Hugh Thompson  and the  

My Lai Massacre: Turning Tragedy into Triumph 

         

Charles O’Connor Junior Division Historical Paper 

Word Count:2500 Words 

As the bloody and exhausting Vietnam War escalated, tragedy struck on the

eastern coast of Vietnam in 1968. Charlie Company tore through the village of My Lai,

killing, raping, burning and beating hundreds of innocent citizens. As the horrors

unfolded, Chief Warrant Officer Hugh Thompson Jr. disobeyed orders of “search and

destroy,” and saved the lives of several civilians. After the senseless violence ended,

Thompson triumphantly shed light on the barbarity despite attempts of a cover up,

inspired generations of soldiers to come, and cemented his place as a hero in a dark

hour of history.

The Vietnam War 

 

The Vietnam War started in 1955. America would enter the battle ten years later

in 1965. The conflict started as a power struggle over Vietnam between two leaders: Ho

Chi Minh, who pledged to a communist Vietnam, and Ngo Dinh Diem, who opted for a

capitalist government . The communist forces occupied Northern Vietnam, and the 1

capitalist fighters inhabited South Vietnam . America entered the civil war under the 2

“domino effect” theory. This idea stated that allowing communism to fester in one place

would start a chain reaction in the surrounding countries . America, which had recently 3

been inserting itself in communism driven conflicts such as the Korean War, started

supplying aid to South Vietnam . By the year 1968, over 19,000 Americans had been 4

1 “How Did the Vietnam War Start?” The Week UK, The Week UK, 13 Apr. 2018. 2 “How Did the Vietnam War Start?” The Week UK, The Week UK, 13 Apr. 2018. 3 “Vietnam War.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 29 Oct. 2009. 4 Spector, Ronald H. “Vietnam War.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 14 Nov. 2018.

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killed. Even though America had only been in the war for three years, many casualties

occurred, and they were felt throughout the armed forces . 5

Charlie Company 

 

Deployed from Hawaii, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment,

11th Infantry Brigade touched down in Vietnam on December 1, 1967, only 3 months

before the massacre . Deployed with Charlie Company, Hugh Thompson Jr. was set to 6

be a helicopter pilot during their missions. Thompson had a modest upbringing in Stone

Mountain, Georgia . Thompson’s father, Hugh Thompson Sr. had served in the Navy 7

during World War II. Thompson’s older brother served in the Air Force. Inspired by his

father’s and brother’s service, he joined the Navy in 1961 . Three years later, Thompson 8

was honorably discharged. In 1966, Thompson felt the need to serve his country once

again and enlisted in the Army. Following his completion of the Warrant Officer Flight

Program, Thompson was assigned to Charlie Company. Charlie Company’s work

mainly consisted of practicing mission strategies and making trenches . The light 9

workload allotted lots of time to the soldiers to patronize local shops and relax. If the

company did take on a mission, it was usually a low risk, routine sweep of a village . 10

5 “Vietnam War.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 29 Oct. 2009. 6 “Charlie Company and the Massacre.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service. 7 Goldstein, Richard. “Hugh Thompson, 62, Who Saved Civilians at My Lai, Dies.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 7 Jan. 2006. 8 Goldstein, Richard. “Hugh Thompson, 62, Who Saved Civilians at My Lai, Dies.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 7 Jan. 2006. 9 “Charlie Company and the Massacre.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service. 10 Ray, Michael. “My Lai Massacre.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 24 Oct. 2018.

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However, despite the “good times” at the camp in the southern Quang Ngai Province,

death and destruction was not a foreign concept to the new arrivals. In the coming

months, the brigade would experience casualties within their ranks, almost all due to

landmines and booby traps . The terrors of bloodshed were only miles outside camp. 11

Furthermore, leaders in the platoon were often undertrained and resented . Lieutenant 12

William Calley was one such leader. Calley had only gone through basic training and a

six month junior officer training program. He often didn’t have the respect of his soldiers

and was even openly teased by the company captain, Ernest Medina . Three of the 13

four lieutenants that commanded Charlie Company platoons had little more training than

the soldiers they ordered around. Calley, specifically, had a lot to prove - it was reported

that he couldn’t even read a map or compass properly . Calley was also described as 14

incompetent and lacking common sense, making him one of the most despised

superiors in the company, so much so that soldiers under his command thought about

“fragging” him, intentionally killing him using a grenade to make it look accidental . As 15

the realities of the violent conflict loomed over the helmet-clad heads of Charlie

Company soldiers, anger, indignation, and grief was rife. An almost picture-perfect army

deployment filled with easy tasks and plenty of time to fraternize turned into a harsh

environment populated with heavy hearts . Basecamp’s mental health took a turn for 16

the worst, and the volatile emotion festered. The toxicity was bound to boil over. And so

11 “My Lai Massacre.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 9 Nov. 2009. 12 Levesque, Christopher J. “The Truth Behind My Lai.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 16 Mar. 2018. 13 “Witness Says Calley Shot My Lai Civilians.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 2 Dec. 1970. 14 “Calley Found Guilty of 22 Murders.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 30 Mar. 1971. 15 Hersh, Seymour M. “The Massacre At My Lai.” The New Yorker. 16 Thompson, Hugh. “Moral Courage In Combat: The My Lai Story.” United States Naval Academy, 2003.

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it did. The atrocities that a rageful Charlie Company would leave in their wake was

unimaginable . The environment was poison, and it spilled out of basecamp. 17

The Massacre 

 

On the morning of March 16, 1968 members of an embittered Charlie Company

move towards a hamlet, My Lai 4. The sweep of the village was conducted under

suspicion of Viet Cong inhabiting the area . In February and early March of 1968, 18

American soldiers had fought intensely to regain control of the nearby villages. The VC

had reportedly been established in My Lai for some time . Company leaders, being in 19

an almost stalemate with the VC in the area, gave aggressive orders of “search and

destroy” . Earlier in the week, multiple soldiers and a sergeant were killed by booby 20

traps set up in the vicinity of My Lai. William Calley used the deaths as revengeful

fodder for his soldiers, amplifying the already zealous orders. His rallying call reeked of

bitterness, anger, and vengeance . Even further up the command chain, Captain 21

Medina ordered, while briefing soldiers for the operation, that anything “walking, talking,

or growing” when entering My Lai should be shot . Multiple briefings about the 22

operation implied that whoever was found in the villages would be VC and that civilians

would be gone. Specialist Four Lawrence Congleton stated that, following a briefing,

17 Hersh, Seymour M. “Return to My Lai.” The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2017. 18 Ray, Michael. “My Lai Massacre.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 24 Oct. 2018. 19 Ray, Michael. “My Lai Massacre.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 24 Oct. 2018. 20 Hersh, Seymour M. “The Massacre At My Lai.” The New Yorker. 21 “Witness Says Calley Shot My Lai Civilians.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 2 Dec. 1970. 22 Jones, Howard. “America's Darkest Hour: a Timeline of the My Lai Massacre.” OUPblog, 25 Sept. 2017.

4

“There was a general conception that we were going to destroy everything .” When the 23

massacre began troops entered the village, and found nothing more than women,

children and older men finishing their breakfast. No hostility was ever directed toward

the soldiers . 24

And then the atrocities started. Soldiers from Lt. Calley’s Platoon began shooting

people working in the rice patties. Then, the company moved into the village where they

herded many villagers into a common area and began killing them . Several women 25

and children began praying on their knees at a temple and were shot in the head . 26

Throughout the killings, women and children as young as 12 were reported being raped

and mutilated before being killed . Lt. Calley stood with his soldiers firing at innocents 27

randomly and in groups. At certain points, a grenade launcher was used to fire into

ditches of bodies and also at civilians walking in the general area of My Lai . All the 28

while, houses were set on fire, livestock was killed, and wells were polluted . The 29

massacre continued for hours, briefly stopping so the platoon could eat lunch . 30

Although some soldiers did not participate in the murdering of the innocents, they did

nothing to stop or merely question what was happening. Throughout the vile genocide,

23 Hersh, Seymour M. “The Massacre At My Lai.” The New Yorker. 24 Ray, Michael. “My Lai Massacre.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 24 Oct. 2018. 25 Levesque, Christopher J. “The Truth Behind My Lai.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 16 Mar. 2018. 26 History.com Editors. “U.S. Troops Massacre South Vietnamese.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 16 Nov. 2009. 27 Hersh, Seymour M. “The Massacre At My Lai.” The New Yorker.  28 Hersh, Seymour M. “The Massacre At My Lai.” The New Yorker.  29 Hersh, Seymour M. “The Massacre At My Lai.” The New Yorker.  30 Peers Inquiry, Report of the Department of the Army Review of the Preliminary Investigations into the My Lai Incident. Library of Congress Call Number DS557.8.M9 U54 1974 and OCLC Number 1646516 [Volume I only, declassified and released]; OCLC Number 248718242 (Complete collection, comprised of volumes I through IV)).

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Calley continued to shout at his soldiers to continue shooting. At some points, groups of

more than 70 people were killed at once in irrigation ditches . “I had to climb over so 31

many bodies... I was crying so much,” recalled one of the survivors of the massacre who was

grouped with other civilians in a ditch. Some people were randomly stabbed with 32

bayonets. Captain Ernest Medina was seen kicking a woman and then shooting her in

the head because he supposedly thought she had a hand grenade. This was later

disputed, as only one weapon was ever recovered from the entire operation, away from

the village . Mothers would try to shield their children from the gunfire, and once they 33

were killed, the child would subsequently be murdered . Villagers who were herded into 34

groups could be heard yelling “No VC,” but their cries did not deter the soldiers . 35

As the horrors unfolded on the ground, Chief Warrant Officer Hugh Thompson

was providing close air support in his helicopter along with his two gunners, Specialist

Four Glenn Andreotta and Specialist Four Lawrence Colburn . As Thompson flew over 36

the villages, he noticed hoards of wounded civilians. He radioed in multiple times,

attempting to get help for the injured. What Thompson didn’t realize initially was that

many of the people he saw were already dead . Thompson eventually landed his 37

helicopter near a ditch filled with dead and mortally wounded civilians. Thompson asked

31 Peers Inquiry, Report of the Department of the Army Review of the Preliminary Investigations into the My Lai Incident. Library of Congress Call Number DS557.8.M9 U54 1974 and OCLC Number 1646516 [Volume I only, declassified and released]; OCLC Number 248718242 (Complete collection, comprised of volumes I through IV)). 32 Maresca, Thomas. “50 Years after My Lai Massacre, Survivors Remember: 'I Had to Climb over so Many Bodies'.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 16 Mar. 2018, 33 Jones, Howard. “America's Darkest Hour: a Timeline of the My Lai Massacre.” OUPblog, 25 Sept. 2017. 34 “Charlie Company and the Massacre.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service. 35 Ray, Michael. “My Lai Massacre.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 24 Oct. 2018. 36 Goldstein, Richard. “Hugh Thompson, 62, Who Saved Civilians at My Lai, Dies.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 7 Jan. 2006. 37 Ray, Michael. “My Lai Massacre.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 24 Oct. 2018.

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Sergeant David Mitchell if he could help get the people out of the ditch, to which the

sergeant replied that he would “help them out of their misery” . Thompson returned to 38

his helicopter, and as he took off, he could see Sergeant Mitchell shooting into the ditch.

Thompson, understandably, was appalled . As he flew above My Lai, he spotted a 39

group of soldiers approaching a bunker full of civilians. Thompson landed and instructed

Specialists Colburn and Andreotta to fire upon the soldiers if they try to shoot at the

bunker while he attempted to rescue the defenseless group . As Thompson tried to 40

persuade the dozen or so villagers out of the bunker, a lieutenant stated that Thompson

should use a grenade to get them out. Thompson responded by telling the lieutenant to

stop his men from advancing . The group that was found in the bunker was then 41

evacuated from the village via Thompson’s helicopter. After the initial rescue,

Thompson rescued a few more of the civilians . “We saw a young girl about twenty 42

years old lying on the grass. We could see that she was unarmed and wounded in the

chest. We marked her with smoke because we saw a squad not too far away. The

smoke was green, meaning it's safe to approach...Captain Medina came over, kicked

her... and finished her off... When we saw Medina do that, it clicked. It was our guys

doing the killing,” Specialist Colburn recalled . In a staunch defense of the Vietnamese 43

38 Thompson, Hugh. “Moral Courage In Combat: The My Lai Story.” United States Naval Academy, 2003. 39 “Calley Found Guilty of 22 Murders.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 30 Mar. 1971. 40 Hersh, Seymour M. “The Massacre At My Lai.” The New Yorker. 41 Peers Inquiry, Report of the Department of the Army Review of the Preliminary Investigations into the My Lai Incident. Library of Congress Call Number DS557.8.M9 U54 1974 and OCLC Number 1646516 [Volume I only, declassified and released]; OCLC Number 248718242 (Complete collection, comprised of volumes I through IV)). 42 Editors. “Vietnam War: A Timeline of U.S. Entanglement.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 15 Sept. 2017. 43 Levesque, Christopher J. “The Truth Behind My Lai.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 16 Mar. 2018. 

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civilians’ human rights, Thompson directly challenged Calley over his sadistic treatment

of the powerless inhabitants of My Lai . The executions didn’t cease until Thompson 44

and his crew would report the murders back to Lieutenant Colonel Barker, the leader of

Charlie Company. After Barker talked to Captain Medina, the massacre finally stopped45

. In the end, over a dozen war crimes were committed and an estimated 504 innocent 46

children, women, and old men were killed . Thompson’s valiant and triumphant actions 47

were the only thing standing between the bloodthirsty army forces and the innocent

Vietnamese civilians’ human rights.

Cover Up and Investigation 

 

Attempts to conceal what happened at My Lai began almost immediately. Initial

reports of the operation stated that 128 Vietcong fighters had been killed and that the

“fight” was a victory . Thompson was one of the few people to submit a formal 48

complaint about the massacre. Predictably, Thompson’s report did little to rouse

suspicion. Near to nothing was done in the months following the mass killing . 49

44 History.com Editors. “U.S. Troops Massacre South Vietnamese.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 16 Nov. 2009. 45 Spector, Ronald H. “Vietnam War.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 14 Nov. 2018. 46 “United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect.” United Nations, United Nations. 47 Jones, Howard. “America's Darkest Hour: a Timeline of the My Lai Massacre.” OUPblog, 25 Sept. 2017. 48 “Charlie Company and the Massacre.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service. 49 “Charlie Company and the Massacre.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service.

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However, former Specialist Five Ronald Ridenhour knew something was wrong ever

since he flew over My Lai in the days following the massacre. Ridenhour began asking

questions to members of Charlie Company, and soon felt that something sinister had

transpired . Ridenhour wrote letters to multiple members of Congress, the Pentagon, 50

and the President. Only three congressmen responded to the letter. They urged the

Pentagon to open a formal investigation into the matter . Meanwhile, Thompson was 51

receiving military awards to buy his silence. Independently, Seymour Hersh, an

investigative journalist, interviewed William Calley and broke the story in November of

1969, more than a year after the massacre occurred . The My Lai incident quickly 52

gained steam in the media, with multiple large publications publishing stories and

graphic photos of the mass murder. The revelation of the massacre fueled anti-war

sentiment in America and increased hostility against those involved . This anger even 53

found its way directed at Thompson, despite his obvious courageous actions to defend

the vulnerable villagers. It wasn’t until mass outrage from the public was expressed that

a formal investigation and subsequent inquiry took place . Lieutenant General William 54

Peirce was designated to preside over the inquiry by the Secretary of the Army. The

investigation, although it did confirm the tragedy that took place in My Lai, sought to

blame officers who had died in the war . One thing that it did help to uncover, however, 55

50 Ralph, Talia. “5 Major Atrocities in US Military History.” Public Radio International, PRI, 12 Mar. 2012. 51 Hersh, Seymour M. “Return to My Lai.” The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2017. 52 Hersh, Seymour M. “The Massacre At My Lai.” The New Yorker.  53 “My Lai Massacre.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 9 Nov. 2009. 54 History.com Editors. “U.S. Troops Massacre South Vietnamese.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 16 Nov. 2009. 55 Peers Inquiry, Report of the Department of the Army Review of the Preliminary Investigations into the My Lai Incident. Library of Congress Call Number DS557.8.M9 U54 1974 and OCLC Number 1646516 [Volume I only, declassified and released]; OCLC Number 248718242 (Complete collection, comprised of volumes I through IV)).

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was the more widespread and undoubtedly racially charged killings of Vietnamese

innocents . Evidence from Peirce’s investigation led the Office of Provost Marshal 56

General of the Army to court martial 25 army personnel involved in My Lai . Hugh 57

Thompson testified against fellow soldiers on trial, despite the immense amount of

pressure to keep quiet. The cover up was a government wide effort, from the soldiers at

My Lai, to President Nixon himself. Nixon, while telling the public that he endorsed the 58

idea of legal action against those involved in My Lai, created a task force of other

government higher ups to ensure no Americans faced any consequences for their

actions. Despite Thompson’s attempts, only Lt. Calley was charged with any 59

wrongdoing . All of the other soldiers that had been court martialed were acquitted. 60

Sadly, Calley was supposed to serve life in prison for premeditated murder, but ended

up only serving a paltry three years before being paroled . 61

Legacy 

 

After the trials, Hugh Thompson retired to a quiet life as a flight instructor and a

pilot for oil companies. The war had damaged him - he became an alcoholic and

56 Peers Inquiry, Report of the Department of the Army Review of the Preliminary Investigations into the My Lai Incident. Library of Congress Call Number DS557.8.M9 U54 1974 and OCLC Number 1646516 [Volume I only, declassified and released]; OCLC Number 248718242 (Complete collection, comprised of volumes I through IV)) 57 “Witness Says Calley Shot My Lai Civilians.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 2 Dec. 1970. 58 Angers, Trent. “Nixon and the My Lai Massacre Coverup.” New York Post, New York Post, 16 Mar. 2014. 59 Nixon, Richard. “Command Influence.” 1969. 60 “Calley Apologizes for Role in My Lai Massacre.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 22 Aug. 2009.  61 “Calley Apologizes for Role in My Lai Massacre.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 22 Aug. 2009. 

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divorced several times . It wasn’t until an avid university professor started trying to get 62

Thompson the recognition he deserved that he broke his silence. In 1988, the Clemson

University professor’s work ended up getting Thompson awarded the Soldier’s Medal,

the most prestigious army award given as a result of a non-combat situation . The 63

award was also given to Thompson’s gunners, Lawrence Colburn and, posthumously,

Glenn Andreotta. Just days after receiving the award, Colburn and Thompson visited

My Lai and talked with survivors . It was then, Thompson started to give lectures about 64

moral obligations in war, at places such as the US Naval Academy and West point. He

educated students not on battle strategies, but on compassion and courage. He spread

a triumphant message of rising above the corrupt “powers that be,” and leading with

your heart . Hugh Thompson would give these lectures almost annually until he passed 65

away on January 6, 2006, aged 62 . 66

Conclusion 

 

Hugh Thompson persevered through the heinous and terrifying tragedy that was

the My Lai Massacre. He witnessed his fellow soldiers commit the most repugnant

crimes imaginable, and he chose to take a stand for the common good of those in need.

Thompson made an undeniable difference, not only in the Vietnam War, but in the

62 Goldstein, Richard. “Hugh Thompson, 62, Who Saved Civilians at My Lai, Dies.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 7 Jan. 2006. 63 Thompson, Hugh. “Moral Courage In Combat: The My Lai Story.” United States Naval Academy, 2003. 64 Thompson, Hugh. “Moral Courage In Combat: The My Lai Story.” United States Naval Academy, 2003. 65 Ray, Michael. “My Lai Massacre.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 24 Oct. 2018. 66 Goldstein, Richard. “Hugh Thompson, 62, Who Saved Civilians at My Lai, Dies.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 7 Jan. 2006.

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generations of soldiers following. The My Lai Massacre was one of the lowest points in

army history, and Thompson distinctly rose above it, defying the coercion from all levels

of the army, including the president. He turned devastation into a message, immorality

into vigilance, and tragedy into triumph. Thompson quietly became a hero in the face of

darkness, did his part to educate others and made the world a more aware, conscious,

and better place. Thompson, without asking for any recognition or awards, broke the

confines of peer pressure, coverups, and intimidation, forever solidifying his place as a

triumphant hero in a time of great need.  

 

12

Appendix A

67

This photograph shows a woman in red crying hysterically. Behind her, a woman

buttons her shirt, presumably after being sexually assaulted. On the left, a terrified child can be seen screaming. Moments later, the group was killed.

67 Ray, Michael. “Woman in Red Crying.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, 13 June 2003.

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Appendix B

68

Bodies and houses of Vietnamese civilians being burned.

68 Haeberle, Ronald. “American Soldiers Burned Numerous Homes during the My Lai Massacre on March.” The Washington Post, 1968.

14

Appendix C

69

A dead man lying in a ditch, his murdered son next to him.

69 Haeberle, Ronald. “Unidentified Vietnamese Man and Child Killed by US Soldiers.” Wikipedia, 1968.

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Appendix D

70

Hugh Thompson (right) and his gunner Lawrence Colburn (left) revisiting My Lai on the 30th anniversary of the massacre. They met with survivors they saved and visited the

My Lai memorial site, in addition to visiting schools and talking with locals about how the war influenced their lives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

70 Langer, Emily. “Lawrence Colburn, Soldier Honored for Intervening in My Lai Massacre, Dies at 67.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 16 Dec. 2016.

16

Primary Sources  

“Calley Apologizes for Role in My Lai Massacre.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News 

Group, 22 Aug. 2009, 

www.nbcnews.com/id/32514139/ns/us_news-military/t/calley-apologizes-role-my-lai-

massacre/. 

 

This article told of William Calley’s apology that he gave more than 40 years after the 

mass killing. This story added a level of depth to his actions that wasn’t there before, 

and helped me better understand why Calley acted the way he did on March 16, 1968. 

 

“Calley Found Guilty of 22 Murders.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 30 Mar. 

1971, www.theguardian.com/theguardian/1971/mar/30/fromthearchive. 

 

This article gave me more insight into how the trials for the participants in the 

massacre were conducted, and more importantly, the outcome of William Calley’s trial 

and what he was convicted of.  

 

Nixon, Richard. “Command Influence.” 1969. 

 

This collection of statements from Richard Nixon and his staff to the public regarding 

the My Lai Massacre highlight the hypocrisy of the president. These conflicting public 

statements, which conflict with what Nixon said in private, add much more depth to the 

massacre cover up. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17

Maresca, Thomas. “50 Years after My Lai Massacre, Survivors Remember: 'I Had to 

Climb over so Many Bodies'.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 16 Mar. 

2018, 

www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/03/15/50-years-after-my-lai-massacre-sur

vivors-still-haunted-what-they-saw/427966002/. 

 

Quotes from this article gave a more individual perspective of the massacre. They also 

illustrated personal experiences during the killings and highlighted the pain, 

confusion, and pure horror.  

 

Hersh, Seymour M. “The Massacre At My Lai.” The New Yorker, 

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1972/01/22/i-coverup. Accessed 5 Feb. 2019. 

 

This article by Seymour Hersh was the first account to ever break the My Lai story. 

This article was extremely long and packed full of quotes, anecdotes, and had tons of 

information about the coverup of My Lai. This was one of my favorite sources due to 

the amount of content it had, and the variety of interviews and first-hand accounts of 

the massacre. 

 Thompson, Hugh. “Moral Courage In Combat: The My Lai Story.” United States Naval 

Academy, 2003. 

 

This lecture, directly from Hugh Thompson himself, is an excellent example of how 

Thompson influenced and taught generations of soldiers and educated them on their 

moral duty. It also gives personal insight from Hugh Thompson about what happened 

in the village of My Lai. 

 

 

 

 

18

Peers Inquiry, Report of the Department of the Army Review of the Preliminary 

Investigations into the My Lai Incident. Library of Congress Call Number DS557.8.M9 

U54 1974 and OCLC Number 1646516 [Volume I only, declassified and released]; OCLC 

Number 248718242 (Complete collection, comprised of volumes I through IV)) 

The Peers Inquiry has tens of thousands of pages of testimonies, interviews, maps, 

photos, and other miscellaneous sources. It was obviously a gold mine of information 

for me. Not only was I able to gather individual sources and testimonies from the 

inquiry, but I was able to examine how the document was presented as a whole, to look 

at how it factored into the coverup and investigation.  

 

Hersh, Seymour M. “Return to My Lai.” The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2017, 

www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/03/30/the-scene-of-the-crime. 

 

This article written by the original journalist who broke the My Lai story includes 

interviews of soldiers involved and really captures the emotional side of the massacre, 

and how it changed everyone involved.  

 

“United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect.” United 

Nations, United Nations, www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/war-crimes.html. 

 This website listed and directly quoted war crimes, according to the Geneva 

Convention. After reviewing the crimes, it was clear that Charlie Company’s actions 

had violated a superfluous number of the laws. I think knowing that Charlie Company’s 

decisions transcended national law strengthened the idea of how horrible and violent 

the massacre was.  

 

 

 

19

“Witness Says Calley Shot My Lai Civilians.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 

2 Dec. 1970, 

www.nytimes.com/1970/12/02/archives/witness-says-calley-shot-mylai-civilians-witne

ss-says-calley-fired.html. 

 

This article was another one of my favorite sources, specifically because it focused on 

Lt. Calley’s actions during the massacre. Knowing what he had done and looking over 

some of the interactions he had with his fellow soldiers, It was fairly easy for me to 

grasp the idea of Calley feeling like he needed to “toughen up” to prove himself. This 

idea of Calley trying to strengthen his image through the massacre was perfectly 

captured by this article.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20

Secondary Sources  

“Agent Orange.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2 Aug. 2011, 

www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/agent-orange-1. 

 

This source told me about an essential part of Vietnam War history: agent orange. 

Learning about the horrific effects it can have on the soldiers helped paint the picture 

of what life was like in combat.  

 

Jones, Howard. “America's Darkest Hour: a Timeline of the My Lai Massacre.” OUPblog, 

25 Sept. 2017, blog.oup.com/2017/09/americas-darkest-hour-timeline-lai-massacre/. 

 

This Oxford University Press article and timeline gave a general outline about how the 

My Lai Massacre and the events following it progressed.  

 

“Charlie Company and the Massacre.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 

www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/my-lai-charlie-company-and-massacr

e/. 

 

This source really dissected Charlie Company’s actions in the lead up to the massacre. 

It also explained the dynamic at the company’s basecamp, which was helpful in 

understanding the terrible conditions the soldiers had to face and how it affected their 

actions.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

21

Ralph, Talia. “5 Major Atrocities in US Military History.” Public Radio International, PRI, 12 

Mar. 2012, www.pri.org/stories/2012-03-12/5-major-atrocities-us-military-history. 

 

This source examines some of the worst massacres and wrong doings perpetrated by 

United States Military Forces. I was able to compare and contrast them. This helped 

me determine, at least in terms of casualties, that the My Lai Massacre was the worst 

mass killing ever committed by a branch of the military. 

 

“How Did the Vietnam War Start?” The Week UK, The Week UK, 13 Apr. 2018, 

www.theweek.co.uk/93268/how-did-the-vietnam-war-start. 

 

The Vietnam War started due to the conflicting views between two leaders in Vietnam, 

and this article helped me to understand, in depth, what those views were, how they 

were very different, and how it set the stage for the bloody war.  

 

Goldstein, Richard. “Hugh Thompson, 62, Who Saved Civilians at My Lai, Dies.” The New 

York Times, The New York Times, 7 Jan. 2006, 

www.nytimes.com/2006/01/07/us/hugh-thompson-62-who-saved-civilians-at-my-lai-die

s.html.  

 

This source was vital to learning about Hugh Thompson’s work of lecturing Naval 

Academy students. It also gave me more insight into Thompson’s personal life and 

what his motivations were.   

 

Ray, Michael. “My Lai Massacre.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, 

Inc., 24 Oct. 2018, www.britannica.com/event/My-Lai-Massacre. 

 

This source was enriching and deepened my understanding of the My Lai Massacre. It 

helped me, specifically, with getting familiar with the original plans of the operation. 

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“My Lai Massacre.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 9 Nov. 2009, 

www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/my-lai-massacre-1. 

 

The My Lai Massacre was a new and slightly confusing topic for me. This article was a 

great place for me to start and helped me understand the fundamental elements that 

played into the massacre.  

 

Angers, Trent. “Nixon and the My Lai Massacre Coverup.” New York Post, New York 

Post, 16 Mar. 2014, 

nypost.com/2014/03/15/richard-nixon-and-the-my-lai-massacre-coverup/. 

 

This source introduced me to how President Nixon factored into the coverup of the My 

Lai Massacre. Learning this added a whole new level to the story of the coverup. I 

thought Nixon’s role in concealing the genocide further enforces the triumph of Hugh 

Thompson’s defiance. 

 

“Tet Offensive.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 29 Oct. 2009, 

www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/tet-offensive. 

 

This article on the Tet Offensive guided me through a very influential event during the 

Vietnam War, the Tet Offensive. This operation was a large blow to American forces 

and their mental health.  

 

Levesque, Christopher J. “The Truth Behind My Lai.” The New York Times, The New York 

Times, 16 Mar. 2018, 

www.nytimes.com/2018/03/16/opinion/the-truth-behind-my-lai.html. 

 

This New York Times article was critical to my understanding of the complex coverup 

of the My Lai Massacre. It also went over the inquiry and investigation in the matter 

and how it brought about several court martials.  

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History.com Editors. “U.S. Troops Massacre South Vietnamese.” History.com, A&E 

Television Networks, 16 Nov. 2009, 

www.history.com/this-day-in-history/u-s-troops-massacre-south-vietnamese. 

 

After I had a basic understanding of what happened in My Lai, I was able to learn more 

from this source about specifics of the immediate cover up, investigation and failed 

prosecution. 

“Vietnam War.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 29 Oct. 2009, 

www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-history. 

 

The Vietnam War, predictably, has many layers to its story. I knew it would be 

challenging to unpack the intricacies of My Lai without understanding the Vietnam War 

first, and this article was a great place to start.   

 

Spector, Ronald H. “Vietnam War.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, 

Inc., 14 Nov. 2018, www.britannica.com/event/Vietnam-War. 

 

I used this source for its brief yet thorough overview of the conflict in Vietnam. It 

helped me understand the power dynamic that existed between South Vietnam, 

America, Cambodia and North Vietnam. 

 

Editors. “Vietnam War: A Timeline of U.S. Entanglement.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite 

Information Network, 15 Sept. 2017, 

www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/09/11/vietnam-war-timeline-u-s-involveme

nt-over-decades/653693001/. 

 

With so many notable events during the Vietnam War, it can be hard to keep track of 

when they happened and for what reason. This timeline helped display in an 

easy-to-understand manner when, where and why certain events happened. 

 

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Editors, History.com. “Vietnam War Timeline.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 13 

Sept. 2017, www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-timeline. 

 

This timeline illustrated the pacing of the Vietnam war, and helped me understand how 

the events interacted with each other.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Pictures  

Haeberle, Ronald. “American Soldiers Burned Numerous Homes during the My Lai 

Massacre on March.” The Washington Post, 1968, 

www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2018/03/16/it-was-insanity-at-my-lai-u-

s-soldiers-slaughtered-hundreds-of-vietnamese-women-and-kids/?utm_term=.c509c04a

0e89. 

 

I chose to use this photo in my appendix because I think it shows the chaos that was 

felt that day. It exemplifies the disregard for human life at the center of the massacre.  

 

Langer, Emily. “Lawrence Colburn, Soldier Honored for Intervening in My Lai Massacre, Dies at 67.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 16 Dec. 2016, www.washingtonpost.com/national/lawrence-colburn-soldier-honored-for-intervening-in-my-lai-massacre-dies-at-67/2016/12/16/873f445c-c3a1-11e6-8422-eac61c0ef74d_story.html?utm_term=.43f5fae7d74b.  I wanted to use this photo from Hugh Thompson and Lawrence Colburn’s return to My 

Lai to show how the event impacted their lives. I think it perfectly exemplified how 

honored they were to be the ones to help the civilians in need and how, even after 30 

years, they still felt a connection to the village.  

 

Haeberle, Ronald. “Unidentified Vietnamese Man and Child Killed by US Soldiers.” 

Wikipedia, 1968, 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Lai_Massacre#/media/File:Dead_man_and_child_from_the_M

y_Lai_massacre.jpg. 

 

I wanted to include this picture to represent the brutality and indiscriminate killing of 

innocents. I felt that it was incredibly moving. It gives you the feeling that you want to 

look away, which perfectly encapsulates the vial massacre.  

 

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Ray, Michael. “Woman in Red Crying.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia 

Britannica, 13 June 2003, 

www.britannica.com/event/My-Lai-Massacre/images-videos/media/884415/109002. 

 

Similar to the picture of the dead man and his child, I felt this picture was an amazing 

way to show another side of the massacre: fear. The child’s and the woman’s faces are 

those of pure terror and make a powerful statement. 

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