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The 42nd Anniversary of the Massacre at My Lai
504 Innocent Men, Women, and Children Killed
Raped, Murdered, Decapitated
Survivors of My Lai
March 16, 2010, Chuck Palazzo, Quang Ngai, Vietnam - There are not many events that occurred during the Vietnam War that are more horrible than what took place in the small hamlets of My Lai and My Khe (Son My) on March 16, 1968. 2nd Lt. William Calley, on orders from his Company Commander Captain Ernest Medina, led the troops of 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 11th Light Infantry Brigade, 23rd Infantry Division, United States Army, into this peaceful village located approximately 140 kilometers south of Danang and 14 kilometers from Quang Ngai in what was then South Vietnam.
Quang Ngai had been attacked by the 48th Battalion of the National Front of the Liberation of South Vietnam (NLF) or what we commonly referred to as the Viet Cong during the Tet Offensive of January 1968. There were U.S. military intelligence reports that these villages had been harboring members of the 48th after Tet. None were found, however. Found were innocent men, women, and children. Calley ordered his men to open fire on them from various positions. The end result? 504 innocent men, women, and children killed.
Murdered, raped, burned, decapitated – the gruesome list goes on. Adjectives cannot begin to describe the horror or the injustice. Their villages and crops destroyed. Generations affected by the insanity of an event that was covered up by the United States Government for eighteen months before it was finally made public. Lt. Calley was the only person brought to Court Martial and convicted. He was tried and convicted of premeditated murder, sentenced to life in prison, only to be released two days later on orders from President Nixon pending an appeal of his sentence.
Calley’s sentence was later adjusted so that he actually served four and one-half months in a military prison. Medina was tried, but was acquitted of all charges and later admitted that he lied to his superior officers about murdering civilians. In total, 26 men were charged, but Calley was the only person convicted. 504 deaths. 504 murders. 4 ½ months in a US military prison. Calley is now selling jewelry in Georgia and after 40 years, mumbled an apology at a Kiwanis Club meeting last August.
Some of The Victims
One officer who helped stop the carnage, Warrant Officer Hugh Thompson, an American Helicopter Pilot put his own chopper between the dying and escaping innocent Vietnamese to protect them. He ordered the American soldiers to cease fire, and if they did not he would open fire on them. Thompson challenged Calley directly and rescued several innocent Vietnamese civilians while doing so. He issued the same orders to his crew – shoot the Americans should they continue to shoot the Vietnamese civilians. 504 innocent Vietnamese civilians had already perished.
US Vets Meeting Vietnam Vets at My Lai
I spent the last two days in My Lai, My Khe and Quang Ngai. 42 years later, life continues, and the rebuilding of families and lives tries to move ahead. I left Danang yesterday morning with some very close friends who have become my own family here. They knew more then I the emotional experience I was about to endure. As we drove down Highway 1, we drove past Chu Lai – I knew from my days here many years ago that we were approaching Quang Ngai. About 3 hours south of Danang, we arrived at Quang Ngai. We decided to check into our hotel and drive directly to the Museum at Son My.
When one walks into the main museum entrance, up the stairs, there is a large plaque. It is a plaque containing each of the deceased’s names and ages. I was reminded by the museum guide that even though many of the ages indicated 1, there was no way to indicate 5 months or “fetus”. The horror started to be realized. All is not fair in love and war.
Descendants of The Victims of My Lai
My hosts, a Vietnamese Quaker and two American Combat Veterans. The work Do, the American and Vietnamese Veterans as well as the Quakers have done in My Lai has been incredible – building houses for the poor, schools for the children.
Do invited me to lunch at a home in My Lai and of course I accepted. It was indeed a lunch I will never forget. I was welcomed by the two other American Veterans, but also by Vietnamese Veterans – men and women. Veterans of different ranks. Veterans with different beliefs.
But Veterans, all of us, who shared one common belief now – to help rebuild each other’s lives and to do so in peace. I met, laughed and cried with Vietnamese veterans and family members who lost relatives – close relatives – that morning 42 years ago in My Lai. One person lost 15 relatives that day. They all told me that was then, that was the war.
This is now, and we must all put it behind us and build a peaceful future for us, our children and for all generations to come. As I shared in this meal, I felt the sorrow of this land and of these people. It was on this very path that I had walked, these very steps that I had taken, that lives of the innocents were snuffed out in such a callous and monstrous way 42 years ago. As much as we all want to put this behind us, I could not shake the feeling of death all around me. 504 unarmed Vietnamese civilians slaughtered on this very spot. Incredibly, it was the Vietnamese Veterans from these hamlets who were comforting me.
Sitting with The Survivors
Today is the 42nd anniversary of the massacre. It was a solemn event. As I looked around, I saw my friends, my fellow veterans, schoolchildren, local dignitaries. I noticed several elderly ladies standing together in the heat of the early morning, trying to shade their faces from the sun with their cone hats their only protection.
I walked towards them as I often do here to just say good morning. I was quickly told by one of my hosts that these ladies were some of the only survivors of that day – these were the survivors of My Lai. We found some shade on the steps of the museum that lead to the wall containing the names of those who were murdered.
They, the surviving victims, now speaking to me, smiling, looking into my eyes, holding my hands, telling me everything is OK now. I felt the agony as I held their hands, but I also saw and felt the hope that has endured them for 42 years now.
Saying Farewell to The Survivors of My Lai
I am heading back to Danang soon. My friends are visiting a temple at a nearby mountaintop and I will join them. As I look north, I still feel the death, the suffering. I still hear the cries.
I have experienced too much in my years, but these past couple of days has proved to me that there is always something worse.
My hope is that society has learned something from this atrocity. No people, no country should have to endure what the people of My Lai endured. Murder is not right no matter what it is called or where it occurs.
Governments that keep silent knowing acts of violence like this occurred are as guilty, if not worse, than the murderers themselves.
Short URL: http://www.veteranstoday.com/?p=22145
Posted by Chuck Palazzo on Mar 18 2010, With 0 Reads, Filed under Vietnam War, WarZone. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
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Well done Mr. Palazzo ! The intervention of a warrant officer ( was he a member of the 1st Aviation Brigade ?) Thompson’s action that day is the only act of ethical conduct worthy of note during this dark chapter in US involvement.
His involvement in stemming further bloodshed that day in My Lai should be taught at every ROTC, Warrant Officer training, West Point, OCS and state military academy nationwide as a lesson in the ability of one man and his helicopter crew to effect the outcome of an atrocity perpetrated by unlawful orders of substandard leadership. It serves as a shining example of moral situational awareness in the midst of tragedy to alter further wrongdoing in the guise of “payback”.
Sgt. Genovese-
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment. Here is some more info on Mr. Thompson and his crew: He arrived in Vietnam in late December 1967, and joined the 161st Assault Helicopter Company, which was reorganized into the 123rd Aviation Battalion of the 23rd Americal Division in January 1968. Known as an aggressive and exceptional pilot, Warrant Officer One Thompson flew an OH-23 Raven observation helicopter as part of B Company (the “Warlords”). On March 16, 1968 he and his crew were supporting Task Force Barker (a battalion-sized element of the Americal) in a reconnaissance capacity. Serving as one door-gunner was his crew chief, Specialist Four Glenn Andreotta and as the other was Specialist Four Lawrence Colburn. All three men received recognition for their heroism at My Lai, although Andreotta died in combat three weeks after the event.
I agree 100% with all of your comments – this is a chapter of our history, as gruesome and sad as it is, that should and must be taught to the military-officers, non-coms, enlisted and at the various War Colleges. I would go as far as to say that it should be part of a mandatory world history course at the high school and college level for ALL.
We must continue to publicize, teach and reveal all the wrongs that occurred and continue to occur if they are to eventually cease. The Governments involved, must be ultimately held accountable and not exempt from making restitution – but paying restitution in a meaningful way. Not placing a value of a handful of dollars on a human life.
Thank you once again.
-Chuck
[...] The 42nd Anniversary of the Massacre at My Lai (Veteran [...]
Mr. Duff tells active duty soldiers et al to stop listening to Viet Nam Vets because they are nothing but blowhards,whiners and desk jockeys.You come along to open the wounds even more concerning the Viet Nam Experience.That was a shameful part of our history resulting in over 50,000 US deaths and hundreds of thousands wounded.When do we get to heal without glory hound constantly reminding us of that painful wound in our souls.
I suggest that the Veterans Today staff develop a clear and concise set of values regarding their representation of the US Veterans.With the open disgust with all of our service organizations,I wonder what the bunch of you are all about.
I will give one credit though,at least this story wasn’t about the world domination conspiracy theory of the Israelis
MR.DICKERSON:
I AM GOING TO TRY NOT TO BE A BLOW HARD OR HEART AND NOT A WHINER.I LOVE AMERICA EVEN THOUGH I THINK WE (WHINING NOW) VETS WERE TREATED UNFAIR .YOU PROBABLY HAVE NEVER BEEN IN THE SERVICE JUDGING FROM YOUR COMMENTS AND PROBABLY WERE A TWEENER WITH THE VARIOUS WARS ,BUT SINCE THERE HAS NOT BEEN A DRAFT SINCE OUR WAR YOU NEEDN’T WORRY. OH YEAH YOU PROBABLY HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED BEING SPIT ON BY FELLOW AMERICANS AT SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL OR MEMORIAL PARKS IN WASHINGTON,D.C.THERE IS A SAYING THAT US COMPLAINING,WHINING,NAM VETS HAVE AND IT IS SIMPLE AND YOU SURE SHOULD LISTEN CAUSE I’M SURE IT APPLIES TO YOU………..IF YOU AIN’T BEEN THEN SHUT YOUR MOUTH. NUF SAID
I suggest Mr. Dickerson,I hope you listen to what Patrick has to say. As I indicated earlier, Lt. Calley was an untrained officer with an upbringing that must have been, well, not good at all but common sense should have clicked somewhere in his head. In my experience as a combat veteran, this indeed should be taught at universities, especially with the ROTC program and indeed at all the military academies. Its true, nothing is fair in love and war, so to speak, but to kill innocent civilians is beyond what we should have learned growing up in this country.
I think you need to read my comments again for content.I am referring to Mr Duff.He posted those statements in an article several days ago.I committee and was deleted as he feels that I am to inflammatory for his subjective journalism.
Your make rude and crude comments like you did out of misinterpreting the information,reflects badly on your abilities.Now that the shoe is on the other foot,get your muddy combat boots out of your flapping’ gums.NUFF SAID!!
And Sgt Maj I am disappointed at your inability to read as well.I made no mistakes and referenced Mr Duff as was clearly stated.So ntil you can take the high ground,follow my advice for Patrick.
No wonder the rag has followers,you guys can’t read and comprehend worth a tinker’s damn.
Before you criticize others for what you interpret as that you make “no mistakes’, look at your 2nd sentence. You probably were one of those that wished they were in Nam but for whatever reason, didn’t make it. I have nothing to be ashamed about what I did in my three tours there. I saw things I didn’t like but it was rough going. Mr. Duff does not make comments about veterans who were in Nam,…he makes comments about those who don’t have a clue what went on there because there were never there and until they go through what we went through, well, as you stated….NUFF SAID
And on this day, the 19th of March
March 19 2003, Remembrance!
http://imagineaworldof.blogspot.com/2010/03/march-19-2003-remembrance.html
As I remember hearing it when I was young, Calley’s orders came from up the chain of command. Even though he didn’t have the common sense to refuse such an order, he wasn’t the only one who should have been punished.
You are absolutely correct, BA. The immediate chain of command including his CO Captain Medina, their CO Colonel Oran Henderson – and I would go as far as to say right on up the entire Chain of Command including the President and all of the Generals below as indicated by the cover-up that lasted 18 months and the incredibly ridiculous release of Calley two days after his conviction then only to serve 4 and a half months. A scape goat? Perhaps. But Calley was and is a convicted murderer, but to your point, there were so many others that participated, handed down the orders, covered the massacre up, then turned their backs on the victims and descendants of My Lai – it is nothing short of a disgusting commentary on the human race.
Thanks for your comments.
-Chuck
Hello Chuck,
Chuck Palazzo
Hello Chuck,
Great piece on a tragic day…that was part of another tragedy, the US fighting there in the first place.
I recently had the opportunity to spend a month in Vietnam. Although I visited places that were important to me, I did not have an opportunity to meet any Vietnamese veterans. I would love to hear from them in person.
I never ceased to be amazed by the forgiving nature of the many Vietnamese people, from many walks of life, I met during my stay. I look forward to returning to Vietnam.
My best,
D. Tracy
D-
Great to hear from you. Please look me up the next time you are here and I will introduce you to some. But as you well point out, most if not ALL of the Vietnamese are indeed forgiving – in spite of atrocities such as My Lai. They as well as I look forward to your return.
Take good care.
Chuck
I did not serve in Vietnam, but several buddies in my San Diego Chapter of SD Veterans for Peace did. I hear their stories and still cannot comprehend this darkest of all American wars. Our veterans chapter is named in honor of Hugh Thompson, the courageous man of conscience of that day, who stopped the massacre. Thompson’s family was so pleased that we chose to remember Hugh in this way.
We must NEVER forget that Americans, with bad leadership from the very top, can commit heinous war crimes, just like the Nazis. We learn also, that even in the hell of war, there are angels like Thompson who will simply do what is RIGHT and stop evil in its tracks. Hugh Thompson is a great American hero.
Mr. Crews-
The fact that your local Vet Chapter is named in honor of Hugh Thompson, speaks volumes…he was indeed one of a small handful of heroes on that dark day. You are correct, probably the darkest day of all American Wars and one of the deepest scars on all of humanity. As Ssgt. Genovese has pointed out, the killings at My Lai should and must be taught to the military as well as to the schools in our nation as well as the world in general – lest society will indeed repeat itself.
Thanks for your comments and in brotherhood we fight the good fight, brother.
Semper Peace
-Chuck
[...] Palazzo of Veterans Today writes on the anniversary of Mai Lai (16 [...]
I was wounded in the Mekong Delta, 12 days after this massacre. I am now a 100% disabled vet with PTSD! My platooon walked into a U shaped ambush, and suffered 7 KIA’s and 12 WIA’s. My emotions are mixed by the massacre. Those slant eyed devils on one hand deserved what they got; they would often join the VC at night, and beg us during the day. Lt Calley just broke..as we all did!
Thanks to God for not making that many Eldon Pittman-Hilters. You said “Those slant eyed devils on one hand deserved what they got; they would often join the VC at night, and beg us during the day”. Are you suggesting that those babies were VCs? Are you also suggesting that it is alright for a group of men with M-16s to open fire to a group of unarmed old men, women and children who were running away from you? My father was in the Nam not once, but twice and I am pround to say that he’s served his country with dignity and honor. By the way, those people did not beg anyone. Your monster friends came to their village with the intention to “shoot anything that moves”. I am glad that you made it back home alive, but 100% disable. Death is to easy for someone like you. Isn’t it?