My Lai Massacre

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My Lai Massacre
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The Event

• March 16, 1968
• Committed by C Company (Charlie Company)
• Commanded by Captain Ernest Medina
• Platoon is led by Lieutenant William Calley
• Military intelligence said the VC were close in
  this region (They were wrong)
• In the months leading up to the event The company
  is racked by booby traps, snipers and land mines

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The Massacre

• Company enters My Lai without being fired at
• They begin to move through the village killing
  everyone they see (old men, Women and children)
• They mutilate many bodies of the dead and rape
  the women
• At least 500 civilians are killed
• U.S. suffers one casualty a soldier accidentally
  shot his own foot

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Heroes

• Officer Hugh Thompson, Jr.
• He puts his helicopter down between U.S. Soldiers
  and a group of villagers
• Orders his gunner to open fire on the troops if
  they advance on the villagers
• His reports of the story were originally covered
  up by the military

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The Outcome

• Not a single VC or Vietminh was found in the
  village
• Only one rifle was found in the village
• Originally the story was covered up and promoted
  as a huge victory for the U.S.
• Truth eventually comes out
• Army claims that My Lai is the exception
• Actually the killing of civilians was common