My Lai massacre and background?

Question

Basically what was the background to the massacre. What were the things that contributed to the event.

Also what things did the soldiers do(apart from kill peopel) were a breach of human rights?

Answer 1

My Lai was the site of a massacre of 504 innocent civilians by American GIs on March 16, 1968. The GIs raided villages, slaughtered women and children execution-style in ditches and under trees and then burned their huts.

The majority of the troops carried out their orders without question but some men refused to take part in the bloodshed. One example of a personal protest was Herbert Carter. This soldier shot himself in the foot so that he would not have to take part. The US army attempted to cover up the event but after 18 months the details of the massacre were eventually uncovered when a soldier who was not present but heard about the massacre leaked it to the press.

The assault was conducted under Sgt William Calley of the US Army (commander of Charlie company, 1st battalion, 20th regiment). Only Calley faced trial for the crimes committed as the other soldiers got off on technicalities. Once the massacre was uncovered, he was required to attend an international war-crimes tribunal where he was sentenced to 20 years in jail. However, this was shortened to two years of house arrest and he was eventually pardoned by Richard Nixon.

The Company involved was young and inexperienced. They had been sent to one of the worst areas for heavy fighting, known as the Badlands. Many had only been in Vietnam for three months and were 18 to 19 years old. They were thrown into a disorganised, dysfunctional unit, which had experienced 75 per cent casualty rates. Calley was an incompetent leader who was not trusted by his men. He was ruthless in his actions at My Lai, possibly to prove himself to be an effective leader.This combined with the absence of an experienced, well trained officer contributed to the pushing them over the edge on that fateful day.

Answer 2

The USA forces in Vietnam were facing increasingly difficult conditions in their warfares against the Vietcong guerillas, in 1968.  Somehow, it was given orders that there could be Vietcong "sympathisers" in My Lai village (not confirmed), and the 1st Battalion launched an attack, killing the women and children in the village.  Even those who held up their hands to surrender were gunned down, and many were thrown into ditches, while still alive and were brutally murdered.  In total, a high estimate of 504 unarmed innocent villagers were massacred.  

After the event, though there were investigations, the high command falsified reports on the incident.

Even after the truth was revealed, those court-martialled soldiers were let off, contravening the terms of international agreement based on Nuremburg trials.

Thus, USA has been guilty of committing gross human rights, and in not following the terms of Nuremburg for crimes against humanity.

Answer 3

Shell got it the closest (except for Calley's Rank which was Lt, not Sgt).  She had facts, background and no political anti-American ax to grind which warped the first answers facts very badly.