My Lai and War Crimes

Question 1

What is My Lai?

Answer 1

A Hamlet in the Quang Ngai province of South Vietnam

Question 2

What kind of village was My Lai labeled as?

Answer 2

hostile

Question 3

Had C Company been to My Lai before?

Answer 3

Yes

Question 4

After C Company’s first visit to My Lai, how was it labeled?

Answer 4

hostile

Question 5

What had the province of Quang Ngai been labeled as?

Answer 5

a free fire zone

Question 6

What did it mean for Quang Ngai to be a free fire zone?

Answer 6

US does not need to coordinate with ARVN to fire at them

Question 7

What usually happens in a non free fire zone with US and ARVN?

Answer 7

Usually ARVN would report back after asking for fire if we want permission to fire

Question 8

What US group attacked My Lai?

Answer 8

C (Charlie Company)

Question 9

Who was captain of C Company?

Answer 9

Ernest Medina

Question 10

Who was field commander of C Company?

Answer 10

Lt. William Calley

Question 11

How does Medina begin his plan to attack My Lai?

Answer 11

He gives order to Calley to destroy the enemy.

Question 12

What did destroying the enemy mean to Calley?

Answer 12

To destroy everything that we assume can shoot a gun.

Question 13

How did the actual attack begin?

Answer 13

Calley went into the village with a group of men and started shooting.

Question 14

Why did Calley start shooting immediately at the residents of My Lai?

Answer 14

it was in a free-fire zone

Question 15

When Calley comes in with a gun, what do the people of My Lai start doing?

Answer 15

Villagers start to run away and scatter

Question 16

Why did the My Lai villagers scatter when they saw Calley shooting?

Answer 16

So not all of them get killed at once and there is more searching to the mission for Calley’s men.

Question 17

Where did most of the villagers run to?

Answer 17

the jungle

Question 18

When we saw them enter the jungle, what did we think they were doing?

Answer 18

getting guns to counterattack us

Question 19

What happened after Calley’s first group walked in?

Answer 19

C Company lands

Question 20

When C Company lands, what happens next?

Answer 20

They enter My Lai, round up the villagers who are hiding in their homes.

Question 21

When the Vietnamese do not come out from their homes, what does C Company think?

Answer 21

They could have a bomb shelter, VC or guns and food in an area.

Question 22

After not getting those in their homes to get out, what did C Company do?

Answer 22

They shoot around to try to find what is inside

Question 23

What are the reasons why we destroyed My Lau

Answer 23

• VC have been using it for cover
• hostile village
• we have lost many men here
• we are frustrated

Question 24

After a few threat shots, what do we start to do?

Answer 24

We burn the roofs and all of their belongings that are reachable. We also shot their animals.

Question 25

Why did we shoot all of My Lai's animals?

Answer 25

So enemy cannot use them for food or doing tasks.

Question 26

After burning stuff and killing animals, what is next?

Answer 26

We round up the villagers and tell them we are the VC.

Question 27

Are the VC hidden in My Lai?

Answer 27

Yes

Question 28

Why did we tell them we are the VC?

Answer 28

People are not cooperating with them and not telling them because they are counting on us not killing them

Question 29

Why do we want to kill everyone at My Lai?

Answer 29

There are VC hidden there and so if they support the VC, then they are the enemy.

Question 30

When we tell them about the VC, what do they do?

Answer 30

They get out of their houses.

Question 31

After they leave their homes, what do we do?

Answer 31

The villagers are shot, we kill all ages, women, as we are shooting.

Question 32

What are the two methods of us killing them?

Answer 32

1. Rounding groups up and killing groups. | 2. Some are running away and we kill them on the run.

Question 33

After the attack is done, how do the VC respond?

Answer 33

They put out propaganda saying that Calley had to write a report of body count.

Question 34

How many people were recorded dead at My Lai?

Answer 34

109

Question 35

How do people respond to the VC's propaganda accusations?

Answer 35

People talk to C Company to investigate and question the issue.

Question 36

What does Calley receive for his actions at My Lai from the American people?

Answer 36

A medal

Question 37

Who was Ridenhour?

Answer 37

He was a Vietnam Veteran that was not at My Lai, but had friends that wrote to him about it.

Question 38

Why did Ridenhour's friends write to him about My Lai?

Answer 38

They felt guilty about it and how it was unfair for the innocent.

Question 39

What did Ridenhour do with all the information in the letters he got?

Answer 39

He put evidence together and sends it into Nixon and Congress.

Question 40

What happens as a result of Ridenhour's letters to the government?

Answer 40

They do a second investigation of Calley and they question Calley again.

Question 41

After questioning Calley again, what happens?

Answer 41

He gets charged with 109 counts of murder.

Question 42

How many of the 109 murders is Calley convicted guilty of?

Answer 42

22

Question 43

What was his initial jail sentence?

Answer 43

life sentence

Question 44

What was his sentence changed to?

Answer 44

3 years

Question 45

How much of the 3 years does Calley actually serve?

Answer 45

Only 9 months of house arrest.

Question 46

Why were all of Calley's sentences reduced?

Answer 46

He claimed that he was not thinking of men women and kids and seniors when he had to "destroy the enemy."

Question 47

What are characteristics of a war crime?

Answer 47

- Torture - Physical or psychological - rape - civilians - forced labor - genocide/ethnic cleansing

Question 48

What was the reading about War Crimes and the identity conflicts they create?

Answer 48

"No Crime is a Crime During War"

Question 49

Did American support the limit on Calley's sentences?

Answer 49

They supported them, but noticed the US's conscience was dead.

Question 50

What did My Lai become a debate about?

Answer 50

Is it a war crime or not?

Question 51

How was the American conscience dead in Vietnam?

Answer 51

We could not figure out what to do with right vs. wrong.

Question 52

How many people are estimated to have died at My Lai?

Answer 52

about 500