The My lai massacre
One of the most horrific incidents of violence on civilians during the Vietnam War occurred on March 16th 1968. The hamlet of My Lai resided in the South Vietnamese district of Son My, an area that was heavily mined by the Viet Cong. My Lai was a permanent-type village with hard walls, tile roofs, hard floors and furniture with 700 inhabitants [1].
The soldiers of the Charlie Company arrived in My Lai on a “search and destroy” mission in order to root out the 48th Viet Cong Battalion in the area [2]. Captain Ernest “Mad Dog” Medina had informed the Charlie Company that the village was heavily fortified and extremely dangerous since it was reported that the 98th NVA Regiment and the 48th VC Battalion were in the area [3]. In the past couple weeks before the “search and destroy” mission was assigned, the Charlie Company had lost numerous soldiers due to sniper fire, land mines, and also various booby traps made from unexploded artillery shells [4]. Arriving in My Lai by helicopters, troops from platoon one moved into the village and started firing at villagers. These villagers consisted of women, children, and elderly and young men that were not of age to join the military. None of these 700 inhabitants resisted the US troops when the firing started.
In the next three hours, the US troops had killed about 504 Vietnamese villagers. When Army Photographer Sgt. Ron Haeberle went with ten or fifteen GI’s, he witness atrocities such as the GI’s shooting a woman without question when she peaked her head over some bushes, a GI shooting at a man with two little boys, and even shooting an already injured little boy [5]. After these incidents, the GI’s simply just walked away like nothing happened. Sgt Charles West confided to Haeberle “the boy was clutching his wounded arm with his other hand while blood trickled between his fingers. He just stood there with big eyes staring around like he didn’t understand. Then the captain’s RIO (radio operator) put a burst of 16 (MI6) fire into him” [6]. Some victims were lined up in a drainage ditch before being shot. Vietnamese women were raped and after the rape, the women walked away before being shot down by the GI’s. In addition, “some civilians were clubbed and stabbed” and “mutilated with the signature “C Company” carved into [their] chest[s]” [7]. One solider had testified in saying that he “cut their throats, cut off their hands, cut out their tongues, [and] scalped them” and tried to defend himself saying that “a lot of people were doing it and I just followed” [8].
The soldiers of the Charlie Company arrived in My Lai on a “search and destroy” mission in order to root out the 48th Viet Cong Battalion in the area [2]. Captain Ernest “Mad Dog” Medina had informed the Charlie Company that the village was heavily fortified and extremely dangerous since it was reported that the 98th NVA Regiment and the 48th VC Battalion were in the area [3]. In the past couple weeks before the “search and destroy” mission was assigned, the Charlie Company had lost numerous soldiers due to sniper fire, land mines, and also various booby traps made from unexploded artillery shells [4]. Arriving in My Lai by helicopters, troops from platoon one moved into the village and started firing at villagers. These villagers consisted of women, children, and elderly and young men that were not of age to join the military. None of these 700 inhabitants resisted the US troops when the firing started.
In the next three hours, the US troops had killed about 504 Vietnamese villagers. When Army Photographer Sgt. Ron Haeberle went with ten or fifteen GI’s, he witness atrocities such as the GI’s shooting a woman without question when she peaked her head over some bushes, a GI shooting at a man with two little boys, and even shooting an already injured little boy [5]. After these incidents, the GI’s simply just walked away like nothing happened. Sgt Charles West confided to Haeberle “the boy was clutching his wounded arm with his other hand while blood trickled between his fingers. He just stood there with big eyes staring around like he didn’t understand. Then the captain’s RIO (radio operator) put a burst of 16 (MI6) fire into him” [6]. Some victims were lined up in a drainage ditch before being shot. Vietnamese women were raped and after the rape, the women walked away before being shot down by the GI’s. In addition, “some civilians were clubbed and stabbed” and “mutilated with the signature “C Company” carved into [their] chest[s]” [7]. One solider had testified in saying that he “cut their throats, cut off their hands, cut out their tongues, [and] scalped them” and tried to defend himself saying that “a lot of people were doing it and I just followed” [8].
1. The Massacre At Mylai. (1969, December 5). Life, 67(23), 36-45
2. History Learning Site, "My Lai Massacre." Last modified December 3, 2013. Accessed December 3, 2013. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/my_lai_massacre.htm.
3. The Massacre At Mylai. (1969, December 5). Life, 67(23), 36-45.
4. The Massacre At Mylai. (1969, December 5). Life, 67(23), 36-45.
5. The Massacre At Mylai. (1969, December 5). Life, 67(23), 36-45.
6. The Massacre At Mylai. (1969, December 5). Life, 67(23), 36-45.
7. Digital History, "My Lai Massacre." Last modified December 3, 2013. Accessed December 3, 2013. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/learning_history/vietnam/vietnam_mylai.cfm.
8. Digital History, "My Lai Massacre." Last modified December 3, 2013. Accessed December 3, 2013. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/learning_history/vietnam/vietnam_mylai.cfm.
2. History Learning Site, "My Lai Massacre." Last modified December 3, 2013. Accessed December 3, 2013. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/my_lai_massacre.htm.
3. The Massacre At Mylai. (1969, December 5). Life, 67(23), 36-45.
4. The Massacre At Mylai. (1969, December 5). Life, 67(23), 36-45.
5. The Massacre At Mylai. (1969, December 5). Life, 67(23), 36-45.
6. The Massacre At Mylai. (1969, December 5). Life, 67(23), 36-45.
7. Digital History, "My Lai Massacre." Last modified December 3, 2013. Accessed December 3, 2013. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/learning_history/vietnam/vietnam_mylai.cfm.
8. Digital History, "My Lai Massacre." Last modified December 3, 2013. Accessed December 3, 2013. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/learning_history/vietnam/vietnam_mylai.cfm.
The Cover-up
The infamous My Lai Massacre was one of the utmost critical events during the Vietnam War that contributed to the wide-ranging hatred towards the war. The Charlie Company (Company C) soldiers from the11th Infantry Brigade [1] who took part in the murders of countless innocent civilians knew what had occurred in “Pinkville” village was wrong and immoral. Due to this, it was decided to cover-up the event, which involved various levels of the Division Command. A false investigation had been filed followed by a fabricated report stating that 128 Viet Cong and only 22 civilians had been killed. [2]
The Exposure
The Charlie Company succeeded keeping the truth behind the massacre out of the media along with the government and public eye for well over a year. The truth behind My Lai became known on March 29, 1969 when a letter written by Ron Ridenhour was sent out to Congress along with the Pentagon [3] detailing the horrific stories he had heard from soldiers of the Charlie Compny themselves. The stories began to pile up within months and Ridenhour was not certain what exactly happened at “Pinkville” but he was “convinced that it was something very black indeed” [4] and urged that an investigation be conducted. Ridenhour had brought the scandal to the interests of the American public and the rest of the world.
The infamous My Lai Massacre was one of the utmost critical events during the Vietnam War that contributed to the wide-ranging hatred towards the war. The Charlie Company (Company C) soldiers from the11th Infantry Brigade [1] who took part in the murders of countless innocent civilians knew what had occurred in “Pinkville” village was wrong and immoral. Due to this, it was decided to cover-up the event, which involved various levels of the Division Command. A false investigation had been filed followed by a fabricated report stating that 128 Viet Cong and only 22 civilians had been killed. [2]
The Exposure
The Charlie Company succeeded keeping the truth behind the massacre out of the media along with the government and public eye for well over a year. The truth behind My Lai became known on March 29, 1969 when a letter written by Ron Ridenhour was sent out to Congress along with the Pentagon [3] detailing the horrific stories he had heard from soldiers of the Charlie Compny themselves. The stories began to pile up within months and Ridenhour was not certain what exactly happened at “Pinkville” but he was “convinced that it was something very black indeed” [4] and urged that an investigation be conducted. Ridenhour had brought the scandal to the interests of the American public and the rest of the world.
Media’s Role and Public Response
The story of the My Lai massacre had remained unknown by the American public until November of 1969 when Army photographer Ron Haeberle sold his personal photos of the incident to the Cleveland newspaper, The Plain Dealer. [5] They published the first ever seen pictures of the massacre. After its publication, Haeberle then sold more of his photographs to Life magazine. Twenty months after the massacre itself on December 5, 1969, Life ran a five back-to-back page full story detailing the horrific incident, including a series of Haeberle’s shocking and disturbing photographs. [6] These photographs, bringing the incident to the public’s attention, had set forward an inevitable outcry by the American people. It was obvious that the media played an enormous role when it came down to the uncovering of the My Lai Massacre. The graphic details and pictures had left the public in horror and complete shock; some were even in denial towards the incident. [7]
The story of the My Lai massacre had remained unknown by the American public until November of 1969 when Army photographer Ron Haeberle sold his personal photos of the incident to the Cleveland newspaper, The Plain Dealer. [5] They published the first ever seen pictures of the massacre. After its publication, Haeberle then sold more of his photographs to Life magazine. Twenty months after the massacre itself on December 5, 1969, Life ran a five back-to-back page full story detailing the horrific incident, including a series of Haeberle’s shocking and disturbing photographs. [6] These photographs, bringing the incident to the public’s attention, had set forward an inevitable outcry by the American people. It was obvious that the media played an enormous role when it came down to the uncovering of the My Lai Massacre. The graphic details and pictures had left the public in horror and complete shock; some were even in denial towards the incident. [7]
Opposition V. Support
The exposure of the graphic photographs of the massacre had left the American people questioning the morality of the Armed Forces they had once had all their trust in. Anti-war movements were already in motion before the My Lai massacre had occurred but the incident contributed to proof that the war was immoral and overall pointless. At some point, the massacre had even been compared to Nazi war crimes. On the other hand, others were uncaring or lacked interest towards the event. Apart from this, several Americans were against the trial of Lt. William Calley because they believed the incident was just something that occurs during any war and saw Calley simply as a “scapegoat.” [8] Calley was the only man found guilty for the crime and he was sentenced to life in prison but then was reduced to 20 years. In the end Nixon had him transferred from prison and Calley only served three and a half years under house arrest. [9]
The exposure of the graphic photographs of the massacre had left the American people questioning the morality of the Armed Forces they had once had all their trust in. Anti-war movements were already in motion before the My Lai massacre had occurred but the incident contributed to proof that the war was immoral and overall pointless. At some point, the massacre had even been compared to Nazi war crimes. On the other hand, others were uncaring or lacked interest towards the event. Apart from this, several Americans were against the trial of Lt. William Calley because they believed the incident was just something that occurs during any war and saw Calley simply as a “scapegoat.” [8] Calley was the only man found guilty for the crime and he was sentenced to life in prison but then was reduced to 20 years. In the end Nixon had him transferred from prison and Calley only served three and a half years under house arrest. [9]
[1] August Jackson, "Digital History." The Search for Consensus: Editorials of the My Lai Massacre. . http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/learning_history/vietnam/my_lai_editorials.cfm (accessed December 14, 2013).
[2] August Jackson, "Digital History." The Search for Consensus: Editorials of the My Lai Massacre. . http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/learning_history/vietnam/my_lai_editorials.cfm (accessed December 14, 2013).
[3] Evelyn Theiss, "My Lai photographer Ron Haeberle exposed a Vietnam massacre 40 years ago today in The Plain Dealer." The Plain Dealer, November 20, 2009.
[4] Ben Cosgrove, Life, "AMERICAN ATROCITY: REMEMBERING MY LAI." Accessed December 14, 2013. http://life.time.com/history/my-lai-remembering-an-american-atrocity-in-vietnam-march-1968/
[5] Claude Cookman, "The My Lai Massacre Concretized in a Victim’s Face." Journal of American History. no. 94 (2007): 154-162.
[6] August Jackson, "Digital History." The Search for Consensus: Editorials of the My Lai Massacre. . http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/learning_history/vietnam/my_lai_editorials.cfm (accessed December 14, 2013).
[7] Claude Cookman, "The My Lai Massacre Concretized in a Victim’s Face." Journal of American History. no. 94 (2007): 154-162.
[8] Claude Cookman, "The My Lai Massacre Concretized in a Victim’s Face." Journal of American History. no. 94 (2007): 154-162.
[9] Claude Cookman, "The My Lai Massacre Concretized in a Victim’s Face." Journal of American History. no. 94 (2007): 154-162.
[2] August Jackson, "Digital History." The Search for Consensus: Editorials of the My Lai Massacre. . http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/learning_history/vietnam/my_lai_editorials.cfm (accessed December 14, 2013).
[3] Evelyn Theiss, "My Lai photographer Ron Haeberle exposed a Vietnam massacre 40 years ago today in The Plain Dealer." The Plain Dealer, November 20, 2009.
[4] Ben Cosgrove, Life, "AMERICAN ATROCITY: REMEMBERING MY LAI." Accessed December 14, 2013. http://life.time.com/history/my-lai-remembering-an-american-atrocity-in-vietnam-march-1968/
[5] Claude Cookman, "The My Lai Massacre Concretized in a Victim’s Face." Journal of American History. no. 94 (2007): 154-162.
[6] August Jackson, "Digital History." The Search for Consensus: Editorials of the My Lai Massacre. . http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/learning_history/vietnam/my_lai_editorials.cfm (accessed December 14, 2013).
[7] Claude Cookman, "The My Lai Massacre Concretized in a Victim’s Face." Journal of American History. no. 94 (2007): 154-162.
[8] Claude Cookman, "The My Lai Massacre Concretized in a Victim’s Face." Journal of American History. no. 94 (2007): 154-162.
[9] Claude Cookman, "The My Lai Massacre Concretized in a Victim’s Face." Journal of American History. no. 94 (2007): 154-162.