1 / 14

MY LAI

MY LAI. Massacre of SV civilians by US troops Occurred in ’68/ story broke in Nov ’69 Lt. William Calley leading US forces “We huddled them up. I poured about four clips into the group….The mothers was hugging their children….Well, we kept right on firing.” Pvt Paul Meadlo

isaac-curry
Download Presentation

MY LAI

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. MY LAI • Massacre of SV civilians by US troops • Occurred in ’68/ story broke in Nov ’69 • Lt. William Calley leading US forces • “We huddled them up. I poured about four clips into the group….The mothers was hugging their children….Well, we kept right on firing.” Pvt Paul Meadlo • Following orders? Who’s at fault?

  2. Context • 1 month before My Lai – platoon caught in mine field; Calley unloading bodies from choppers • Aftermath of Tet

  3. The Report • Col. Barker: “Upon landing, the rifle companies assaulted enemy positions, making a detailed search of all buildings, bunkers, and tunnels. As a result, 128 VC were killed, 11 captured. Medical supplies, canteens and 3 American made rifles were also captured…The civilian population supporting the VC in the area numbered approximately 200. This created a problem in population control and medical care for those civilians caught in the fire of opposing forces. However, the infantry unit on the ground and helicopters were able to assist civilians in leaving the area and in caring for and/or evacuating the wounded.”

  4. The Story Breaks – 1 yr later • Ron Ridenhour hears about possible war crimes committed in My Lai and writes to Congress

  5. Investigation and Trial • Army arrests Calley 2 days before he’s to be discharged • Calley charged with murdering at least 102 Vietnamese civilians including women, a baby, and a priest • Court martial begins in November 1970

  6. Witnesses • Ron Haeberle – photographer

  7. Prosecution Witnesses • Hugh Thompson – helicopter pilot • Ron Maples – machine gunner • Pvt. Dennis Conti • Pvt. Charles Sledge • Pvt. James Dursi • Pvt. Paul Meadlo • Plus 30 others

  8. The Defense • Calley was ordered to do it byhis commander, Capt Ernest Medina • Calley didn’t shoot “civilians” • “I was ordered to go in there and destroy the enemy. That was my job on that day. That was the mission I was given. I did not sit down and think in terms of men, women, and children. There were all classified as enemy soldiers and that was the classification we dealt with. I felt then, and I still do, that I acted as I was directed, and I carried out the orders that I was given, and I do not feel wrong in doing so.”

  9. Medina • Calley’s a liar

  10. Verdict and Sentence • Guilty of murdering 22 people and sentenced to life of hard labor in a military prison • Paroled in 1974

More Related