Introduction
In the book “My Lai: An American Atrocity in the Vietnam War,” William Thomas Allison thoroughly analyzes the circumstances preceding the My Lai massacre and its consequences. My Lai is a Vietnamese village, and the attack occurred in March 1968. Allison sheds light on the atrocities committed by American soldiers in Vietnam through his research of interviews, records, and testimony. He also highlights significant issues regarding the ethics of war and the accountability of soldiers.
The book investigates the events that resulted in the murder of several unarmed Vietnamese civilians, including women, children, and senior citizens. Additionally, Allison looks into the trials of Ernest L. Medina and William Calley, who were accused of crimes connected to the My Lai tragedy. Therefore, this essay will discuss my opinions on what transpired in My Lai and how they relate to the cases of Calley and Medina using William Thomas Allison’s book.
The Mai Lai Events
In December 1967, Medina, Calley, and Charlie Company flew with Pan American Airways to Da Nang. After that, helicopters flew the group to the Landing area Bronco in the province of Quang Ngai. The soldiers underwent three days of orientation exercises that included light military assault preparation. My thoughts are that after learning how to assault the communities, they had to first find protection there before destroying them.
Purposefully targeting innocent civilians was one of the My Lai massacre’s most terrible features. They entered My Lai, as William puts it, ” They had gone into My Lai not to find the enemy, but to seek out unarmed, defenseless civilians and kill them” (William Thomas Allison p, 36). This demonstrates that the soldiers who carried out the massacre did not do it in self-defense or for the benefit of their nation. Instead, they were committing an act of heinous aggression against defenseless individuals. Innocent people should never be killed or treated violently without discrimination since it is immoral.
The Role of William Calley and Ernest L. Medinain the My Lai Events
William Calley, the leader of Charlie Company’s 1st Platoon, was a crucial participant in the My Lai massacre. Allison presents Calley as a man with serious character flaws who is unprepared for the harsh realities of warfare. Allison writes, “Calley’s leadership style seemed to create confusion and tension among his men” (William Thomas Allison p, 52). The turmoil and violence that broke out in My Lai were caused mainly by Calley’s lack of management and poor decision-making abilities.
Ernest L. Medina was a second officer implicated in the massacre. According to Allison, Medina was a “hard-charging” and “brash” leader known for taking chances (William Thomas Allison p, 81). In My Lai, Medina gave instructions to “kill anything that moves” (William Thomas Allison P, 87) and “level everything” (William Thomas Allison p, 95), showing his aggressive methods and disrespect for the lives of My Lai civilians. My opinion is that the armed forces from Charlie Company engaged in horrific acts of brutality against unarmed Vietnamese villagers.
Soldiers’ Accounts Regarding the Massacre
In the book, Allison recounts how the soldiers, under the command of Lieutenant William Calley, subjected the inhabitants to rape, brutal treatment, and killing. The massacre was required to defend American forces because the military thought the locals were aiding the Vietnamese Communists. Allison, however, disagrees, claiming that the murderous act was a war violation and that the villagers constituted no threat to the military. The reality that many armed forces appeared to think of the Vietnamese people as inferior human beings is one of the atrocities at My Lai’s most distressing features.
A soldier states, “I never saw one of them [the Vietnamese] that was decent unless you killed him or something” (William Thomas Allison p, 36). The soldiers could commit crimes without experiencing any sorrow or sympathy for those they murdered. My thoughts on this is terrible since they do not give a damn about the underprivileged Vietnamese. Vietnamese took these actions because they did not want foreigners living in their nations. They seek to defend their nations from outsiders. As a result of the soldiers, so many Vietnamese people perished.
Justification of Calley’s and Medina’s Punishment
The trials of Calley and Medina sparked intense debate, with some contending that they served as scapegoats for a more serious issue inside the military. Allison contends that they were liable for their deeds and should have been held answerable. As William notes, “The My Lai trial was a test of the military justice system and the American commitment to the rule of law” (William Thomas Allison p, 17). The court process was a crucial step in ensuring the victims’ and the rights of their families justice as well as an affirmation of the principles upheld by America. However, it is more difficult to determine whether the consequence was appropriate.
Allison sheds light on the historical context of the Vietnam War, including the challenging terrain and the strain of battle. William writes, “The chain of command failed at My Lai, and responsibility for the massacre extends far beyond Lieutenant Calley and the soldiers who pulled the triggers” (William Thomas Allison p, 140). He adds that the Armed Forces command structure may have had a role in the disintegration of discipline that resulted in the slaughter.
Thoughts on whether or not their punishment was appropriate differ. Although Calley was initially given a life sentence, he only completed three and a half years of home arrest. Medina was exonerated on all counts. Given the seriousness of their crimes, some contend that the penalty was excessively light. Others claim their penalty was unfair because they only carried out orders.
Allison, however, presents a convincing case for their guilt, contending that they were entirely conscious of the seriousness of their actions. Considering these aspects, it is evident that Calley, Medina, and the soldiers they led were wrong in what they did. As noted by Allison, “The soldiers of Charlie Company were not fighting for their lives, but for their honor and their pride” (William Thomas Allison p, 115). Their acts were purposeful and intentional assaults against innocent individuals, not the outcome of an error or miscommunication.
Conclusion
The book “My Lai: An American Atrocity in the Vietnam War” is a complete and horrifying account of one of the most atrocious periods in American military history. The book thoroughly accounts for the My Lai massacre and its repercussions and is compelling and thought-provoking. Allison confronts the rationale for the killing with vivid depictions and thorough analysis, contending that those guilty should be held accountable.
Even if the Calley and Medina trials are still debatable, Allison’s work offers important insights into the difficulties of war and the need for troops to sustain moral standards even amid dire situations. While the Vietnam War’s historical background may offer some justification for the lack of order that resulted in the murder, it cannot justify the acts of those who took part in it. Despite the most challenging situations, we must continue to work for fairness and accountability as Americans.
Work Cited
William Thomas Allison. My Lai: An American Atrocity in the Vietnam War. John Hopkins University Press, 2012.