Charlie Company Blame

Some villagers were herded into ditches where they were shot. Still other groups were taken to a southern trail and shot there. Members of the 2nd Platoon killed at least sixty to seventy Vietnamese men, women, and children. The 2nd platoon also committed several rapes of the women. Military photographers recorded graphic images of bodies dumped in ditches. Many of these photos were given to Time Magazine and published. (Time 1) A group of about 70-80 Vietnamese were killed in a mass execution in the same fashion.

Before we ask about My Lai Massacre, we need to know what is My Lai Massacre the My Lai massacre is My Lai massacre has indiscriminately shot unarmed civilians during the Vietnam War. The genocide was the duty of an officer of Charlie Company in the United States to lead a team in search of Vietnam. Their teams occupied a place called My Lai and slaughtered civilians under the direction of the high commander. Charlie Company entered South Vietnam in December 1967. In the first month there was no fighting, but in mid-March, five members of the team were killed by booby traps. Moreover, Vietnam’s 48th Battalion attacked US forces in the South Vietnam. The place of the incident occurred not far from where civilians live. This time, the US military was very angry and determined a massive counterattack the villages. Colonel Oran K Henderson orders Charlie Company to commit a massacre. The civilians who lived there were mainly woman, children and the elderly. American soldiers cruelly murdered and mocked them after receiving get permission. In the massacre more than 500 civilians were slaughtered and many women were raped and murdered. They attempted to conceal the events they had committed and led to an antisense sentiment that further divided the United States during the Vietnam War. However, some US military testimonies make their world known to their cruelty, including genocide and rape. In this paper, I will write down things about the behavior of the US

What was the background of members of Charlie Company and what did they expect in enlisting for service in Vietnam?

When Richie’s platoon leader, Lieutenant Carroll, is killed during a combat mission, Richie begins a serious search for answers to why he and his fellow soldiers are even fighting in Vietnam in the first place. Though his friends insist that such thoughts are futile and dangerous, Richie feels compelled to find meaning within the chaos. He also longs for some way to communicate his confused thoughts and emotions to his family, but he remains unable to do so. Richie is not sure how to sort out the emotions he feels or how to communicate them effectively to civilians who have never seen combat.

Yet in Vietnam the Army experienced tactical success and strategic failure... The...Vietnam War...legacy may be the lesson that unique historical, political, cultural, and social factors always impinge on the military...Success rests not only on military progress but on correctly analyzing the nature of the particular conflict, understanding the enemy's strategy, and assessing the strengths and weaknesses of allies. A new humility and a new sophistication may form the best parts of a complex heritage left to the Army by the long, bitter war in Vietnam."

The My Lai massacre took place in South Vietnam on March 16, 1968. To some, the occasion is considered the worst event in American military history. A group of American soldiers attacked and killed between 300 and 500 Vietnamese men, women, and children. About a year later people learned of the violent attacks made on these innocent people by newspapers and newscasts. When people heard of the attacks, it increased the animosity against war and gave the public another reason to resent the Vietnam veterans. Hugh Thompson is a soldier that felt the story of My Lai should be known. He stopped multiple violent attacks against the Vietnamese by intervening and risking his own life, by putting himself between the Vietnamese and American soldiers with

During a reconnaissance in force, Delta Company 187th engaged enemy forces as they trenched along the hillside. Unknown size elements of enemy forces engaged, with a total count of just two enemy killed in actions. US forces had assumed the North Vietnamese forces would conduct small sporadic attacks and escape back into Laos or Cambodia (Ibid. PG168.). Soon after Delta Company broke contact, Bravo Company engaged an unknown size element of enemy forces. From the controlled firing, it was determined that the assault on the hill will face resistance from a well-disciplined

American soldiers in the Village of My Lai were actually killing innocent civilian and at disbelief of the actions taking place by his fellow soldiers.

While we may never know the exact details of the My Lai Massacre, what is evident is that episodes like My Lai were reoccurring events throughout the war. This paper aims to contextualize the My Lai Massacre and the court-martial of Lieutenant Calley within the greater framework of America’s involvement in the Vietnam War. What drove the U.S. to intervene in Vietnam and how did its reckless policies during the war create the conditions for soldiers to commit

     On March 16, 1968, in the Quang Ngai region of Vietnam, specifically My Lai, the United States military was involved in an appalling slaughter of approximately 500 Vietnamese civilians. There are numerous arguments as to why this incident even had the capacity to occur. Although some of the arguments seem valid, can one really make excuses for the slaughter of innocent people? The company that was responsible for the My Lai incident was the Charlie Company and throughout the company there were many different accounts of what happened that reprehensible day. Therefore there are a few contradictions about what had occurred, such as what the commanding officers exact instructions for the soldiers were. Even

The My Lai incident relates to the Afghanistan shooting as they both demonstrate acts of war crimes against innocent villagers. The My Lai incident took place in a Northern part of Southern Vietnam when Lt. Calley of the 11th Brigade Charlie company took part in acts of war crimes against innocent villagers. Lieutenant Calley was charged with killing a total of 104 villagers during the My Lai Massacre. In this incident the soldiers were very irritated with the booby traps and attacks against them that killed so many of their men. This frustration was taken out on the My Lai villagers by Lieutenant Calley as a way of revenge against the Viet Cong. Even though the reasoning behind his war crimes was out of frustration, the direct perpetrator,

section of the valley to the heavy jungle area at the foot of the hills. Our

On March 16, 1968, in the Quang Ngai region of Vietnam, specifically My Lai, the United States military was involved in an appalling slaughter of approximately 500 Vietnamese civilians. There are numerous arguments as to why this incident even had the capacity to occur. Although some of the arguments seem valid, can one really make excuses for the slaughter of innocent people? The company that was responsible for the My Lai incident was the Charlie Company and throughout the company there were many different accounts of what happened that reprehensible day. Therefore there are a few contradictions about what had occurred, such as what the commanding officers exact instructions for the soldiers were. Even with these contradictions

Initially, the massacre was considered a military victory, claiming that 128 Viet Cong and only twenty-two citizens were killed. General William C. Westmoreland, MACV commander, congratulated the unit on an "outstanding job." Investigations began with 11th Light Infantry Brigade's commanding officer, Colonel Henderson, under orders of Americal Division's executive officer, Brigadier General George H. Young. Henderson interviewed several soldiers involved in the My Lai operation, then issuing a report late April claiming that twenty some odd citizens were killed. Six

The lack of resupply, “FAC-man, the company’s enlisted forward air controller, has once again not been able to talk a resupply chopper down through the clouds, so this had been the fourth day without resupply,” limited the men from functioning properly. The men who had been injured were holding on to hope that a medivac would come. To me this is completely unacceptable. These men were sent to Vietnam to fight a war they did not start