My Lai Massacre?

Question

What about the My Lai Massacre was so important? What was the lie about it? Why was Calley court-martialed? (He was the only person convicted) What is the actual truth of the My Lai Massacre? I mean, it's a war, right? People die? I'm not saying he should have gotten away, I just want to know why. It's for a project, please help (:

Answer 1

Check out the link to Wikipedia below for the details on this incident.

The Vietnam war was sold to the American public as necessary to prevent the spread of communism. In fact North Vietnam was waging a war against colonialism as much as anything. Vietnam was controlled first by the French, then by the Japanese. After the Japanese were defeated in WW2, the French put defeated Japanese soldiers in charge of policing the Vietnamese. Talk about insult to injury. After the French stepped away America took over.

The U.S. military command sent soldiers into the area with the understanding that any civilians would be Viet Cong guerilla fighters or sympathisers. They were ordered to destroy the village. When commanders were asked later if they authorized the killing of women and children their answers changed. A coverup of the number of people killed was exposed and the military had no choice but to charge someone with the massacre.

Lt. William Calley was the fall guy for his superiors. His immediate superior Captain Ernest Medina was tried, but not convicted. The same situation is evident today with incidents such as the Abu Graib prison torture and degradation of suspected Iraqi insurgents by American soldiers. The orders came from superior officers, likely from Rumsfeld himself. But, in the end it was only the low level perpetrators who were prosecuted. The superior officers cannot be called to testify, so can't perjure themselves.

Answer 2

Here's your answer, from an official US inquiry into the affair; quoting from a participant, desribing how a baby was used for target practice:

"He fired at it with a .45. He missed. We all laughed. He got up three or four feet closer and missed again. We laughed. Then he got up right on top and plugged him"

That's murder, not war. If you want to compare this behaviour with a real American hero, look up the details on Hugh Thompson. Calley and his Commander, and the other Officers involved in this massacre deserved to die for this crime. They brought disgrace on themselves, and the United States.

Answer 3

The people killed at My Lai were non combatants. Women, children, old men. Hardly a match for well trained American soldiers.