Who Was Ron Ridenhour?
This blog is part two of a series about The Ridenhour Prizes. Learn more about this event now.
When you hear the word “hero,” do you think of someone with superhuman strength or someone you know? The Ridenhour Prizes celebrates ordinary people who step forward and help others in times of need. Whether it is a singular act of heroism, or a life dedicated to helping others, the selfless acts of everyday heroes have changed the course of history.
The namesake, Ron Ridenhour, was a whistleblower and an investigative reporter who revealed the horrific events in My Lai that occurred on March 16, 1968. First referred to as the ‘Pinkville Massacre,’ My Lai was a village where 500 unarmed South Vietnamese civilians were killed by U.S soldiers during the Vietnam War.
On March 29, 1969, Ridenhour was a 23-year-old recently returned veteran from Vietnam who would pen a letter to President Richard M. Nixon, Defense Secretary Melvin R. Laird, and members of Congress sharing his findings and the moment that would serve as inspiration for the Ridenhour Prizes.
“Gentlemen,” he began, “It was in late April 1968 that I first heard of ‘Pinkville’ and what allegedly happened there.” In the pages that followed, Ron Ridenhour became the whistleblower who prompted investigations of My Lai, the worst-known atrocity of the Vietnam War. While he was still deployed, Ron sought out soldiers who had witnessed the massacre. “I became determined to ask them about ‘Pinkville,’” he wrote.
In an early demonstration of the skills that would later serve him so well as an investigative journalist, Ron tracked down American servicemembers who were there that day, persuaded them to tell him what happened, and included their stories in his letter calling for an investigation. In doing so, he prevented a cover-up and changed the way American citizens thought and talked about the war in Vietnam. Several officers would be brought to trial, but only one was convicted: Lieutenant William Laws Calley Jr., who was paroled three years later.
In his letter, Ron explained to his elected representatives why he’d taken these extraordinary steps: “I remain irrevocably persuaded that if you and I do truly believe in the principles of justice and the equality of every man, however humble, before the law, that form the very backbone that this country is founded on,” he wrote, “then we must press forward a widespread and public investigation of this matter.”
Ron brought this horror to the attention of the American public and the world. He worked relentlessly not only to expose the truth but also to ensure that this atrocity would not be covered up by the United States. Ron’s dedication to ensuring a measure of accountability catalyzed changes like ending the draft and equipping volunteer officers with better training and education.
When great injustice happens out in the open, and personal responsibility is diffused by the presence of others, it can be easy to fall back instead of stepping up. We can tell ourselves that someone else will take on the role of the hero. Ron — like all our honorees — serves as an example of someone who did the opposite, taking heroic action in the face of great danger.
These heroes touch our hearts, fill us with admiration, and make us reconsider our view of the world. Our founding hero inspired the creation of a community that celebrates courage, selflessness, perseverance and serves as an inspiration for us all.
The Ridenhour Prizes were created to memorialize that spirit of fearless truth-telling, a spirit Ron Ridenhour displayed throughout his life and career. Ron’s courage and commitment to justice are reflected in all our honorees, each of whom has persevered in acts of truth-telling that strengthen our democracy and illuminate a more just vision of society.