What an incredible back story. Thank you for publishing it. We are old now, but our generation has not forgotten the horrors of VietNam -- and our leaders who were responsible but never paid the price. Today VietNam is a cruise ship destination, and a source of cheap imported production. I abhor both. The pain of my generation -- those of us who cared deeply-- will never disappear. Again, sincere thanks for this reminder.
I think Putin and the Chinese and South Korean; and the Turkish and other evil dictators all of the Earth should be held accountable...why always attack Israel??? Check yourself, sir.
Israel has been consistently the most specialized military in history for preventing civilian casualties. This fact is known. But the lying Hamas terrorists constantly use false propaganda to try and destroy the good name of Israel. So far many fools believe Hamas. It is like believing Putin
paraphrasing: Israel’s military is the best in preventing civilian casualties…. oh boy….tell it to the parents of the 1000s of Gazan dead children; tell it to Doctors Without Borders….you really gotta try being more candid than spewing ADL or AIPAC talking points.
Not only are there no "murders" by the IDF, there are no "indiscriminate" killings - Hamas, on the other hand intentionally deploys their own civilians as human shields (a war crime) and child soldiers (a war crime).
That's the settled policy to this day of the internationally designated terrorists who have run Gaza since 2006 with no elections. They also murder their internal Palestinian opposition, of course!
Bibi was on his road to prison when the war broke out. That became Bibi's way out, but he could be on his way back to prison if the war was to end. So, endless war.
So, when Moor writes elsewhere in the op-ed that “the Palestinians will remain at war against apartheid and Jewish supremacy for as long as they exist“, it’s meant as a warning or sorts, a declaration of permanent war, echoing Hamas leaders who hailed the systematic slaughter of civilians on October 7, vowing to repeat similar assaults continually until Israel is exterminated.
THIS is what the Guardian has become: a safe space for ‘socially acceptable’ anti-Semites and terror supporters.
After reading Lucian's article, Calley became much less of a monster to me and instead, a pathetic, perhaps not very bright, unquestioning person w/ no insight who had no business in command. He became the convenient scapegoat for the crimes committed, while more capable, knowledgeable military people escaped accountability.
It’s too bad more people don’t know the name of Hugh Thompson:
“ The My Lai massacre reportedly ended only after Warrant Officer Hugh Thompson, an Army helicopter pilot on a reconnaissance mission, landed his aircraft between the soldiers and the retreating villagers and threatened to open fire if they continued their attacks.
“We kept flying back and forth … and it didn’t take very long until we started noticing the large number of bodies everywhere. Everywhere we’d look, we’d see bodies. These were infants, two- three-, four-, five-year-olds, women, very old men, no draft-age people whatsoever,” Thompson stated at a My Lai conference at Tulane University in 1994.
Thompson and his crew flew dozens of survivors to receive medical care. In 1998, Thompson and two other members of his crew received the Soldier’s Medal, the U.S. Army’s highest award for bravery not involving direct contact with the enemy.”
Sixty Minutes covered the story of Thompson’s return to the village and meeting with some of the villagers he helped save that day. What struck me was how guilty he felt about what happened.
Democratic Senator Bob Kerrey was also guilty of killing civilians in a village in Vietnam. I was appalled that Democrats tried to excuse what he did. He didn’t deny the accusations, he just claimed a faulty memory due to the fog of war. Kerrey was always willing to criticize fellow Dems and seemed to think he was superior to other people.
That Bob Kerrey got away with similar atrocities and was then appointed by Obama to chair the board of the Fulbright University in Vietnam was beyond appalling. He was later president of the New School in NYC.
Compare the Truthout article I linked to above with this whitewash of him by Forbes:
Yes, much less of a monster. I've read about 90-day wonders in WW II, Korea, and Vietnam, but always assumed they were, as they were accused of being, "college kids."
Lucian's description of Calley changed my mind from seeing Calley as a cocky asshole who tried to get away with it to, as you say, a "not very bright, unquestioning person." A robot, we might say now.
I appreciate the back story of Lt. Calley. He had NO business being an officer. He was not the only person who was involved and responsible for that tragic horrible day. The charges leveled against others should not have been dropped or lessened. I read another article that said Calley had been diagnosed as psychopathic. Calley might have had diminished capacities. The Army and its chain of command put a person unfit for leadership into a situation that led to the deaths of hundreds of innocent people. This horrible tragedy is not the first time the Army has had horrible incidents. Think Sand Creek Massacre or Wounded Knee.
Thank you so much for this story, Lucian. The knowledge and personal experience you bring are invaluable. I remember the My Lai massacre, I remember those ghastly photos, and I remember Lt Calley. I also remember thinking at the time that a whole bunch of other people needed to be held accountable, and you have helped bring them to the fore in this story.
Remarkable recounting of events both out front and behind the scenes. Thank you for sharing. Tom Ricks wrote a brutal section on MyLai in his THE GENERALS where he describes how loss of control of a unit starts from corruption at the top. Good on Greider, a terrific journalist, for having your back. My friend and mentor, Howard Brodie, was doing the courtroom art for CBS. His artwork from that trial and many others was an inspiration to devote at least part of my career to reportage illustration. Sadly, and tragically, it seems that more often than not, the bad guys get away with it.
Not only do the bad guys often get away with it, but for the good guys, no good deed goes unpunished. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://warrantofficerhistory.org/PDF/Forgotten_Hero_of_My_Lai-WO_Hugh_Thompson.pdf
That Major General Koster was a real meathead. I met his type, too.
I appreciate the difficulty you must have had in editing out so much of this horrible, disgraceful incident---LtCol Barker, bully Medina, Americal cover-up by then Major Colin (colon) Powell, composition of Calley's platoon (40% "Project 100,000"), Bravo Company simultaneous murders 100's a few klicks away...whew! Where does one stop?
I arrived in SVN on March 10, 1968, six days before the massacres. I spent a year with Army Advisory Team 86 south of Saigon. The first I knew of My Lai 4 was when I saw Ron Haeberle's photos in Life Magazine over a year later. However, my fellow officers and I used to laugh at Army PR reports about battles with 100+ VC/NVA KIA and only a handful of weapons captured. That was not our experience; if we killed 5 enemy and were able to get to them, we usually found 5 weapons. So, we knew some heavy lying was being done elsewhere.
BTW, eventually over 350,000 went into the Army via McNamara's Project 100,000. Most went to SVN as riflemen and had an unusual high rate of being KIA.
I encourage all to read this book:
McNamara's Folly: The Use of Low-IQ Troops in the Vietnam War
You are right that the sainted Colin Powell was involved in the coverup, not that the media will admit that, anymore than they will admit he lied in his UN speech about Saddam having WMD:
“ According to Powell’s report, “although there may be isolated cases of mistreatment of civilians and POWs, this by no means reflects the general attitude throughout the division.”
Regarding accusations of atrocities committed by American soldiers, Powell stated that, “In direct refutation of this portrayal is the fact that relations between Americal Division soldiers and the Vietnamese people are excellent,” a statement that many critics have derided as “whitewashing,” and accusing Powell of being a participant in the My Lai cover-up.”
Colin Powell is the epitome of a good result from the Army principle of "Going along to get along". He ended up with 4 stars and 5 Fortune 500 board seats. Being an amoral lying empty suit really paid off for him.
Powell always put loyalty to the group he worked for — the army, then the Bush administration — over loyalty to the constitution that he pledged to uphold. Like Powell Comey put the reputation of the FBI over his oath to the constitution. I learned that when I read excerpts of the DOJ Inspector General’s report on the the IG investigation of the FBI’s investigation of Hillary’s emails. Comey’s excuse for making those unauthorized public criticisms of Hillary was that he wanted to pacify the anti-Clinton agents (mostly in the NY FBI office) and tamp down the division they were causing to protect the reputation of the FBI. The IG report also revealed that at the same time Saint Comey was spublicly criticizing Clinton’s use of her private email for official government business as “reckless”, he was using his personal email for official FBI business. Most of the media ignored that revelation. The mainstream media protects those they have put on a pedestal.
I saw the "90 day wonder syndrome" in what was called the "shack and bake" SGT's program first hand when I was with the 101st. Replacements would come in country already promoted to Sgt and get slotted in as squad leaders or a Platoon Sgt and have no field experience and minimal leadership ability. It didn't do much the grunts who were working under that NCO.
My cousin, now dead, was a surgeon with the 101st. In Vietnam he was Capt. Tony Jirka.
He got a Silver Star for volunteering to be choppered in under fire to fix up multiple wounded. He stayed in the Army Medical Corps. The Army sent him to study anesthesiology, and he eventually headed that department at Brooks, retiring as a full Colonel.
BTW, in his qualifying 3 jumps at Ft. Bragg, he got injured on all of his jumps. He only weighed about 120, which may have been a problem.
The Army brigade in my area once sent a couple of squads to reinforce my little unit as we withdrew from a skirmish. They never reached me. The E-5 in charge got lost. I found him later, and he told me that he couldn't really read a map. His captain told me that he had to use what he was given, and that the young Sgt was new.
Even formerly elite units like the 101st were affected by the sheer length of the war. Initially they arrived as cohesive units that had trained together. But as WIA and KIA and enlistments expired, they ended up with many non-paratroopers sent to them by the replacement depots. A former 101st officer on my Advisory Team told me in 1968 that almost half the 101st in Vietnam were "f'n legs"-- I guess slang for non-paratroopers.
How can any of us from that era forget the horrors of that massacre, the horrors of the Vietnam war. Your story and perspective are compelling, Lucian. Thank you.
Calley’s name became journalism code. I used it myself once. After filming Haitian Tonton Macoutes beating the shit out of protesters in front of the presidential palace, I decided to recruit a tourist to smuggle the film back to the U.S. To alert the senior producer it was coming, I phoned ABC News in New York and told her: “I have film of a Calley birthday party carried by a pigeon on flight so-and-so. But Calley wasn’t able to blow out the candles.” My hope was she would realize I had film of an atrocity, but no one had been killed. She did.
The “Calley birthday party” paid off my report on Haiti, which ran about a week after I returned from that sad, doomed country.
Calling an atrocity a “Calley party” did not originate with me. I forget who did it first, but it was useful code.
Correction: I have been reminded that the Americal Division fought in World War II, but had not been in the army's TO&E -- table of organization and equipment -- until it was reconstituted to fight in Vietnam.
Never heard anything good about the Americal Division. We had quite a few of them a Fort Carson back from Nam with "time to serve".A lot of stories where shared in the barracks.
This fits in with something my gentleman caller once told me. He served as a Medivac pilot in Vietnam -- two Silver Stars. One day, I asked him what he thought went wrong. Part of his reply -- too many experienced officers were killed early on and the Army debased the requirements -- because they needed more officers than they had. "They promoted too many guys who weren't up to the job."
The Army certainly lowered its standards for officers and enlisted. I never could understand how a guy who flunked out of PALM BEACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE (! for chrissake!) could possibly become an officer in any American army.
As many others write, I remember the My Lai massacre and ensuing events vividly. As the kids say, you provide an absolutely gutting perspective. It’s a terrible stain on military justice, and real irony, that only Calley was found guilty of crimes. I really appreciate the content and absolutely superb writing of your Substack.
I said I liked this, but like is not the word. This story broke my heart again. I remember. My father was in OCS at Fort Benning. His colonel would not tolerate Jewish officers so Dad, with H for Hebrew on his dog tags, asked for orders overseas and wound up under McAuliffe at the Bulge. He knew what was right. This guy knew nothing. I am sick about this all over again. And yet, anyone remember the helo pilot that stopped this outrage?
An extraordinary story and an extraordinary telling. I remember that time, I was in Art School in RI, hating Nixon for the crimes he was committing under the banner of "Peace with Honor". My older brother had returned from Nam in mid-'67, after 3 years with 5th Special Forces. Long difficult recovery from his service. Nixon, Kissinger and McNamara should have been in that courtroom.
Trump pardoning Gallagher and others briefly reminded me of what My Lai meant in terms of zero accountability for anyone.
I was just thinking idly, once you start prosecuting a crime like that, where do you stop? The guilt leads step by step up to the White House, and beyond to the population who suffer the occupant.
Spectacular piece -- Seeger gives Calley, Medina and Koster shout-outs in Last Train to Nuremberg. All three should have been consigned to the Stockade.
What an incredible back story. Thank you for publishing it. We are old now, but our generation has not forgotten the horrors of VietNam -- and our leaders who were responsible but never paid the price. Today VietNam is a cruise ship destination, and a source of cheap imported production. I abhor both. The pain of my generation -- those of us who cared deeply-- will never disappear. Again, sincere thanks for this reminder.
The soldiers sent there are perhaps even more horrified. No, let me restate that - they are even more horrified AND tormented.
Lucian, I am always impressed with the unique experiences and perspective that you share with us. Thank you.
As to the last paragraph: add Bibi to The List of monsters. He’ll do anything to prolong his War, stay in power, outta jail.
That Mag cover is mind-blowing.
I think Putin and the Chinese and South Korean; and the Turkish and other evil dictators all of the Earth should be held accountable...why always attack Israel??? Check yourself, sir.
Bibi is not Israel any more than tangeranus is the USA.
Yes this.
👍👍
Well what the hell has he been doin’ in the PM’s office most of the last 20 years?
But you,like so many others who do not respect Israel’s rights; failed to mention the other,more cruel and inhumane and fascist leaders
What I don't respect is indiscriminate murderers from any country, including Israel.
Israel has been consistently the most specialized military in history for preventing civilian casualties. This fact is known. But the lying Hamas terrorists constantly use false propaganda to try and destroy the good name of Israel. So far many fools believe Hamas. It is like believing Putin
paraphrasing: Israel’s military is the best in preventing civilian casualties…. oh boy….tell it to the parents of the 1000s of Gazan dead children; tell it to Doctors Without Borders….you really gotta try being more candid than spewing ADL or AIPAC talking points.
Not only are there no "murders" by the IDF, there are no "indiscriminate" killings - Hamas, on the other hand intentionally deploys their own civilians as human shields (a war crime) and child soldiers (a war crime).
That's the settled policy to this day of the internationally designated terrorists who have run Gaza since 2006 with no elections. They also murder their internal Palestinian opposition, of course!
FIFY
Bibi was on his road to prison when the war broke out. That became Bibi's way out, but he could be on his way back to prison if the war was to end. So, endless war.
Yeah Hamas has nothing to do with this, and Palestinians have no agency, ever.
https://camera-uk.org/2024/07/09/guardian-op-ed-effectively-endorses-hamas-terror/
*****
So, when Moor writes elsewhere in the op-ed that “the Palestinians will remain at war against apartheid and Jewish supremacy for as long as they exist“, it’s meant as a warning or sorts, a declaration of permanent war, echoing Hamas leaders who hailed the systematic slaughter of civilians on October 7, vowing to repeat similar assaults continually until Israel is exterminated.
THIS is what the Guardian has become: a safe space for ‘socially acceptable’ anti-Semites and terror supporters.
The crimes are vividly etched into the memories of all of us who protested the war. In short, he was a monster.
After reading Lucian's article, Calley became much less of a monster to me and instead, a pathetic, perhaps not very bright, unquestioning person w/ no insight who had no business in command. He became the convenient scapegoat for the crimes committed, while more capable, knowledgeable military people escaped accountability.
It’s too bad more people don’t know the name of Hugh Thompson:
“ The My Lai massacre reportedly ended only after Warrant Officer Hugh Thompson, an Army helicopter pilot on a reconnaissance mission, landed his aircraft between the soldiers and the retreating villagers and threatened to open fire if they continued their attacks.
“We kept flying back and forth … and it didn’t take very long until we started noticing the large number of bodies everywhere. Everywhere we’d look, we’d see bodies. These were infants, two- three-, four-, five-year-olds, women, very old men, no draft-age people whatsoever,” Thompson stated at a My Lai conference at Tulane University in 1994.
Thompson and his crew flew dozens of survivors to receive medical care. In 1998, Thompson and two other members of his crew received the Soldier’s Medal, the U.S. Army’s highest award for bravery not involving direct contact with the enemy.”
https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/my-lai-massacre-1
Sixty Minutes covered the story of Thompson’s return to the village and meeting with some of the villagers he helped save that day. What struck me was how guilty he felt about what happened.
Democratic Senator Bob Kerrey was also guilty of killing civilians in a village in Vietnam. I was appalled that Democrats tried to excuse what he did. He didn’t deny the accusations, he just claimed a faulty memory due to the fog of war. Kerrey was always willing to criticize fellow Dems and seemed to think he was superior to other people.
https://truthout.org/articles/slaughter-in-vietnam-haunts-bob-kerrey-s-appointment-to-fulbright-university/
I Know this story and was glad to see you repeat it here. Thanks. It's important because it means other soldiers followed the rules.
That Bob Kerrey got away with similar atrocities and was then appointed by Obama to chair the board of the Fulbright University in Vietnam was beyond appalling. He was later president of the New School in NYC.
Compare the Truthout article I linked to above with this whitewash of him by Forbes:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/gregvistica/2016/06/21/should-we-forgive-bob-kerrey/
Here is a link to the 60 Minutes story about Thompson returning to Vietnam:
https://youtu.be/3N7AZs1sNjI?si=8KpGScEAFxnJFR54
It really struck me that the people who risked themselves to save people seem to be the ones who feel the most guilt.
Vietnam was horrific - in many ways - Calley was symptomatic of the waste of the War.
Yes, much less of a monster. I've read about 90-day wonders in WW II, Korea, and Vietnam, but always assumed they were, as they were accused of being, "college kids."
Lucian's description of Calley changed my mind from seeing Calley as a cocky asshole who tried to get away with it to, as you say, a "not very bright, unquestioning person." A robot, we might say now.
I appreciate the back story of Lt. Calley. He had NO business being an officer. He was not the only person who was involved and responsible for that tragic horrible day. The charges leveled against others should not have been dropped or lessened. I read another article that said Calley had been diagnosed as psychopathic. Calley might have had diminished capacities. The Army and its chain of command put a person unfit for leadership into a situation that led to the deaths of hundreds of innocent people. This horrible tragedy is not the first time the Army has had horrible incidents. Think Sand Creek Massacre or Wounded Knee.
Thank you so much for this story, Lucian. The knowledge and personal experience you bring are invaluable. I remember the My Lai massacre, I remember those ghastly photos, and I remember Lt Calley. I also remember thinking at the time that a whole bunch of other people needed to be held accountable, and you have helped bring them to the fore in this story.
Remarkable recounting of events both out front and behind the scenes. Thank you for sharing. Tom Ricks wrote a brutal section on MyLai in his THE GENERALS where he describes how loss of control of a unit starts from corruption at the top. Good on Greider, a terrific journalist, for having your back. My friend and mentor, Howard Brodie, was doing the courtroom art for CBS. His artwork from that trial and many others was an inspiration to devote at least part of my career to reportage illustration. Sadly, and tragically, it seems that more often than not, the bad guys get away with it.
Not only do the bad guys often get away with it, but for the good guys, no good deed goes unpunished. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://warrantofficerhistory.org/PDF/Forgotten_Hero_of_My_Lai-WO_Hugh_Thompson.pdf
That Major General Koster was a real meathead. I met his type, too.
I appreciate the difficulty you must have had in editing out so much of this horrible, disgraceful incident---LtCol Barker, bully Medina, Americal cover-up by then Major Colin (colon) Powell, composition of Calley's platoon (40% "Project 100,000"), Bravo Company simultaneous murders 100's a few klicks away...whew! Where does one stop?
I arrived in SVN on March 10, 1968, six days before the massacres. I spent a year with Army Advisory Team 86 south of Saigon. The first I knew of My Lai 4 was when I saw Ron Haeberle's photos in Life Magazine over a year later. However, my fellow officers and I used to laugh at Army PR reports about battles with 100+ VC/NVA KIA and only a handful of weapons captured. That was not our experience; if we killed 5 enemy and were able to get to them, we usually found 5 weapons. So, we knew some heavy lying was being done elsewhere.
BTW, eventually over 350,000 went into the Army via McNamara's Project 100,000. Most went to SVN as riflemen and had an unusual high rate of being KIA.
I encourage all to read this book:
McNamara's Folly: The Use of Low-IQ Troops in the Vietnam War
by Hamilton Gregory
You are right that the sainted Colin Powell was involved in the coverup, not that the media will admit that, anymore than they will admit he lied in his UN speech about Saddam having WMD:
“ According to Powell’s report, “although there may be isolated cases of mistreatment of civilians and POWs, this by no means reflects the general attitude throughout the division.”
Regarding accusations of atrocities committed by American soldiers, Powell stated that, “In direct refutation of this portrayal is the fact that relations between Americal Division soldiers and the Vietnamese people are excellent,” a statement that many critics have derided as “whitewashing,” and accusing Powell of being a participant in the My Lai cover-up.”
https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/my-lai-massacre-1
Like.
Colin Powell is the epitome of a good result from the Army principle of "Going along to get along". He ended up with 4 stars and 5 Fortune 500 board seats. Being an amoral lying empty suit really paid off for him.
Powell always put loyalty to the group he worked for — the army, then the Bush administration — over loyalty to the constitution that he pledged to uphold. Like Powell Comey put the reputation of the FBI over his oath to the constitution. I learned that when I read excerpts of the DOJ Inspector General’s report on the the IG investigation of the FBI’s investigation of Hillary’s emails. Comey’s excuse for making those unauthorized public criticisms of Hillary was that he wanted to pacify the anti-Clinton agents (mostly in the NY FBI office) and tamp down the division they were causing to protect the reputation of the FBI. The IG report also revealed that at the same time Saint Comey was spublicly criticizing Clinton’s use of her private email for official government business as “reckless”, he was using his personal email for official FBI business. Most of the media ignored that revelation. The mainstream media protects those they have put on a pedestal.
I saw the "90 day wonder syndrome" in what was called the "shack and bake" SGT's program first hand when I was with the 101st. Replacements would come in country already promoted to Sgt and get slotted in as squad leaders or a Platoon Sgt and have no field experience and minimal leadership ability. It didn't do much the grunts who were working under that NCO.
My cousin, now dead, was a surgeon with the 101st. In Vietnam he was Capt. Tony Jirka.
He got a Silver Star for volunteering to be choppered in under fire to fix up multiple wounded. He stayed in the Army Medical Corps. The Army sent him to study anesthesiology, and he eventually headed that department at Brooks, retiring as a full Colonel.
BTW, in his qualifying 3 jumps at Ft. Bragg, he got injured on all of his jumps. He only weighed about 120, which may have been a problem.
The Army brigade in my area once sent a couple of squads to reinforce my little unit as we withdrew from a skirmish. They never reached me. The E-5 in charge got lost. I found him later, and he told me that he couldn't really read a map. His captain told me that he had to use what he was given, and that the young Sgt was new.
Even formerly elite units like the 101st were affected by the sheer length of the war. Initially they arrived as cohesive units that had trained together. But as WIA and KIA and enlistments expired, they ended up with many non-paratroopers sent to them by the replacement depots. A former 101st officer on my Advisory Team told me in 1968 that almost half the 101st in Vietnam were "f'n legs"-- I guess slang for non-paratroopers.
How can any of us from that era forget the horrors of that massacre, the horrors of the Vietnam war. Your story and perspective are compelling, Lucian. Thank you.
Calley’s name became journalism code. I used it myself once. After filming Haitian Tonton Macoutes beating the shit out of protesters in front of the presidential palace, I decided to recruit a tourist to smuggle the film back to the U.S. To alert the senior producer it was coming, I phoned ABC News in New York and told her: “I have film of a Calley birthday party carried by a pigeon on flight so-and-so. But Calley wasn’t able to blow out the candles.” My hope was she would realize I had film of an atrocity, but no one had been killed. She did.
The “Calley birthday party” paid off my report on Haiti, which ran about a week after I returned from that sad, doomed country.
Calling an atrocity a “Calley party” did not originate with me. I forget who did it first, but it was useful code.
That is cool!!
Ought to be called a "Kennan Party" - start at the tip top of the horror show
Correction: I have been reminded that the Americal Division fought in World War II, but had not been in the army's TO&E -- table of organization and equipment -- until it was reconstituted to fight in Vietnam.
Never heard anything good about the Americal Division. We had quite a few of them a Fort Carson back from Nam with "time to serve".A lot of stories where shared in the barracks.
This fits in with something my gentleman caller once told me. He served as a Medivac pilot in Vietnam -- two Silver Stars. One day, I asked him what he thought went wrong. Part of his reply -- too many experienced officers were killed early on and the Army debased the requirements -- because they needed more officers than they had. "They promoted too many guys who weren't up to the job."
The Army certainly lowered its standards for officers and enlisted. I never could understand how a guy who flunked out of PALM BEACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE (! for chrissake!) could possibly become an officer in any American army.
Lucian,
As many others write, I remember the My Lai massacre and ensuing events vividly. As the kids say, you provide an absolutely gutting perspective. It’s a terrible stain on military justice, and real irony, that only Calley was found guilty of crimes. I really appreciate the content and absolutely superb writing of your Substack.
Ditto here. Superb. Sharing.
I said I liked this, but like is not the word. This story broke my heart again. I remember. My father was in OCS at Fort Benning. His colonel would not tolerate Jewish officers so Dad, with H for Hebrew on his dog tags, asked for orders overseas and wound up under McAuliffe at the Bulge. He knew what was right. This guy knew nothing. I am sick about this all over again. And yet, anyone remember the helo pilot that stopped this outrage?
My greatest soldier of that war: Warrant Officer Hugh Thompson, Huey pilot .
That was the man. God bless him. Thank you.
Theodora30 wrote an explanatory comment on Thompson with a link and Victor Juhasz links to a PDF on him. Tom Joad too.
An extraordinary story and an extraordinary telling. I remember that time, I was in Art School in RI, hating Nixon for the crimes he was committing under the banner of "Peace with Honor". My older brother had returned from Nam in mid-'67, after 3 years with 5th Special Forces. Long difficult recovery from his service. Nixon, Kissinger and McNamara should have been in that courtroom.
Trump pardoning Gallagher and others briefly reminded me of what My Lai meant in terms of zero accountability for anyone.
I was just thinking idly, once you start prosecuting a crime like that, where do you stop? The guilt leads step by step up to the White House, and beyond to the population who suffer the occupant.
That is true, everyone owns a piece.
I have shared this widely. What a magnificent piece.
Spectacular piece -- Seeger gives Calley, Medina and Koster shout-outs in Last Train to Nuremberg. All three should have been consigned to the Stockade.