1. Overview about My Lai Massacre
Being as a horrific destination in Vietnam for murders and slaughs during the war, its very touching to visit My Lai village. The My Lai massacre was one of the most horrific incidents of violence committed during the Vietnam War. A company of American soldiers brutally killed most of the people—women, children and old men—in the village of My Lai on March 16, 1968. More than 500 people were slaughtered in the My Lai massacre, including young girls and women who were raped and mutilated before being killed. U.S. Army officers covered up the carnage for a year before it was reported in the American press, sparking a firestorm of international outrage. The brutality of the My Lai massacre and the official cover-up fueled anti-war sentiment and further divided the United States over the Vietnam War.
2. The location and entrance fee of My Lai Massacre Village
Being located in the Northern part of South Vietnam province of Quang Ngai, It is easy to travel to My Lai by various vehicles such as private car services, motorbikes and local taxies. A trip to leverage your knowledge about the impacts of Vietnam war in the past to local civilians is emotional. There is no entrance fee to enter My Lai village, you can be freely to explore around the area on your own pace. However, if you tend to visit the My Lai vestige museum, you might pay from 20,000 VND – 50,000 VND ( 1 USD – 2,5 USD/ person).
3. The history of My Lai Massacre
3.1. Charlie Company
The small village of My Lai is located in Quang Ngai province, which was believed to be a stronghold of the communist National Liberation Front (NLF) or Viet Cong (VC) during the Vietnam War.
Quang Ngai province was therefore a frequent target of U.S. and South Vietnamese bombing attacks, and the entire region was heavily strafed with Agent Orange, the deadly herbicide.
In March 1968, Charlie Company—part of the Americal Division’s 11th Infantry Brigade—received word that Viet Cong guerrillas had taken control of the neighboring village of Son My. Charlie Company was sent to the area on March 16 for a search-and-destroy mission.
At the time, morale among U.S. soldiers on the ground was dwindling, especially in the wake of the North Vietnamese-led Tet Offensive, which was launched in January 1968. Charlie Company had lost some 28 of its members to death or injuries, and was down to just over 100 men.
3.2. William Calley
Army commanders had advised the soldiers of Charlie Company that all who were found in the Son My area could be considered Viet Cong or active Viet Cong sympathizers, and ordered them to destroy the village.
When they arrived shortly after dawn, the soldiers—led by Lieutenant William Calley—found no Viet Cong. Instead, they came across a quiet village of primarily women, children and older men preparing their breakfast rice.
The villagers were rounded up into groups as the soldiers inspected their huts. Despite finding only a few weapons, Calley ordered his men to begin shooting the villagers.
3.3. The My Lai Massacre Begins
Some soldiers balked at Calley’s command, but within seconds the massacre had begun, with Calley himself shooting numerous men, women and children.
Mothers who were shielding their children were shot, and when their children tried to run away, they too were slaughtered. Huts were set on fire, and anyone inside who tried to escape was gunned down.
In addition to killing unarmed men, women and children, the soldiers slaughtered countless livestock, raped an unknown number of women, and burned the village to the ground.
Calley was reported to have dragged dozens of people, including young children, into a ditch before executing them with a machine gun. Not a single shot was fired against the men of Charlie Company at My Lai.
4. The results and impacts of My Lai Massacre
By the time the My Lai massacre ended, 504 people were dead. Among the victims were 182 women—17 of them pregnant—and 173 children, including 56 infants.
Knowing news of the massacre would cause a scandal, officers higher up in command of Charlie Company and the 11th Brigade immediately made efforts to downplay the bloodshed. Nonetheless, the U.S. Army began an internal investigation of the incident.
By the early 1970s, the American war effort in Vietnam was winding down, as the Nixon administration continued its “Vietnamization” policy, including the withdrawal of troops and the transfer of control over ground operations to the South Vietnamese.
Among the American troops still in Vietnam, morale was low, and anger and frustration were high. Drug and alcohol use increased among soldiers, and an official report in 1971 estimated that one-third or more of U.S. troops were addicted.
The revelations of the My Lai massacre caused morale to plummet even further, as GIs wondered what other atrocities their superiors were concealing. On the home front in the United States, the brutality of the My Lai massacre and the efforts made by higher-ranking officers to conceal it exacerbated anti-war sentiment and increased the bitterness toward the U.S. military presence in Vietnam.
5. What to do at My Lai Massacre?
5.1. Walking around the village and learn the history
My Lai village was a horrific destination for locals in the past. Coming here to learn the stories of all the attacks by US Army is emotional. The crime of the war is horrible. Nowadays, you can explore the village peacefully by walking around and communicate with locals friendly. Although the wars were hard to describe today but people will not forget how painful the history was. The resilience of Vietnamese is admirable to learn. In order to get peace, local inhabitants had to try hard to fight for survival.
5.2. Visit My Lai Massacre Museum
An unmissable attraction you have to enter is My Lai Vestige Museum. There are many photos and inforgraphics show you the stories of My Lai Massacre. Over 30 minutes to wander around the museum to learn the history of the horrible massacre in Quang Ngai is touching.
In addion, the main monument of this memorial park is a white stone commemorative statute which represents the victims of the massacre. In the surrounding land, the foundations of what once were their houses, shelters and sheds may be appreciated. The original paths in the village were turned into concrete catwalks which show the prints of both the victims and perpetrators of the massacre.
The museum of the site exhibits a giant plate with the names of the 504 victims, as well as an extensive photo and document gallery which includes extracts of military investigations, news articles and interviews to soldiers and survivors.
6. Conclusion
My Lai massacre was a war crime by the United States Army during the Vietnam War. In English, the massacre was named My Lai Massacre, Son My Massacre, or Pinkville, in which Pinkville was the area that the United States Army named for this region. In addition, the massacre of My Lai in 1968 was called “the most horrific chapter in the Vietnam War.” This incident was hidden for nearly a year and caused outrage and global change. We strongly recommend for historical lover come and explore the village and museum in My Lai village, Quang Ngai province, Vietnam.