My Lai Massacre

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

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

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

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