MAJ Tony Raimondo, JA. The My Lai Massacre: A Case Study. Human Rights Program, School of the Americas, Fort Benning, Georgia. (1)
History of the 20th Infantry: 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry11th Light Infantry Brigade Veterans Association website (2)
My Lai: A Question of Orders. Time, January 25, 1971 (3)
Summary Report: The Son My Village Incident. Significantly, he gave no instructions about segregating and safeguarding non-combatants. My Lai: An American Tragedy. William George Eckhardt, 2000. (4)
Peers Report: The Omissions and Commissions Of CPT Ernest L. Medina, law.umkc.edu. (5)
Smith, Karen D., American soldiers testify in My Lai court martial, Amarillo Globe-News, December 6, 2000. (6)
Walzer, Michael. Just and Unjust Wars: A Moral Argument with Historical Illustrations. Preview through Google Books. New York: Basic Books, (7)
Calley's Trial Puts Emphasis on CO. Bangor Daily News, December 21, 1970. (8)
Company C: Actions on 16 and 17 March 1968. The Peers Report. (9)
My Lai: A Half Told Story. Sunday Times Magazine (London), April 23, 1989, p. 24-35. (10)
Hersh, Seymour. My Lai: Soldiers' Bullets Silenced Pleas, Prayers of Victims. The Milwaukee Journal, May 27, 1970. (11)
Summary of Peers report (12)
Hersh, Seymour M. My Lai, And Its Omens. The New York Times, March 16, 1998. (13)
Allison, William Thomas. My Lai: An American Atrocity in the Vietnam War. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2012. (14)
Hersh, Seymour M. Eyewitness accounts of the My Lai massacre; story by Seymour Hersh. The Plain Dealer, November 20, 1969. (15)
Women, children died in village. The Sydney Morning Herald, November 21, 1969. (16)
"The Press: Farewell to the Follies" (subscriber-only access), Time, February 12, 1973. Retrieved 2012-03-03. (17)
"Behind Colin Powell's Legend – My Lai" by Robert Parry and Norman Solomon, Consortium for Independent Journalism, July 22, 1996. (18)
Monday, December 14, 2015
Remembering...
The Vietnamese have never forgotten about the My Lai Massacre.
A 5.9 acre Son My Memorial has been created in Tịnh Khê, Son Tinh District, Quang Ngai Province of Vietnam. It is a dedication to the victims of the massacre. There are gravestones in the memorial and the locations of the killings are marked.
In Ho Chi Minh City, there is also an exhibit on My Lai in the War Remnants Museum.
While looking for how Americans memorialize this terrible event, I found out that some have gone back to pay their respects, most notably Hugh Thompson, Jr. and Larry Coburn (both from the Helicopter rescue crew). A peace park has been opened about a mile from the site on the 30th anniversary of the massacre.
My two thoughts are:
1. I can't believe that the United States hasn't created some sort of memorial for the victims. I know that guerrilla war is asymmetrical and the population can be seen as a threat, but what these troops did was not to protect themselves or the country. It was completely void of all ethics and nothing should excuse any of them for this. All of the killing was horrible, but then raping the detainees and killing innocent children just goes to a level far beyond.
2. I haven't seen a memory site as graphic as the the one near Quang Ngai. We have looked at more traditional memory sites like a cenotaph. Other sites like the AIDS quilt are more symbolic and personal. The Vietnam Memorial in the US is like a gigantic black scar. This memorial is the most direct and graphic. It sends a clear message without any question. I admire the power of this memorial but it also gives me a hole in my stomach, just like the photographs of the incident or listening to the soldiers talk in the interviews. They show a lack of humanity.
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| http://nissarhee.com/tag/my-lai-massacre/ |
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| http://skimmens.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.html |
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| A diorama in the museum of the My Lai massacre memorial site, near Quang Ngai, Vietnam, depicts the up-close nature of the massacre. June 2009. |
In Ho Chi Minh City, there is also an exhibit on My Lai in the War Remnants Museum.
 |
| http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g651661-d2095404-Reviews-My_Lai_Massacre_Museum-Quang_Ngai_Quang_Ngai_Province.html |
While looking for how Americans memorialize this terrible event, I found out that some have gone back to pay their respects, most notably Hugh Thompson, Jr. and Larry Coburn (both from the Helicopter rescue crew). A peace park has been opened about a mile from the site on the 30th anniversary of the massacre.
My two thoughts are:
1. I can't believe that the United States hasn't created some sort of memorial for the victims. I know that guerrilla war is asymmetrical and the population can be seen as a threat, but what these troops did was not to protect themselves or the country. It was completely void of all ethics and nothing should excuse any of them for this. All of the killing was horrible, but then raping the detainees and killing innocent children just goes to a level far beyond.
2. I haven't seen a memory site as graphic as the the one near Quang Ngai. We have looked at more traditional memory sites like a cenotaph. Other sites like the AIDS quilt are more symbolic and personal. The Vietnam Memorial in the US is like a gigantic black scar. This memorial is the most direct and graphic. It sends a clear message without any question. I admire the power of this memorial but it also gives me a hole in my stomach, just like the photographs of the incident or listening to the soldiers talk in the interviews. They show a lack of humanity.
The Media
Like with the military reports, early media coverage on the event was limited and did not cover all of the details, such as the number of noncombatant deaths. Several leaks occurred after the event due to the interviews from Calley and his court marshall/charges. Many reporters tried to uncover the true facts about the case. Some were turned down and others didn't publish the story because of the Army's order.
On November 28th and December 5th, 1969, Time Magazine and Life Magazine brought the My Lai Massacre to the public. These two magazine broke through all of the coverups and censorship.
There were many television documentaries and films made to spread awareness of the event.
Interviews with My lai Veterans is a great example of these documentaries:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Klx4TB33BRU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDAd8i7dAWs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joxHIT0rsr0
These most of these films aired on television and all of the photographs taken by Ronald Haeberle were released.
The Coverage and Investigation
The coverage of the My Lai Massacre has changed since it was initially released to the public. Attempts to coverup or downplay the massacre occurred soon after the events.
The initial reports stated that "128 Viet Cong and 22 civilians" were killed during a "fierce fire fight".
General William Westmoreland gave the perpetrators praise by saying "outstanding job".
The press briefing on March 16, 1968, known as the "Five O'Clock Follies" included a passage on the event: "In an action today, Americal Division forces killed 128 enemy near Quang Ngai City. Helicopter gunships and artillery missions supported the ground elements throughout the day."
The initial responses all seem like the U.S. military is doing its job and there were unfortunate casualties of war.
Colonel Henderson began investigations of the event under Brigadier General George H. Young. His investigations concluded that there were about 20 civilians killed in the operation.
The truth began to come to light when Tom Glen, a soldier in the 11th Infantry, wrote to General Abrams, saying that "It would indeed be terrible to find it necessary to believe that an American soldier that harbors such racial intolerance and disregard for justice and human feeling is a prototype of all American national character; yet the frequency of such soldiers lends credulity to such beliefs. ... What has been outlined here I have seen not only in my own unit, but also in others we have worked with, and I fear it is universal. If this is indeed the case, it is a problem which cannot be overlooked, but can through a more firm implementation of the codes of MACV (Military Assistance Command Vietnam) and the Geneva Conventions, perhaps be eradicated." (18)
Colin Powell investigated Glen's letter and "refuted" it.
In March 1969, Specialist 5 Ronald L. Ridenhour, a former door gunner from the Aviation Section, Headquarters Company of the 11th Infantry Brigade, sent a letter to 30 members of congress asking for an investigation of the My Lai incidents. Most of the congressmen ignored Ridenhour's request.
On November 12, 1969, investigative journalist Seymour Hersh figured out the story due to interviews with Calley.
On November 20, Time, Life and Newsweek magazines all covered the story.
CBS televised an interview with Paul Meadlo afterwards.
The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio) published photographs of the deceased.
After further investigations, General Peers found that: "[The 1st Battalion] members had killed at least 175–200 Vietnamese men, women, and children. The evidence indicates that only 3 or 4 were confirmed as Viet Cong although there were undoubtedly several unarmed VC (men, women, and children) among them and many more active supporters and sympathizers. One man from the company was reported as wounded from the accidental discharge of his weapon. ... a tragedy of major proportions had occurred at Son My." (12)
In July 1969, the Office of Provost Marshal general of the Army began a thorough investigation using Peers Report and Calley was charged with murder and 25 other officers were charged with related crimes.
In the end, only Calley was convicted.
The initial reports stated that "128 Viet Cong and 22 civilians" were killed during a "fierce fire fight".
General William Westmoreland gave the perpetrators praise by saying "outstanding job".
The press briefing on March 16, 1968, known as the "Five O'Clock Follies" included a passage on the event: "In an action today, Americal Division forces killed 128 enemy near Quang Ngai City. Helicopter gunships and artillery missions supported the ground elements throughout the day."
The initial responses all seem like the U.S. military is doing its job and there were unfortunate casualties of war.
Colonel Henderson began investigations of the event under Brigadier General George H. Young. His investigations concluded that there were about 20 civilians killed in the operation.
The truth began to come to light when Tom Glen, a soldier in the 11th Infantry, wrote to General Abrams, saying that "It would indeed be terrible to find it necessary to believe that an American soldier that harbors such racial intolerance and disregard for justice and human feeling is a prototype of all American national character; yet the frequency of such soldiers lends credulity to such beliefs. ... What has been outlined here I have seen not only in my own unit, but also in others we have worked with, and I fear it is universal. If this is indeed the case, it is a problem which cannot be overlooked, but can through a more firm implementation of the codes of MACV (Military Assistance Command Vietnam) and the Geneva Conventions, perhaps be eradicated." (18)
Colin Powell investigated Glen's letter and "refuted" it.
In March 1969, Specialist 5 Ronald L. Ridenhour, a former door gunner from the Aviation Section, Headquarters Company of the 11th Infantry Brigade, sent a letter to 30 members of congress asking for an investigation of the My Lai incidents. Most of the congressmen ignored Ridenhour's request.
On November 12, 1969, investigative journalist Seymour Hersh figured out the story due to interviews with Calley.
On November 20, Time, Life and Newsweek magazines all covered the story.
CBS televised an interview with Paul Meadlo afterwards.
The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio) published photographs of the deceased.
After further investigations, General Peers found that: "[The 1st Battalion] members had killed at least 175–200 Vietnamese men, women, and children. The evidence indicates that only 3 or 4 were confirmed as Viet Cong although there were undoubtedly several unarmed VC (men, women, and children) among them and many more active supporters and sympathizers. One man from the company was reported as wounded from the accidental discharge of his weapon. ... a tragedy of major proportions had occurred at Son My." (12)
In July 1969, the Office of Provost Marshal general of the Army began a thorough investigation using Peers Report and Calley was charged with murder and 25 other officers were charged with related crimes.
In the end, only Calley was convicted.
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| https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Calley |
The Massacre
The start of the massacre was triggered by U.S. troops that had seen several armed enemies in the vicinity of My Lai (9). The 1st Platoon led by Second Lt. William Calley and the 2nd Platoon led by Second Lt. Stephen Brooks entered the Tu Cung hamlet. The 3rd Platoon, led by 2nd Lt. Jeffry U. Lacross and Captain Medina's forces remained outside the hamlet.
When the two platoons entered the hamlet, they fired at the civilians in the rice fields (10).
There was no initial panic among the locals. The villagers were brought into the commons. Harry Stanley, a marine gunner, Charlie Company, made note of the first killings. People being struck with bayonets, getting thrown down a well with a grenade, women and children being shot in the head in front of a church, etc (11).
One account stated that 70-80 villagers were pushed into an irrigate ditch and killed by the orders of Lt. Calley.
Paul Meadki, Private First Class, recalls that the women were saying "No VC", while shielding their children. Mead was convinced that they were booby-trapped.
Private First Class Dennis Konti reports, "A lot of women had thrown themselves on top of the children to protect them, and the children were alive at first. Then, the children who were old enough to walk got up and Calley began to shoot the children". (12)
Charlie Company went onto attack subhamlet My Hoi of the Co Luy hamlet, also known to the military as My Khe. Between 60 to 155 people, including women and children, were killed (13).
On the following day, March 17th, the companies destroyed more of the village and mistreated more detainees.
Ronal Haeberle witnessed a group of 20-15 villagers being killed on a dirt road.
"There were some South Vietnamese people, maybe fifteen of them, women and children included, walking on a dirt road maybe 100 yards [90 m] away. All of a sudden the GIs just opened up with M16s. Beside the M16 fire, they were shooting at the people with M79 grenade launchers... I couldn't believe what I was seeing." (16)
William Thomas Allison, a professor of Military History at Georgia Southern University writes, "By midmorning, members of Charlie Company had killed hundreds of civilians and raped or assaulted countless women and young girls. They encountered no enemy fire and found no weapons in My Lai itself" (14).
Eventually, Warrant Officer One Hugh Thompson, Jr., a helicopter pilot for Company B, saw the casualties as he flew above. He and his crew flew several groups of survivors out of the village. He reported what he saw to his company commander, Major Frederic W. Watke. The actions of him and his crew played a major role in ending the massacre.
When the two platoons entered the hamlet, they fired at the civilians in the rice fields (10).
There was no initial panic among the locals. The villagers were brought into the commons. Harry Stanley, a marine gunner, Charlie Company, made note of the first killings. People being struck with bayonets, getting thrown down a well with a grenade, women and children being shot in the head in front of a church, etc (11).
One account stated that 70-80 villagers were pushed into an irrigate ditch and killed by the orders of Lt. Calley.
Paul Meadki, Private First Class, recalls that the women were saying "No VC", while shielding their children. Mead was convinced that they were booby-trapped.
Private First Class Dennis Konti reports, "A lot of women had thrown themselves on top of the children to protect them, and the children were alive at first. Then, the children who were old enough to walk got up and Calley began to shoot the children". (12)
Charlie Company went onto attack subhamlet My Hoi of the Co Luy hamlet, also known to the military as My Khe. Between 60 to 155 people, including women and children, were killed (13).
On the following day, March 17th, the companies destroyed more of the village and mistreated more detainees.
Private First Class Michael Bernhardt entered the subhamlet of Xom Lang and recalled,
Ronal Haeberle witnessed a group of 20-15 villagers being killed on a dirt road.
"There were some South Vietnamese people, maybe fifteen of them, women and children included, walking on a dirt road maybe 100 yards [90 m] away. All of a sudden the GIs just opened up with M16s. Beside the M16 fire, they were shooting at the people with M79 grenade launchers... I couldn't believe what I was seeing." (16)
William Thomas Allison, a professor of Military History at Georgia Southern University writes, "By midmorning, members of Charlie Company had killed hundreds of civilians and raped or assaulted countless women and young girls. They encountered no enemy fire and found no weapons in My Lai itself" (14).
Eventually, Warrant Officer One Hugh Thompson, Jr., a helicopter pilot for Company B, saw the casualties as he flew above. He and his crew flew several groups of survivors out of the village. He reported what he saw to his company commander, Major Frederic W. Watke. The actions of him and his crew played a major role in ending the massacre.
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| Picture of Hugh Thompson Jr. heading to court to testify against Lt. William Calley at Fort Benning, Georgia, on Nove. 23, 1970. |
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| http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-485983/Found-The-monster-My-Lai-massacre.html |
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| http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/active_learning/explorations/vietnam/vietnam_mylai.cfm |
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| https://prezi.com/wdiu61uomkjw/my-lai-massacre/ |
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| - Report of Army review into My Lai incident, book 6, 14 March 1970 |
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| http://photos.cleveland.com/plain-dealer/2009/11/15cmylaidjpg.html |
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| https://mholloway63.wordpress.com/2014/03/16/what-happened-on-march-16th-my-lai-massacre/ |
The Facts Pre-massacre
The My Lai Massacre is a result of the guerrilla warfare that the United States faced during the Vietnam War.
It took place on March 16th, 1968 in Son My village, Sơn Tịnh District of South Vietnam. The two hamlets of Son My were where the massacred transpired: My Khe and My Lai.
-Who were the perpetrators?
Charlie Company of the 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 11th Brigade, 23rd Infantry Division
-Why did they go to My Lai?
The Tet Offensive of January 1968 was carried out in Quang Ngai by the 48th Local battalion of the National Liberation Front or the Viet Cong. Intelligence reports from the U.S. suggested that the Viet Cong were taking refuge in Son My. Hamlets My Lai(1) through My Lai(6) were thought to be harboring the 48th (1).
Wanting to regain the initiative, the U.S. sent Task Force Barker, consisting of three rifle companies from the 11th Brigade, including Company C from the 20th Infantry, led by Lt. Col. frank A. Barker (2).
-The Orders?
Task Force Barker was ordered on March 16th-18th to destroy the rest of the 48th Viet Cong. Before the engagement, Col. Oran K. Henderson, the commander of the 11th Brigade, told his troops to "go in there aggressively, close with the enemy and wipe them out for good" (3). Lt. Col. Barker ordered the 1st Battalion Commanders to burn the houses, kill the livestock, destroy food supplies and destroy the wells (4).
-The Discrepancy?
Captain Ernest Medina of the Charlie Company reported to his troops that nearly all of the civilians had evacuated and that those that remained were supporters of the Viet Cong (5). The question was raised about who to kill and does it include women or children. Different responses have been given: 1.kill all North Vietnamese combatants and suspects (including women and children), burn the village, and pollute the well (6).
2."They're all VC, now go and get them", reply to the question "Who is my enemy?" by saying, "Anybody that was running from us, hiding from us, or appeared to be the enemy. If a man was running, shoot him, sometimes even if a woman with a rifle was running, shoot her." (7)
3.At Calley's trial, a defense witness testified that Medina instructing to destroy everything in the village that was "walking, crawling or growing". (8)
-Total Deaths:
U.S. estimate around 347 deaths
Local Vietnamese government estimates 504 deaths
It took place on March 16th, 1968 in Son My village, Sơn Tịnh District of South Vietnam. The two hamlets of Son My were where the massacred transpired: My Khe and My Lai.
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| http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9803/16/my.lai/ |
Charlie Company of the 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 11th Brigade, 23rd Infantry Division
-Why did they go to My Lai?
The Tet Offensive of January 1968 was carried out in Quang Ngai by the 48th Local battalion of the National Liberation Front or the Viet Cong. Intelligence reports from the U.S. suggested that the Viet Cong were taking refuge in Son My. Hamlets My Lai(1) through My Lai(6) were thought to be harboring the 48th (1).
Wanting to regain the initiative, the U.S. sent Task Force Barker, consisting of three rifle companies from the 11th Brigade, including Company C from the 20th Infantry, led by Lt. Col. frank A. Barker (2).
-The Orders?
Task Force Barker was ordered on March 16th-18th to destroy the rest of the 48th Viet Cong. Before the engagement, Col. Oran K. Henderson, the commander of the 11th Brigade, told his troops to "go in there aggressively, close with the enemy and wipe them out for good" (3). Lt. Col. Barker ordered the 1st Battalion Commanders to burn the houses, kill the livestock, destroy food supplies and destroy the wells (4).
-The Discrepancy?
Captain Ernest Medina of the Charlie Company reported to his troops that nearly all of the civilians had evacuated and that those that remained were supporters of the Viet Cong (5). The question was raised about who to kill and does it include women or children. Different responses have been given: 1.kill all North Vietnamese combatants and suspects (including women and children), burn the village, and pollute the well (6).
2."They're all VC, now go and get them", reply to the question "Who is my enemy?" by saying, "Anybody that was running from us, hiding from us, or appeared to be the enemy. If a man was running, shoot him, sometimes even if a woman with a rifle was running, shoot her." (7)
3.At Calley's trial, a defense witness testified that Medina instructing to destroy everything in the village that was "walking, crawling or growing". (8)
-Total Deaths:
U.S. estimate around 347 deaths
Local Vietnamese government estimates 504 deaths
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Introduction to Guerrilla Warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a very difficult challenge for any nation. It scraps the idea of conventional armies fighting each other; rather, it is the response of the weaker side who could not win by conventional means. Guerrilla warfare breaks the rules and exploits the regularity of the system. Fighting for the conventional army takes place behind enemy lines; the insurgents fight on their own soil and have the indigenous population to support them. The insurgents use darkness and secrecy and are able to switch from attack to retreat immediately. Often times they are hidden by the local population.
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| http://www.amusingplanet.com/2012/07/underground-tunnels-of-cu-chi-vietnam.html |
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