What happened at the my Lai Massacre?
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What happened at the my Lai Massacre?
The My Lai massacre was one of the most horrific incidents of violence committed against unarmed civilians during the Vietnam War. A company of American soldiers brutally killed most of the people—women, children and old men—in the village of My Lai on March 16, 1968.
What happened to the South Vietnamese women and children in Mỹ Lai?
South Vietnamese women and children in Mỹ Lai before being killed in the massacre, 16 March 1968. According to court testimony, they were killed seconds after the photo was taken. The woman on the right is adjusting her blouse buttons following a sexual assault that happened before the massacre.
What happened at Son my Lai?
My Lai burning, as seen from overhead in a military helicopter. Son My, South Vietnam. March 16, 1968. Library of Congress A woman and her child lie dead on the ground. Son My, South Vietnam. March 16, 1968. Wikimedia Commons A Vietnamese man, knelt down on the ground, watches with horror as the massacre unfolds. Son My, South Vietnam.
Did Charlie Company fire a single shot at my Lai?
Not a single shot was fired against the men of Charlie Company at My Lai. The My Lai massacre reportedly ended only after Warrant Officer Hugh Thompson, an Army helicopter pilot on a reconnaissance mission, landed his aircraft between the soldiers and the retreating villagers and threatened to open fire if they continued their attacks.
What was the most shocking episode of the Vietnam War?
This war crime, which was later called “the most shocking episode of the Vietnam War”, took place in two hamlets of Sơn Mỹ village in Quảng Ngãi Province. These hamlets were marked on the U.S. Army topographic maps as Mỹ Lai and Mỹ Khê.
Are any of the my Lai participants still alive?
A postscript on some of the My Lai participants: Calley is still alive; he lives in Florida. As recently as 2009, Calley insisted that he was “only following orders” at My Lai. Ex-Private First Class Meadlo, who had joined Calley in shooting unarmed civilians, today lives in Indiana.