March 22nd is the 50th anniversary of My Lai. What is the military's legacy for this tragedy? What were your thoughts at the time?

2018-03-17T17:40:46-04:00

Five hundred Vietnamese people in the village of My Lai were shot, stabbed, bayoneted, and blown up by US Army soldiers led by a Lt. William Calley. The press crucified him. A court-martial was convened, Calley was convicted. Do you think he acted alone, or did this go higher up?

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Mar 17 at 2018 5:44 PM

2018-03-17T17:44:22-04:00

Bad people do bad things. So do weak people. I suspect that Lt Calley was one of the latter. He snapped from the frustration of the rules of engagement imposed upon him. He snapped from his inability to successfully lead his men in combat. He snapped because... well, who knows. But snap he did and he committed a crime for which he was punished. And America was punished because we who serve/served are/were agents of We the People. Sad...

Response by SSgt Jim Gilmore made Mar 17 at 2018 5:49 PM

2018-03-17T17:49:18-04:00

MY PERSONAL OPINION is that Calley was a scapegoat to protect the senior officers who actually issued the orders. That opinion hasn't changed. It is 50 years after the fact. Learn from it and move on.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2018 6:08 PM

2018-03-17T18:08:30-04:00

I couldn't believe it at the time, until history proved me wrong.

Response by SPC Jovani Daviu made Mar 17 at 2018 7:01 PM

2018-03-17T19:01:05-04:00

This is news to me. I don't know what to say. Wow

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Mar 17 at 2018 7:48 PM

2018-03-17T19:48:15-04:00

At the time, i didn’t believe it. Now, though Lt Calley was ultimately responsible, i still point the finger at micro-management from the Puzzle Palace and the White House for putting American troops in a position where they were blamed for losses, but weren’t allowed to win (or even fight).

Afghan vets take note.

Response by SPC David S. made Mar 17 at 2018 8:06 PM

2018-03-17T20:06:35-04:00

While I wasn't even born yet we did study the case at the USAFA -
Young 18 year old kid and LT tells me to light em up - just thankful I never had to be in such a position.

I do think he shoulder the blunt of responsibility for his CoC in this.

Response by SCPO Morris Ramsey made Mar 17 at 2018 8:39 PM

2018-03-17T20:39:57-04:00

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member How many years did Calley serve. I remember this vividly. It was not the best of times for those of us serving.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2018 2:35 PM

2018-03-18T14:35:25-04:00

If the buck stops here, this is still LBJ's fault. His ROE created the worst possible environment for the service members deployed into Vietnam. But it was LT Calley's massacre that we were taught in boot camp, " not all orders are lawful."

Response by SGT Randy Bordner made Mar 23 at 2018 10:25 AM

2018-03-23T10:25:33-04:00

I served in the infantry in the Quang Ngai province where My Lai is located and was wounded not far from the village. This was the most heavily mined area in Vietnam and unless someone has had the pleasure of walking this peninsula then it would be very hard to comprehend how this could have happened. There is an excellent article that was published in Playboy of July, 1970 that was written by Tim O'Brien (infantryman in Americal) and the area was dubbed "The toughest place in the world to stay alive". I do not condone what he did but I have a deep appreciation for how he was affected by losing so many of his men. This was also before training of what constitutes a legal order.