The My Lai Massacre, 1968 (AQA GCSE History): Revision Note

Summary

Hundreds of Vietnamese civilians, including many women and children, were murdered by US troops in the village of My Lai in March 1968. The massacre was covered up for over a year, but eventually, photographs were given to the press and caused an international scandal. 

Investigations confirmed that innocent people had been murdered by US soldiers and recommended that those involved be prosecuted. However, only one man stood trial. He was found guilty of the killings and received a life sentence, but after just three years, he was released from prison on the order of President Richard Nixon. 

The My Lai massacre damaged the reputation of both the American government and US soldiers and led to more protests against the war.

What was the My Lai massacre, 1968?

• On 16th March 1968, around 80 US soldiers arrived by helicopter in the village of My Lai on a search and destroy mission

  • They had been told:

    • to expect to fight the Vietcong

    • that the villagers had been supplying the Vietcong with food

• Only women, children and elderly people were in the village

  • The troops, known as Charlie Company and led by Lieutenant Calley, had lost several of their men to booby traps and ambushes in recent months

  • US Forces had also just been humiliated by the Tet Offensive weeks before

  • The members of Charlie Company believed that many women and children were Vietcong fighters

• The massacre resulted in the deaths of between 347 and 500 My Lai villagers 

  • The majority were women and children — including babies

  • Some women had also been tortured and raped by the US soldiers 

How was the My Lai massacre exposed to the public?

• For many months, the terrible events at My Lai were known only by those who had taken part or witnessed it

  • Stories of the massacre started to spread amongst US soldiers

  • Some wrote letters to generals and politicians telling them about it

  • The overall commander of US troops in Vietnam, General Westmoreland, ordered an inquiry to find out if the stories were true

• At around the same time, photographs taken by Sergeant Ron Haeberle, who had been at My Lai, were leaked and published by Life magazine

  • The photographs contained graphic and shocking images of dead villagers

• Many Americans were appalled by the massacre, and it damaged the reputation of the US military

  • Opposition to the war increased, and US soldiers were often called “baby killers” by protesters

Calley’s trial, 1970–71

• Both the government and the army launched investigations into the My Lai massacre

  • They concluded that hundreds of civilians had been murdered and that the murders were covered up 

• Many people were charged with either taking part in the massacre or covering it up

  • Most of the charges were dropped before going to trial

  • Only Lieutenant William Calley — the leader of Charlie Company — was found guilty

• William Calley was convicted of the murder of 22 villagers

  • He was given a life sentence in March 1971

  • However, President Richard Nixon intervened, and Calley was released from prison in 1974

• Calley claimed he was following orders, but many Americans believed others should have also stood trial

  • The outcome of the investigations and the trial further damaged the American peoples’ trust in the US army and government