My Lai Massacre
At a glance:
- Series: Magill’s Guide to Military History
- Categories: Military History, Terrorism
- Subcategories: Wars, Battles, Scandals, Vietnam War, Massacres, Genocide, Torture
- Curriculum: American History 1951-present, Asian History
- Geographical Location: Southeast Asia, Vietnam, Indochina
- Date: March 16, 1968
Article abstract: Type of action: Massacre in the Vietnam Conflict. Result: Massacre of civilians created a major military scandal.
Acting on reports that a small guerrilla army was based in My Lai, Captain Ernest Medina, the commanding officer of Charlie Company, sent Lieutenant William Calley and his platoon of some thirty men into the village to eliminate them. Encountering no opposing fire, Calley’s platoon of some thirty men advanced on the village, shooting and throwing grenades into the dwellings. The advance rapidly degenerated into a sadistic killing...
[The entire page is 297 words long]