How did the My Lai massacre affect the Vietnam War?

On the home front in the United States, the brutality of the My Lai massacre and the efforts made by higher-ranking officers to conceal it exacerbated anti-war sentiment and increased the bitterness regarding the continuing U.S. military presence in Vietnam.

What was the My Lai massacre and why is it important to remember?

The massacre at My Lai held importance for a number of reasons. First, upon learning of the event in 1969, the American anti-Vietnam War movement ballooned with new members and support. The movement had struggled to remain united during 1968, but the My Lai Massacre served as a rallying point for antiwar opposition.

When did us recognize Vietnam?

The United States recognized the State of Viet Nam on February 7, 1950, when the U.S. Department of State made an announcement to that effect. Vietnam previously had been part of Indochina as a Protectorate of France and had become an independent state as part of the French Union in 1949.

Was the My Lai massacre a turning point in the Vietnam War?

Through the course of this war, U.S. involvement grew to include an estimated 486,000 troops stationed in Vietnam by the end 1967. A major turning point in the Vietnam War occurred in the small village of My Lai, Vietnam. This horrific event became known as the My Lai massacre.

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 was life like for American troops in Vietnam?

Among the American troops still in Vietnam, morale was low, and anger and frustration were high. Drug use increased among soldiers, and an official report in 1971 estimated that one-third or more of U.S. troops were addicted. The revelations of the My Lai massacre caused morale to plummet even further,…

What did my dad learn from the 18-hour Vietnam War documentary?

Not just the fact that it’s limited to 18 hours, but also that it’s aimed at American public television viewers who are, well, mostly not Vietnamese. They most likely care first and foremost about America’s role in this war. By accepting this reality, I believe my dad learned more about how the Americans viewed the Vietnamese during the war.

Why did Ili cringe at the Vietnam War?

I cringed as it became clear the Defense Department was reducing Vietnamese lives to mere statistics; that President Lyndon B. Johnson kept escalating the war thinking that a few more bombs would kill the spirit of a people who just wanted to be rid of foreign powers; that diplomacy was never a first resort.