How did the public react to My Lai?
The nation’s reaction to My Lai mirrored its attitudes toward a war that by November 1969 had become markedly unpopular. The press properly expressed horror at the revelations, but it also treated My Lai ethnocentrically as an American story. Some blamed the war itself rather than the men of Charlie Company.
How did the army cover up the My Lai massacre?
American soldiers stabbed, clubbed, and carved “C [for Charlie] Company” into the chests of their victims; and herded them into ditches and blew them to bits with grenades. One soldier recalled cutting victims’ throats and chopping off their hands.
Did anyone survive the My Lai massacre?
An American soldier tossed in a grenade. Cong was the only survivor — lying wounded and unconscious for hours before his father and neighbors found him. As Friday’s 50th anniversary of the massacre approached, Cong said he is still haunted with nightmares from that day.
What was the aftermath of the My Lai massacre?
U.S. Army officers covered up the carnage for a year before it was reported in the American press, sparking a firestorm of international outrage. The brutality of the My Lai killings and the official cover-up fueled anti-war sentiment and further divided the United States over the Vietnam War.
What was the effect of the My Lai massacre?
What were the effects of the My Lai massacre?
Why Did My Lai massacre happen?
What was the My Lai massacre and why did it happen? The My Lai Massacre was an incident that occurred when American soldiers killed more than 500 unarmed South Vietnamese citizens in the village of My Lai. It occurred when Charlie Company was ordered to enter the village for a search and destroy mission.
What was the American reaction to the my Lai Massacre?
Upon the discovery of the true events of the My Lai massacre, America responded with outrage. Americans questioned the conduct of American soldiers in Vietnam after learning about how disorganized the event was. The strong loyalty that Americans had once had for their Armed Forces was hurt by the new image of the military that was created.
What did the soldiers do at my Lai?
The soldiers didn’t encounter any enemy troops. Yet they proceeded to set huts on fire, gang-rape the women, and murder some 500 unarmed civilians including approximately 50 children under the age of four. On the 50th anniversary of the My Lai massacre, the barbaric act still remains difficult to fathom.
When did the Battle of my Lai start?
The truth emerged piecemeal, and only much later—indeed 20 months after those first reports. There’d been no firefight, no clever pincer movement. Instead, on the morning of March 16, 1968, more than 100 American soldiers had swept through the village of My Lai in South Vietnam.
Who is still alive from the my Lai Massacre?
A postscript on some of the My Lai participants: Calley is still alive; he lives in Florida. As recently as 2009, Calley insisted that he was “only following orders” at My Lai. Ex-Private First Class Meadlo, who had joined Calley in shooting unarmed civilians, today lives in Indiana.