Lawrence Manley Colburn, a helicopter gunner in the Vietnam War who helped end the slaughter of hundreds of unarmed Vietnamese villagers by US troops at My Lai, has died. He was 67.

Lisa Colburn, speaking with The Associated Press on Thursday evening, said her husband of 31 years was diagnosed with cancer in late September and died Tuesday. He passed away at home in Canton, Georgia, according to his obituary.

He is survived by his son, Connor, and three sisters.

'It was very quick,' she said by phone from her home near Atlanta. 'He was a very peaceful man who had a great desire for there to be a peaceful world.'

My Lai massacre survivor Do Ba, 48, left, stands with former U.S. Army officer Lawrence Colburn, 58, right, during the 40th anniversary of the incident in 2008

My Lai Massacre survivor Do Ba, 48, left, of Ho Chi Minh city, places incense at his family's grave site during the 40 year anniversary of the incident in My Lai, Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam. He is accompanied by former US Army officer Lawrence Colburn who rescued Do Ba during the massacre

She also called him 'a compassionate person who was a hero in many people's eyes'.

Colburn was the last surviving member of a US Army crew that ended the My Lai massacre of March 16, 1968.

According to accounts, pilot Hugh Thompson landed the helicopter between unarmed villagers and American troops and ordered Colburn and crew chief Glenn Andreotta to cover him.

Lawrence Colburn, left; Joe Elder, president of Madison Quaker, center, and Mike Boehm, executive director of Madison Quaker, walk in a procession to give incense to My Lai massacre victims during the 40th anniversary of the incident in My Lai, Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam

Thompson then persuaded members of Charlie Company to stop shooting. The company's soldiers had begun shooting that day even though they hadn't come under attack, authorities later said.

According to accounts, the shooting quickly escalated into an orgy of killing that claimed as many as 504 civilians - most of whom were women, children and the elderly.

The Charlie Company had suffered 40 casualties in three months due to landmines and booby traps and had recently lost a popular sergeant.

Anger and fear permeated the group when they landed in the hamlets and began systematically wiping out the unarmed locals, including women and children.

Lieut. Hugh C. Thompson (left and right) was awarded the Soldier's Medal and nominated for a Nobel Peace prize for helping stop the My Lai massacre and he testified at the original investigation - he was flying the helicopter in which Lawrence Colburn was a gunner

Women and children pictured during the My Lai massacre. According to testimony, the woman in the black blouse on the right had just been raped and was adjusting her buttons. Seconds after this photo was taken, they were all reportedly killed

When the slaughter became public knowledge in 1969 it prompted global outrage and helped turn the tide of public opinion against the war.

In an initial Facebook post, Lisa Colburn confirmed the death of her husband and wrote: 'As most of you know, Larry has been very ill for a while but his suffering ended today, 12/13/16/.' She added: 'Your friendship meant a lot to him.'

Vietnamese civilians killed by US Army soldiers during the My Lai massacre on March 16, 1968

Houses burned by American soldiers during the My Lai massacre on March 16, 1968 in My Lai, South Vietnam

She added that she and their son, Connor, 'appreciate your love and support during this difficult time.'

Trent Angers, the biographer for Thompson, who wrote 'The Forgotten Hero of My Lai: The Hugh Thompson Story,' said Colburn played an indispensable role in stopping the massacre at My Lai.

'He stood up, shoulder to shoulder with Hugh and Glenn, to oppose and stand down against those who were committing crimes against humanity. Without his assistance, Hugh might not have done what he did,' Angers said.

Colburn and Thompson were nominated for the Nobel Peace prize in 2001 for their actions and received the Soldier's Medal, the highest US military award for bravery not involving conflict with the enemy.

Lawrence Colburn greets survivors and relatives of My Lai massacre during the 30th anniversary commemoration

Initially, the three were shunned and considered traitors for reporting the massacre.

Thompson, who lived in Lafayette, Louisiana, died in 2006. Andreotta was killed in the Vietnam War three weeks after My Lai.