By A little over 41 years has passed since the infamous massacre. From AP-
Speaking in a soft, sometimes labored voice, the only U.S. Army officer convicted in the 1968 slayings of Vietnamese civilians at My Lai made an extraordinary public apology while speaking to a small group near the military base where he was court-martialed.
“There is not a day that goes by that I do not feel remorse for what happened that day in My Lai,” William L. Calley told members of a local Kiwanis Club, the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reported Friday. “I feel remorse for the Vietnamese who were killed, for their families, for the American soldiers involved and their families. I am very sorry.”
Calley, 66, was a young Army lieutenant when a court-martial at nearby Fort Benning convicted him of murder in 1971 for killing 22 civilians during the infamous massacre of 500 men, women and children in Vietnam.
Is the apology too little, too late?
A big hat tip to Doug at Below the Beltway. BTB is one of my favorite blogs.
It is the sad reality. No mistake...
5:11 am on August 22nd, 2009 1
Yes and yes. There's nothing he can do now to atone for massacring those people AND besmirching the honor of the U.S. military. May this gesture be good for the peace of his soul, because that's all it's good for.
6:31 am on August 22nd, 2009 2
Yes, a "Second Lieutenant" was solely responsible for My Lai. True that his name was attached to it. But from my experience in the army, a 2nd LT usually has to be shown how to clean his rifle properly. Little more than an over paid and over educated Private.
That being said, what happened to the Captain giving the orders? The Major giving the orders to the Captain? Or the General flying over the area? Well the Major General—he lost a star. But you military types out there KNOW that a second lieutenant does what he is told and how he is told to do it. Why? Cause he wants to be a first leiutenant.
That kid was rail roaded. Why him? Easy! A Second Lieutenant has nothing to lose compaired to a Captain or Major.
The only thing he should have been sorry for was being stupid enough to follow orders that were (monday morning quaterbacking) illegal. Look around any military unit today and you will find a handfull of officers such as that LT's Captain and Major and General. They don't care, untill it effects them in a personel way.
Jessica Lynch story comes to mind as does the cover up of Pat Tillman.
I hope he finds some peace. I have no ill will for the man.
Lowest in rank that CAN be held to blam — will be held to blam.
He was the lowest — (Second Lieutenant)
8:57 am on August 22nd, 2009 3
Yes.
11:23 am on August 22nd, 2009 4
There is always a call to hang the "higher ups", unfortunately the Higher ups" gave no such orders. Sometimes it just "is what it is". A 2Lt who gave the orders to kill people, because he was frustrated.
Jessica Lynch story? What story? She's luckey to be alive. Pat Tilman coverup? Too bad he got shot by his own troops, and a general didn't want to deminish his service to his country. Wow, big coverup.
12:23 pm on August 22nd, 2009 5
Gerry Gerry Gerry—
There is a reason why (some reasonable) people want to hang the higher ups.
They give the orders. Let me say that again—they give the orders. Just that simple. No LT has ever been in charge of Mission Planning. To say: "it is what is is" frankly is a cop-out. This LT may have been stupid or weak but I do not think he was "frustrated" any more than any other officer in the AO.
If you think a Lieutenant took on this mission single handed without a mission statement from above, I would have to question your reasoning ability. It doesn't happen.
Jessica Lynch: What story? Gerry, be real. The army made her out to be a hero when in reality she never fired a shot. Pat Tilman—again the army made him out to be a hero. In other words, they LIED Gerry. To cover up Fratricide and "protect" those in charge.
Do you really think the army doesn't Lie when it suits them? I saw my share of it while serving. I saw people hung out to dry. This LT took the blame while others got off. A Captain—look it up Gerry.
Your outrage at the event is justified but yor blame is misdirected. You should be better informed before you condemn.
No wonder there are many on death row that DNA have cleared.
I do not intend to offend, but I hope no one that thinks as you do is ever on a jury.
9:01 pm on August 22nd, 2009 6
To say he was simply following orders (apparently, he wasn't) is a cop out.
One of the first things I was thought when I served in the military was to disobey immoral orders, particularly the ones that disrespect the Geneva Convention.
9:22 pm on August 22nd, 2009 7
Jessica Lynch gets 100% disability.
Did anyone ever stop to ask why?
True, she never fired a shot – that's documented because of eyewitness accounts.
1st SOD, Teams 3 and 6 and everyone else looked for her did anyone take the time and think about why? The media had a field day with water-boarding (which I support). What would they have done if they found out what Lynch did for her country?
12:16 am on August 23rd, 2009 8
Does she have PTSD? Apparently, a large number of our troops have this disorder. Many never actually saw combat, but I guess just being in country could cause it. Some have even caught it without ever going to Iraq.
2:06 am on August 23rd, 2009 9
Teadrinker—read what I wrote again. I never said he was guilt free. In fact I did refer to him as stupid for following illegal orders.
If you had done some research (you didn't)you would know what the orders were. No one should have followed them. But -(THEY)- did. My point is that he (alone) is the name attached to it, and that higher ranking individuals got off with little in the way of punishment.
Teadrinker, again do some research before you join the witch hunt, and read what I write before you put words in my mouth. I never said he was innocent, I said he – took – all – the – blame. More Officers should have had the same punishment.
Oh and the first things you were instructed in was how to stand in formation, how to drill, how to shoot and clean your weapon. Not how to differentiat between "lawful" and "unlawful" orders. I'm not at all sure you served. It is called basic training. In areas of possible conflict you get "rules of engagement", not Geneva Convention.
2:32 am on August 23rd, 2009 10
What she got was a Book Deal
She didn't even remember the crash that caused her broken bones. Troop has big bucks now, or did. I haven't kept up.
I was in Iraq in 2004-5. All I got was dirty, sunburned and a bad case of the "runs". Stopped wearing underwear
Yes, there are many "posers".
I would guess that the army gave her 100% to ease their mind about her convoy getting lost in a combat zone. Convoy leader's mistake caused many needless deaths. I forgot what awards she got for being unconscious during much of the action. The army wanted a female hero and this would also deflect attention from the errors of the leaders. Everybody wins, except the dead of course. But they won't complain.
10:12 am on August 23rd, 2009 11
LOL, no offense taken. And yes I am informed of what happened and why. And I was on standby last week for jury duty but wasn't called. Higher ups do give orders, but there were never any orders to murder innocent civilians at My Ly. Mr Calley made his own decisions. I used the word "frustrated" because I don't like the words weak and stupid. He could tie his shoes, so he couldn't have been that stupid. But frustrated may not be the best word either. So I don't really know why he did what he did, but he did.
I think the media had more to do with making Jessica Lynch a hero (especially being a female POW in a combat zone.) I bet a good number of reporters hurt themselves trying to get the story. But so what. There was nothing "wrong" with that. Other than a misguided media. But they have been that way as long as I can remember. And good for Jessica, hope she does well in the world. She has nothing to be ashamed of.
The Tilman story is pehaps more of a contraversy. Misguided? maybe.Doing evil deeds, no.
11:49 am on August 23rd, 2009 12
Back on topic of Lt. Calley. He was told the village was a Viet Cong strong hold. Does the explain the killing of women, children and elderly? How can a grown man claim he felt threatened by them?
No explanation for that other than criminal cowardice.
I am sure, even in the 60's, whatever academy he was commissioned from taught something on the Geneva Conventions and the Law of Armed Conflict. He, and all those complicit in that crime should still be in prison.
5:30 pm on August 23rd, 2009 13
I believe Lyndsy England also gets PTSD disability. So go figure. Yes the PTSD crowd is filled with people in the rear who heard a mortor one night and now claim they have trouble living because of it. Its fairly well known, but congress won’t touch it because its a political nightmare. And when it comes to courage you know where congress stands. (I do not pretend to take anything away from those who truely desearve a PTSD disability).
Otherwise it sounds like “I went to war and all I got was this T-shirt”. You gots lot more than that, and as you go through life you’ll realise it more and more.
1:51 am on August 24th, 2009 14
I agree. ALL of them. Not only one LT, which is what happened. I do not defend him as innocent. I condemn the system that labeled ONLY him as a murderer.
The academy was OCS. I'm sure as a officer, he got a class. But in the field, it is the Rules of Engagement. Which goes back to those in command, of which he was at the bottom of that line of officers. His Captain gave him his briefing on the threat level. There is a line of responsibility and he was at the bottom of that line, not the top.
As for killing women, children and elderly. In that war, they could be a threat. As hard as that may be for you to believe. Women in today's wars have been used to kill and destroy. I'm not defending the action, but I wasn't there—either. As americans we have our way of thinking. That does not mean that the rest of the world shairs it. It is more likely that they would use it against us. If you know the enemy is reluntant to shoot women, it simply makes sence to use that knowledge against them. To an american soldier's horror to be sure. But after the first experience, you will learn, if you survive.
2:02 am on August 24th, 2009 15
Gerry
I did get one more thing—the pride in having served my country in Iraq. Otherwise I am happy to have gotten ONLY a "T-shirt". There is not anything else I want from that time.
1:01 pm on August 24th, 2009 16
Gerry, (but there were never any orders given)
From "My Lai: a brief history" by James Olson and Randy Roberts
Captain Medina said "everything that walked and didn't wear a uniform was VC."
Eugene M. Kotoue, Intelligence Officer attached to Task Force Barker testified: "the civilian population was known to be rather active sympathizers with the VC. The VC was a local unit. The VC came from the families. There were mothers, fathers and sons of the VC. They were not people that came down from the north."
"Colonel Barker said he wanted the area cleaned out, he wanted it neutralized, and he wanted the buildings down. He wanted the hootches burned and the livestock run off or killed."
Many soldiers in Charlie company had carried away this interpretation of Captain Medina's instructions, Captain Medina's message was that it was time for revenge, that they should think about their friends who had been killed or wounded and then go into My Lai and settle some scores.
"It was clearly explained that there were to be no prisoners", recalled Sergeant Ken Hodges.
"The order that was given was to kill everyone in the village. Someone asked if that meant women and children. and the order was: everyone in the village—it was qute clear that no one was to be spared in that village."
None of this testimony came from LT calley, or was about him. Calley was not the one giving orders that day, and his guilt should be shared by those who gave the orders. He did NOT operate on his own.
He did not make his own decisions. Nor did the other Platoon Leaders involved in the killing, whose names were not attached to this crime.
As with all orders, they come from "higher up". Why was only one man's name given to be at fault? 79% of the population at that time believed he was being rail-roaded. Life at hard labor was reduced to 3 years of house arrest on BASE. Why? Maby because he was rail-roaded.
1:56 pm on August 24th, 2009 17
Those who were complicit should be still be in prison. Including the Sgts, Pfcs and Pvts, who pulled the trigger and murdered women and children. Its got to be a mean, unbalanced, person who has no morals to kill a child under any circumstances. I wonder how they sleep at night? (It wasn't my fault, it was the higher ups?)
12:50 am on August 25th, 2009 18
It was also the nature of that war Gerry. From my readings, women and some children even, could sometimes be dangerious. It was their fault, but it was the LEADERS fault for allowing and in some cases encourageing these actions.
Wikipedia: Military use of children
Women Warriors: A History
Ut Tich: killed 35 Saigon Troops in 1965. She died in battle in 1970.
Hote Que: Fought against the vietcong. She was a mother of 7. She lead army raids. She was killed in 1965
A vietnamese officer offered these comments about women that accompanied him to flush out nests of vietcong: "most of these women volunteered for the best reason in the world—they had a score to settle. These were women who had lost their families to the Vietcong in the Tet Offensive against the americans and the South. they had seen them lined up on the wall and shot by the North."
My Lai: A brief history:
CAPTAIN MEDINA said, "everything that walked and did not wear a uniform was VC.
The Intelligence Officer testified: "the civilian population was known to be active sympathizers with the VC. the VC was a local unit. The VC came from the families."
"COLONEL BARKER, said he wanted the area cleaned out, he wanted it neutralized, and he wanted the buildings down. He wanted the hootches burned and the livestock run of or killed.
CAPTAIN MEDINA's message was that it was time for some REVENGE, that they SHOULD THINK ABOUT THEIR FRIENDS WHO HAD BEEN KILLED OR WOUNDED AND THEN GO INTO MY LAI AND SETTLE SOME SCORES.
"It was CLEARLY EXPLAINED THAT THERE WERE TO BE NO PRISONERS", recalled Sergeant Ken Hodges.
"The ORDER THAT WAS GIVEN was to KILL EVERYONE IN THE VILLAGE. Someone asked if that meant women and children. And the ORDER WAS: everyone in the village—it was quite clear that no one was to be spared in that village.
Gerry, If I can look up this information, anyone can. Those of you who condemn the person who's name is attached to this TODAY need to read up. 79% of the population (at the time of these events) believed the LT was rail roaded and took ALL THE BLAME to protect higher ranking officers.
He was given life at hard labor. It was reduced to THREE YEARS OF HOUSE ARREST—-ON BASE. On BASE Gerry.
From life at hard labor to three years of house arrest. AND NONE OF YOU SMELL ANYTHING?
It was a different time a different war a different army (i hope)
None of us here today are in ANY position to judge the situation these soldiers were in. Their LEADERSHIP WAS FUBAR.
None of you cared enough to google. but that didn't stop any of you from condemning someone you don't know — in a situation you don't understand,
in a war that you were not involved with.
OFFICERS also pulled triggers as well as giving orders to lower enlisted to pull triggers. What happens in war time if you refuse or disobey orders? Oh yea, they, in hind sight were not legal ORDERS. That might have come out in a trial about a (Tillman type situation). If there were a trail. If it wasn't covered up.
Why do you not want the General, Colonel and the Captain to take any blame for their piss poor leadership Gerry? They gave the ORDERS!
Now you want Sergeants and Privates to get jail—-but not the general and captain or other officers. WHY?
11:53 am on August 25th, 2009 19
Don't buy it. I was in Vietnam 1971-1972, I was at Bien Hoa, fairly safe and I was a REMF. (Not by choice but by circumstance). On occasion I had to travel to Ton Son Nhut with the Captain I worked for and had to travel through VC friendy areas.(about 20 miles by air and 25 by road) We were all aware of the stories of kids throwing grenades into the backs of the duece and a halfs, and yes, they did run after the trucks yelling and looking for handouts. The looks from the people in the villages was very hard, and I would not have wanted to have been alone during a trip without a M16.
My Ly is just south of Cu Chi at the time a large US Army base. There was VC activity throughout the area and had been for a long time. My Ly was one of the very unfriendly areas and I suspect the mission of "Clearing out the area" was just that. Kill the VC you find. Very few mwn of military age resided in these villages anymore. They had joined or been taken by the VC to join their ranks. Any males of military age would have been suspect immediately. As far as "remember those that died" and "no prisoners" it would be normal to behumanize the enemy and give motivation to those who have to do the shooting. It was and probobly still is a huge motivator.( by the way the VC did not wear uniforms, the NVA did, and we're talking VC).
So up to this point everything (as terrible as it may sound) is pretty much SOP. "The orders that were given were to take no prisoners and kill every one in the village including women and children". Who gave that order? Lt Calley did. Not the higher ups, not Captain Medina, not the general, the Major, the Colonal. Lt Calley did. And murdered over 300 cililians in the process.
2:00 pm on August 25th, 2009 20
You don't have to buy it Gerry. You just comfirmed all that I said.
Except one. You do not except testimony given at the trial.
You back up everything!
Except the testimony given?! Your a piece of work Gerry.
You are the type of person I fear most. You believe blindly no matter the testimony to the contrary. WOW!
I have no desire to try to make a point with a wooden table. As it can't be done.
Carry on with your blind hate Gerry. May you both be very happy together.
And thanks for revealing yourself to me. I will never attempt a point of logic with you again.
I salute you sir as you were obviously an officer above 02. It all makes sence now
Again, thanks for backing me up on the sit-rep!