Echoes of My Lai: A Tragedy Never to Be Forgotten

The My Lai Massacre, which transpired on March 16, 1968, during the Vietnam War, remains one of the most egregious war crimes committed by U.S. military forces. This atrocity occurred in the rural hamlet of My Lai, located in Quang Ngai Province, South Vietnam. Soldiers of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, under the command of Lieutenant William Calley, embarked on what they believed to be an operation to eradicate Viet Cong insurgents. However, rather than engaging in combat, they perpetrated the mass execution of hundreds of unarmed Vietnamese civilians, including men, women, children, and the elderly. Official estimates place the death toll between 347 and 504, yet survivors and historians contend that the actual number of victims may have been even higher. While the massacre is widely recognized, numerous aspects of the event, its subsequent cover-up, and its enduring ramifications remain obscured from mainstream discourse.

Bodies of women and children lying on road

One often-overlooked detail of the My Lai Massacre is that it was not confined to a single location. While much attention is given to the killings in My Lai 4, the neighboring hamlet of My Khe 4 was also subjected to an assault by U.S. troops on the same day. In both locations, civilians were indiscriminately rounded up and executed. Many were shot at point-blank range, while others were driven into irrigation ditches and systematically machine-gunned. Entire families were obliterated, and many women were subjected to sexual violence before being brutally murdered. Some victims, including young children, endured unspeakable acts of mutilation and torture. Despite the overwhelming participation of the soldiers in these war crimes, not all of them acquiesced. Some, deeply disturbed by the orders they received, refused to comply. Notably, Private Herbert Carter, unwilling to partake in the carnage, intentionally inflicted a gunshot wound upon himself to secure a medical evacuation.

Another significant yet lesser-known aspect of the My Lai Massacre is the elaborate cover-up orchestrated by the U.S. military. In the immediate aftermath of the atrocity, the Army’s official report misrepresented the incident as a successful engagement with enemy forces. It falsely asserted that only 20 civilians had been inadvertently killed in crossfire, obscuring the reality that the overwhelming majority of those slaughtered were defenseless villagers. This falsehood remained unchallenged for over a year, aided by senior officers who sought to suppress any information that contradicted the official narrative. Nevertheless, some soldiers who had witnessed the massacre were profoundly disturbed and sought to expose the truth. Among them was Ron Ridenhour, a former soldier who learned of the atrocity through firsthand accounts from his comrades. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, he meticulously compiled testimonies and dispatched letters to numerous high-ranking officials, military authorities, and journalists, urging an investigation. His efforts eventually prompted an internal inquiry, but it was not until journalist Seymour Hersh exposed the full extent of the massacre in November 1969 that the world became aware of the atrocity. The publication of Hersh’s investigative report, supplemented by graphic photographic evidence captured by Army photographer Ronald Haeberle, incited global condemnation and intensified domestic opposition to the Vietnam War.

Evidence of Brutality photographed by Ron Haeberle

Amidst the brutality of the massacre, an extraordinary act of moral courage unfolded, though it remains an underappreciated aspect of the event. Warrant Officer Hugh Thompson, piloting a reconnaissance helicopter over My Lai, bore witness to the carnage below. Alongside his crew members, Glenn Andreotta and Lawrence Colburn, he observed U.S. troops indiscriminately executing civilians. Horrified by what he saw, Thompson landed his helicopter between the advancing American soldiers and the defenseless villagers, physically interposing himself as a barrier to prevent further slaughter. Confronting the troops directly, he issued an ultimatum: any soldier who persisted in the killings would face retaliatory fire from his helicopter’s gunners. Subsequently, Thompson and his crew evacuated several survivors, including a group of terrified children who had taken refuge in a bunker. Despite their heroism, Thompson and his crew faced severe hostility within the military establishment, with some branding them as traitors for opposing their own countrymen. For decades, their actions remained largely unrecognized. It was not until 1998—three decades after the massacre—that they were awarded the Soldier’s Medal, the U.S. Army’s highest honor for non-combat valor. Glenn Andreotta, having perished in combat mere weeks after My Lai, was posthumously honored.

The legal proceedings that followed the My Lai Massacre remain one of the most contentious aspects of the tragedy. Although 26 soldiers were charged in connection with the killings, only Lieutenant William Calley was convicted. Found guilty of the premeditated murder of 22 civilians, Calley was sentenced to life imprisonment. However, his punishment was later commuted, and he ultimately served a mere three and a half years under house arrest before being released. His lenient sentence provoked widespread outrage, as it was perceived as a grave miscarriage of justice. Many critics argued that Calley had been made a scapegoat for a crime that implicated numerous individuals at multiple levels of command. Conversely, certain segments of the American public, particularly those sympathetic to the war effort, contended that Calley had been unjustly vilified for simply adhering to military directives. The controversy surrounding his trial underscored broader ethical and legal questions about culpability in wartime atrocities.

The repercussions of the My Lai Massacre extended far beyond the Vietnam War. In Vietnam, the site of the massacre—now designated as the Son My Memorial—serves as a solemn reminder of the devastation wrought upon the civilian population. Each year, on March 16, commemoration ceremonies are held at the memorial, attended by survivors, government dignitaries, and international visitors. These events provide a platform for remembrance and reconciliation, with survivors recounting their harrowing experiences to ensure that the atrocities of the past are never forgotten. While the U.S. government has acknowledged the massacre, it took decades before any official expression of regret was offered. In 1993, then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell alluded to My Lai while addressing ethical failings in warfare, though no formal apology was issued. In 2018, on the 50th anniversary of the massacre, a U.S. delegation, including veterans, visited the site to express sorrow and remorse. However, no sitting U.S. president has ever issued a direct apology for the atrocity.

Beyond its historical significance, the My Lai Massacre profoundly influenced public perception of the Vietnam War. The gruesome revelations fueled anti-war protests, eroding public trust in the U.S. government’s justifications for continued military intervention. The massacre also catalyzed reforms in military training, doctrine, and operational oversight, prompting discussions on the moral responsibilities of soldiers in combat. Today, the anniversary of My Lai serves as a solemn reminder of the devastating consequences of unchecked military power and the imperative of ethical conduct in warfare. Military academies and institutions continue to study My Lai as a case study in moral decision-making, examining the psychological and institutional factors that contributed to the atrocity. The annual remembrance not only honors the victims but also reinforces the necessity of vigilance against war crimes and the importance of accountability in military operations.

Despite the passage of time, the My Lai Massacre remains a haunting and instructive episode in modern history. It serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of dehumanization, blind obedience to authority, and the moral perils inherent in armed conflict. Although justice for the victims remains elusive, continued remembrance ensures that their suffering is not relegated to obscurity. Through historical inquiry, education, and ethical reflection, the lessons of My Lai endure, shaping contemporary discussions on human rights, military ethics, and the moral obligations of those entrusted with power. The annual anniversary of My Lai on March 16 stands not only as a day of mourning but also as an enduring call to uphold justice, humanity, and the principles of international law.