The
My Lai Massacre
The
Fateful Day That The United States Military Showed The True Nature Of War
7:25am - March 16 1968, US troops move in to the little
hamlet of My Lai, by 11:00am, over 500 innocent civilians lay dead.
The massacre at My Lai was the most symbolic piece of warfare that came out of the Vietnam War due to the sheer viciousness of the attack. About 100 murders were caught on tape in this 3 and a half hour time period, however, it wasn’t just the killings that troubled the world, it’s what happened after that shocked the world. In an act of sheer frustration and inhumaneness, 33 US soldiers maliciously raped, tortured, and after they had killed their victims, would carve their initials into the victims flesh.
The US officers whom had ordered the attack believed that the 48th Viet Cong Local Force (VC LF) battalion was located in Son My Village, which had also served as a VC staging and logistical support base. Their beliefs were enhanced by the casualties suffered from two previous operations in the area due to enemy fire, mines and booby traps set by local Viet Cong forces. Orders were given by LTC Frank A. Barker, during or shortly after the briefing of the operation, to the commanders of B and C companies to “burn the houses, kill the livestock destroy foodstuffs and perhaps to close the wells.” However, there wasn’t a single order given in reference to the protection and safeguarding of civilians/non-combatants found in the area.
In September 1969, news of the massacre at My Lai had reached the press through the reporting of Seymour Hersh, and sent shockwaves throughout America and the rest of the world. For the first time, American’s were able to read about the atrocities committed by Lt. William Calley who was, on September 5 1969, convicted of seven counts of premeditated murder and responsible for the deaths of 104 innocent civilians.
The massacre at My Lai was the most symbolic piece of warfare that came out of the Vietnam War due to the sheer viciousness of the attack. About 100 murders were caught on tape in this 3 and a half hour time period, however, it wasn’t just the killings that troubled the world, it’s what happened after that shocked the world. In an act of sheer frustration and inhumaneness, 33 US soldiers maliciously raped, tortured, and after they had killed their victims, would carve their initials into the victims flesh.
The US officers whom had ordered the attack believed that the 48th Viet Cong Local Force (VC LF) battalion was located in Son My Village, which had also served as a VC staging and logistical support base. Their beliefs were enhanced by the casualties suffered from two previous operations in the area due to enemy fire, mines and booby traps set by local Viet Cong forces. Orders were given by LTC Frank A. Barker, during or shortly after the briefing of the operation, to the commanders of B and C companies to “burn the houses, kill the livestock destroy foodstuffs and perhaps to close the wells.” However, there wasn’t a single order given in reference to the protection and safeguarding of civilians/non-combatants found in the area.
In September 1969, news of the massacre at My Lai had reached the press through the reporting of Seymour Hersh, and sent shockwaves throughout America and the rest of the world. For the first time, American’s were able to read about the atrocities committed by Lt. William Calley who was, on September 5 1969, convicted of seven counts of premeditated murder and responsible for the deaths of 104 innocent civilians.
- Lt. William Calley