"entrenched culture of cover-up" of war crimes
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2.15 What's the big deal about the My Lai massacre?
The My Lai massacre in March 1968 by U.S. soldiers of 504
Vietnamese old men, women, children, and babies never would
have become public if it had not been for the many photos
taken by one U.S. soldier. The photos were published in the
December 1969 issue of Life magazine.
The nation and world were shocked.
Most shocking of all was the exposure, by the ensuing Army
investigation, of the U.S. military's entrenched culture of
cover-up of atrocities (beatings, rape, torture, and murder).
Indeed thousands of former U.S. soldiers had been saying for
years that war crimes were taking place but the nation was in
denial. (see FAQ 2.13)
- Former soldier Ron Ridenhour, who heard about the massacre,
broke the case open by writing a letter to 33 CIVILIAN
authorities, since he knew he could not trust the military.
The letter was written a full year after the atrocity.
Many other soldiers in the Americal Division knew about the
atrocity, but did nothing.
- Ridenhour had seen GIs murder Vietnamese civilians before, in
ones, twos, and threes, but My Lai was something different.
- The official investigation of the massacre itself recommended
charging 30 men with major crimes.
- In addition, another official Army investigation of the
cover-up recommended charges against 28 officers, all
the way to the top, including two generals.
- Some units committed atrocities on a daily basis
(rape of Vietnamese girls). Both before the massacre and
continuing after the massacre.
- Many U.S. soldiers were too afraid to say anything, so kept
quiet. Not only were they afraid of being shot by the criminal
soldiers, but they also knew that in battle they had to depend
on these fellow soldiers, and did not want to ruin their
relationship.
- Many soldiers said that they felt the Army would do nothing
about any crimes.
- Even President Nixon said of the investigation (caught on
tape) "It's those dirty rotten Jews from New York who are
behind it".
- The cover-up investigation revealed that another massacre had
occurred at the village of My Khe (90 people killed).
To this day nobody has paid for their crimes. Only Lt.
Calley was convicted of murder, but due to political pressure
his life sentence was reduced, then reduced again, and then
he was finally freed after two and one half years of mostly
living at his home under house arrest.
Indeed, many "patriots" across the country gave Calley praise,
donated money to his defense, held rallys, and treated him
as a hero. There was even a popular ballad written about him
that was frequently played on the radio.
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In Memoriam: names of the 504 villagers killed at My Lai
http://www.mylaipeacepark.org/links_memoriam.lasso
My Lai Massacre
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Lai_massacre
Peers Inquiry
http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/Military_Law/Peers_inquiry.html
A U.S. Military Court Martial - mockery of justice
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/mylai/mylai.htm
My Lai Peace Park
http://www.mylaipeacepark.org/
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