief is a true hero. He risked everything, because it was the right thing to do. I don't know how common or uncommon those ideals are among Iraqis, but I know his actions represent ideals that most Americans hold dear. I'm glad he decided to become an American. There's always room here for people like him.