My Lai Massacre
TheMy Lai Massacre(pronouncedIPA:[mi.˧˩˥'lɐːj˧˧],Thảm sát Mỹ Lai, Thảm sát Sơn Mỹ) was the killing of hundreds ofciviliansbyUnited States soldiersat the village of My Lai,VietnamonMarch 16,1968.A memorial in My Lai lists the names of 504 victims.
Before the massacre, U.S. soldiers were told that all of the "true" civilians would be at the market and the remaining people would be members of theNational Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam.When the soldiers got to the village they did not find any NLF troops. Despite this, many soldiers began to kill the villagers, mainly elderly people, women, and children.
The crew of aU.S. Armyhelicopter, intervened. That crew saved the lives of some of the (Vietnamese) civilians. They were able to save 11 people.
The killings were covered up by theUnited States Army,but eventually 26soldierswere charged with being involved in the killings. However, only one, LieutenantWilliam Calleywas found guilty.
The massacre caused public opinion in the United States to shift further towards wanting peace and wanting to get American soldiers out ofVietnam.
The intervention by the crew from a U.S. Army helicopter
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The crew of aU.S. Armyhelicopter,intervened.That crew saved the lives of some of the (Vietnamese) civilians.
The pilot of the helicopter, Warrant Officer Hugh Thompson Jr., saw dead and wounded civilians as he was flying over the village of Sơn Mỹ. The helicopter was providingclose-air supportfor U.S. soldiers (on the ground). The crew usedtwo-way radioto call for help for the wounded civilians. The crew landed their helicopter next to aditch,which they saw was full of bodies. They could see movement bysurvivors(in the ditch). Thompson spoke with two (American) soldiers next to the ditch. When Thompson waslifting-offwith the helicopter, he saw that Sergeant Mitchell was shooting into the ditch. Thompson and his crew werewitnessesto an unarmed woman being kicked and shot (, up close or) atpoint-blankrange by officer Medina. Medina later claimed that he thought she had a hand grenade. Thompson then saw a group of civilians at abunker,and soldiers were moving towards the civilians. Thompson landed, and told his crew that if the soldiers shot at the villagers while he was trying to get them out of the bunker, then his crew was to open fire on the soldiers.
Years after the event, the crew of the U.S. Army helicopter were awarded theSoldier's medalfor bravery. This is the highest award for a soldier who doesn't have contact with the enemy. The three wereHugh Thompson Jr.,Glenn Andreotta,andLawrence Colburn.Andreotta received itposthumously.He died in the Vietnam war.