Introduction
The Vietnam War was a controversial conflict that sparked much debate and discussion during and after the war. One of the most horrific incidents during the war was the My Lai massacre, where US soldiers brutally murdered unarmed Vietnamese civilians. William Thomas Allison’s book “My Lai: An American Atrocity in the Vietnam War” offers a detailed account of the events leading up to the massacre and the aftermath.
This essay will explore the author’s perspective on the My Lai massacre and its connection to the trials of Calley and Medina. It will analyze whether their actions were justified in Vietnam and whether their punishment was appropriate. This essay aims to shed light on the complexities of war and the importance of upholding the laws of war and the Geneva Convention. The My Lai massacre is a tragic reminder of the atrocities committed in times of war and the importance of accountability for all soldiers and commanders. The My Lai massacre violated international law and human decency, and Calley and Medina’s actions were unjustified, resulting in appropriate punishment for their crimes.
The My Lai Massacre
Events
On March 16, 1968, a group of American soldiers led by Lieutenant William Calley entered the village of My Lai in South Vietnam. The soldiers encountered no resistance, but they proceeded to round up and kill over 500 Vietnamese civilians, including women, children, and older people. William Thomas Allison describes the events leading up to the massacre, stating that “the soldiers were angry and frustrated by the Viet Cong’s tactics of blending into the civilian population and using the villagers for cover”. As a result, they began to view all Vietnamese civilians as potential enemy combatants.
The soldiers also received orders from their superiors to “kill anything that breathed” and were told that the villagers in My Lai were “Viet Cong or Viet Cong sympathizers”. These orders, combined with the soldiers’ anger and frustration, led to a massacre that would shock the world and cause lasting damage to America’s reputation.
Trials
The investigations and trials that followed the My Lai massacre were complex and controversial. The US military initially attempted to cover up the events at My Lai, but as information leaked out, pressure mounted for an official investigation. The US Army’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID) conducted a probe and eventually charged Calley and Medina with multiple counts of murder and other crimes.
The trials of Calley and Medina were highly publicized and drew widespread attention. Calley, in particular, became a lightning rod for controversy, as he was seen by many as a scapegoat for the wider failings of the US military in Vietnam. Calley’s defense team argued that he was following orders and had been trained to view Vietnamese civilians as potential enemies.
After the My Lai massacre was uncovered, Lieutenant William Calley and Colonel Oran Henderson Medina were charged with murder and other crimes. Calley was the unit’s commanding officer who carried out the massacre, while Medina was the commanding officer of the entire operation. Both men faced trials for their actions in the My Lai incident.
During Calley’s trial, he claimed that he was only following orders and believed the villagers in My Lai were Viet Cong or Viet Cong sympathizers. However, this defense did not hold up, and Calley was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. On the other hand, Medina was acquitted of all charges, as the prosecution could not prove that he had any direct involvement in the massacre.
Ethical Implications
It is difficult to say whether Calley and Medina were justified in their actions in Vietnam. On the one hand, they were soldiers following orders and trying to protect their fellow soldiers from harm. On the other hand, their actions resulted in the deaths of over 500 innocent civilians, many of whom were women and children.
One of the critical themes in Allison’s book is the dehumanization of the Vietnamese people by American soldiers. Allison writes, “The enemy was no longer the North Vietnamese Army or the Viet Cong, but the Vietnamese people themselves”. This dehumanization allowed soldiers like Calley and Medina to justify their actions and view innocent civilians as potential enemies. In addition, the orders given to soldiers to “kill anything that breathed” and the belief that all villagers were Viet Cong or Viet Cong sympathizers contributed to the atrocities committed in My Lai. The soldiers’ anger and frustration, combined with these orders, led to a situation where they felt justified in killing innocent civilians.
I believe the punishment meted out to Calley and Medina was appropriate. As soldiers, they had a duty to protect civilians and uphold the laws of war, which they failed to do. Furthermore, the trials of Calley and Medina warned other soldiers that the American military would not tolerate such atrocities. Allison notes that “the trials helped to clarify that the military would no longer tolerate war crimes or atrocities”. By punishing those responsible for the massacre, the military restored some of its credibility and demonstrated to the world that it was committed to upholding the laws of war.
In addition, the punishment of Calley and Medina helped to restore some of the dignity and honor of the Vietnamese people. Allison notes that “the trials and investigations… allowed Vietnamese survivors and witnesses to tell their stories and assert their dignity as human beings”. By holding those responsible for the massacre accountable, the military was able to acknowledge the suffering of the Vietnamese people and begin to heal some of the wounds caused by the war.
Conclusion
The My Lai massacre was one of the darkest moments in American military history. The trials of Calley and Medina were a stark reminder of the atrocities committed during the Vietnam War. An American Atrocity in the Vietnam War provides a powerful and poignant reminder of the human cost of war and the importance of upholding the laws of war, even during conflict. The lessons learned from My Lai and the trials of Calley and Medina must never be forgotten if we are to prevent such atrocities from happening again.
Work Cited
Allison, William Thomas. My Lai: An American Atrocity in the Vietnam War. Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, 2012.