my lai

• Early March 1968: The US army had heard reports that a Vietcong base with around 200 fighters was located in the My Lai area, supported by the villagers; Charlie Company was ordered to go on a search and destroy mission there
• 16 March, 7.30am: US troops landed and started firing at buildings they thought might contain fighters. Any villagers who tried to run away were shot or stabbed
• No Vietcong were found and there was no armed retaliation from the villagers who were mostly women, children and the elderly
• Charlie Company killed around 500 people within four hours but they only reported the deaths of 22 civilians when they returned to base - stating the rest were Vietcong fighters
• A year later, a young soldier wrote letters to politicians and military leaders telling them what had happened at My Lai.

  Two investigations concluded that Charlie Company had killed innocent civilians. The final report also recommended action against the many men who had raped, murdered and participated at My Lai.
• High-ranking officers were charged with covering up what happened, but the only person to go to prison was Lieutenant William Calley. He had ordered the attack at My Lai and had personally killed innocent civilians. He was sentenced to life in prison in March 1971 (but was released in 1974).
• Impact of My Lai

  • Many US citizens were left feeling shocked and confused about the aims of the war.
  • People began to mistrust the army.
  • The anti-war movement grew and many people protested against the war - 500,000 protested in Washington in 1969.
  • The investigations also exposed the low morale of the US troops in Vietnam.

  Both the Tet Offensive and the My Lai massacre are considered turning points in the war.