Why did the My Lai Massacre occur?

Answer 1

My LaiOne of the most controversial aspects of United States involvement in the Vietnam War was the killing of 504 unarmed Vietnamese civilians by an American infantry company at a hamlet in South Vietnam called My Lai (mee ly), on 16 March 1968. My Lai was located in Quang Ngai province on the northeastern coast of South Vietnam. It had been a Communist stronghold for decades. American troops, brought into the province by helicopter, were told to expect enemy personnel in the hamlets. The infantry company, under the command of Captain Ernest Medina and Lt. William L. Calley, Jr., entered the hamlets of Son My and My Lai under orders to engage all enemy encountered.

Lt. Calley's troops proceeded to attack all personnel they found in the hamlet of My Lai, mostly women, children, and old men. Villagers were lined up along ditches and shot, their bodies falling into the ditches. Mothers were shot holding their babies. Some women were sexually assaulted and beaten before being shot. One soldier reportedly shot at a baby two times with his .45 pistol, missing both times. After being ridiculed by his fellow soldiers for his poor marksmanship, he stood over the child and fired a third time. Water buffalo, pigs, and chickens were also shot. Their carcasses were dumped down wells to poison the water.

While Calley's Charley Company was destroying My Lai, Bravo Company carried out a similar mission in the nearby hamlet of My Khe. But only My Lai came to symbolize the atrocity of the war in Vietnam.

A Vietnam veteran, Ronald Ridenhour, threatened to reveal what he had been told about My Lai. This forced the United States Army to conduct an investigation into the incident. The official inquiry resulted in the court martial of only Lt. Calley. The Army did take steps to prosecute others involved in My Lai. About two dozen men were charged, including Captain Medina, but Calley was the only one convicted. On 29 March 1971, Calley was convicted of the premeditated murder of 22 civilians. (He had been accused of killing 109) He was sentenced to life in prison at hard labor. President Nixon intervened on Calley's behalf and ordered him to serve his sentence under house arrest. Various appeals brought his sentence down to 20 and then 10 years. Calley was released after serving three and one half years under house arrest, most of the time served at his apartment in Fort Benning, during which time he was allowed visits by his girlfriend.

My Lai caused many Americans to question U.S. action in Vietnam. There was some public sympathy for Calley. Many felt that he was made the scapegoat and had "taken the rap" for his superior officers. MrV
The officer lost command & control of his men. In order to successfully lead men in battle, the leader (officer/commander) MUST know his men; their needs, their thoughts, who's aggressive...who is not...then he can lead them (command them); he then integrates that process into the mission. Command and Control, a fundamental principle of leadership.

Answer 2

AnswerPerhaps it was the heat of the battle, a lack of training or discipline, a lack of local leadership or a failure of leadership from the top down, or it could and probably was some of "all of the above."

There was a huge military base owned by the Vietcong in My Lai. The U.S. general had orders to kill every Vietcong soldiers. But the soldiers weren't there and so the U.S. army was thinking that they would have to kill all of the Viets in the living areas. The U.S. was supposed to attack the military of Vietnam. Not the civilians. and so on...

Answer 3

The poor lads were thrown into a pointless war and were sad :(

Britain knew it what a pointless war and refused to send our troops because we are sensible :)

ACTUALLY.....

the My Lai Massacre occurred because the men were sent into what they thought was a Viet Cong area and it turned out to be women children and old people. then the officer in charge was frustrated and insisted that they were Viet Cong and ordered the people to shoot. It was overall frustration that the war was going nowhere.

Answer 4

The My Lay Massacre occurred on March 16, 1968. Reports indicate the massacre started approximately 7:22 AM local with the approach of 9 helicopters and concluded with the killing of two prisoners at approximately 4 PM local.