The My Lai Massacre, also known as the My Lai Incident, was a mass murder of unarmed Vietnamese civilians by United States Army soldiers on March 16, 1968, during the Vietnam War. The incident took place in the village of My Lai, in the province of Quang Ngai, and resulted in the deaths of between 347 and 504 unarmed civilians, mainly women, children, and elderly people.
The massacre was committed by soldiers from the Company C, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 11th Brigade, 23rd Infantry Division, which was led by Lieutenant William Calley. The unit was on a search and destroy mission, and had been told that the village of My Lai was a Viet Cong stronghold and that the villagers were providing support to the Viet Cong.
However, the villagers of My Lai were not Viet Cong and had no involvement in the war. The soldiers, under the command of Calley, entered the village and began shooting and killing civilians. Many of the victims were shot as they tried to flee, while others were rounded up and killed in groups. Some of the soldiers also raped and sexually assaulted the women and girls before killing them.
The massacre was not discovered until a year later, when a helicopter pilot, Hugh Thompson, reported the incident to his superiors. An investigation was launched, and Calley was eventually charged with murder and found guilty. He was sentenced to life in prison, but his sentence was later reduced to 20 years and he was released on parole in 1974.
The My Lai Massacre was a tragic and horrific event that resulted in the loss of hundreds of innocent lives. It is a disturbing reminder of the atrocities that can occur during times of war, and highlights the need for soldiers to always act with integrity and adhere to the rules of war. The incident also led to widespread outrage and condemnation, and contributed to the growing anti-war sentiment in the United States.
Today, the My Lai Massacre is remembered