Neil Sheehan
Neil Sheehan
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Full Name and Common Aliases
Neil R. Sheehan is a renowned American journalist, author, and war correspondent. He is best known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning exposé on the My Lai Massacre.
Birth and Death Dates
Born: October 27, 1930, in Holyoke, Massachusetts
Died: October 26, 2021, at age 90
Nationality and Profession(s)
American journalist, author, war correspondent
Early Life and Background
Neil Sheehan grew up in a small town in western Massachusetts. He developed an interest in journalism at a young age and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he studied English literature and history. After graduating, Sheehan worked as a journalist for several local newspapers before joining the United States Army.
During his time in the Army, Sheehan served as a military correspondent, covering events in Korea and Japan. He later worked as a journalist for the _New York Herald Tribune_ and the _Rome Daily American_. In 1964, Sheehan joined the _New York Times_, where he would go on to spend over two decades of his career.
Major Accomplishments
Sheehan's most notable accomplishment is his Pulitzer Prize-winning exposé on the My Lai Massacre. On March 16, 1968, American soldiers slaughtered hundreds of unarmed Vietnamese civilians in the hamlet of My Lai. Sheehan was one of the first journalists to investigate the incident and reveal its full extent to the public.
Sheehan's reporting on the My Lai Massacre led to widespread outrage and calls for accountability within the US military. The incident marked a turning point in the Vietnam War, as it exposed the brutality and atrocities committed by American soldiers against civilians.
Notable Works or Actions
A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam (1988): Sheehan's Pulitzer Prize-winning book is a biography of John Paul Vann, an American military officer who played a key role in shaping US policy during the Vietnam War. The book explores the complexities of the war and its impact on those involved.
The Pentagon Papers: Sheehan was one of several _New York Times_ journalists involved in publishing the Pentagon Papers, a secret study on the US involvement in the Vietnam War.
Impact and Legacy
Neil Sheehan's reporting had a profound impact on American society during the 1960s and 1970s. His exposé on the My Lai Massacre helped shift public opinion against the Vietnam War and raised questions about the morality of US military actions.
Sheehan's legacy extends beyond his reporting on the Vietnam War. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential journalists of the 20th century, known for his fearless approach to storytelling and his commitment to uncovering the truth.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Neil Sheehan is widely quoted and remembered for his groundbreaking reporting on the My Lai Massacre. His work exposed one of the darkest moments in American history and raised important questions about the nature of war and its impact on civilians.
Sheehan's legacy continues to inspire journalists, authors, and thinkers today. His commitment to storytelling and his willingness to challenge authority make him a model for anyone seeking to uncover the truth and hold those in power accountable.
In conclusion, Neil Sheehan was a pioneering journalist who left an indelible mark on American society during the 1960s and 1970s. His reporting on the My Lai Massacre and his subsequent work continue to inspire and educate readers today.
Quotes by Neil Sheehan
The destruction of civilian hamlets, the killing and the wounding of civilians, became vastly greater than it had been before, and it was very upsetting; but I still couldn't bring myself to understand that the policy itself was wrong.
Vann had a practiced eye for loneliness. He walked over to her and said that she was pretty and complimented her on her clothes.
People talked to me in a way I think they would not have talked to somebody who hadn’t shared the experience; they gave me their papers, they gave me their diaries. I found people constantly opening up to me. And I think they did because I had shared that experience with them.
Just because you put higher-octane gasoline in your car doesn’t mean you can break the speed limit. The speed limit’s still 65.
Lansdale was a victim in Vietnam of his success in the Phillipines. Men who succeed at an enterprise of great moment often tie a snare for themselves by assuming that they have discovered some universal truth.
At least I’m at peace with myself. I have done my best to write a book about what really happened there and why it happened and it’s done, it’s published. I won’t write another book on Vietnam.
You remember all those phrases about how these people - Asians - dont value human life like we do. Well if you spend any time around them, you discover that they love their children just as much as we love ours. That is certainly true of the Vietnamese.
Among other things, we will be providing full details of how we intend to approach our Special Inspection of the spent fuel pool leakage and inviting the state to observe those efforts, ... Had we seen any evidence that worker or public health and safety was in any way endangered, we would have responded accordingly.
The commission has said time and time again that issues like emergency planning, spent fuel storage and security should be dealt with in the here and now and not in connection with a license renewal.
