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Respond in Writing. What makes something a “massacre”? What is the difference between the following (think about word choice!): My Lai Incident My Lai Massacre My Lai Event. Lieutenant Calley. 24 years old. Captain Medina. 33 years old.
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Respond in Writing • What makes something a “massacre”? • What is the difference between the following (think about word choice!): • My Lai Incident • My Lai Massacre • My Lai Event
Lieutenant Calley 24 years old
Captain Medina • 33 years old
On February 23, 1971, William Calley took the stand. He told the jury he couldn't remember a single army class on the Geneva Convention, but that he did know he could be court-martialed for refusing to obey an order. He testified that Medina had said the night before that there would be no civilians in My Lai, only the enemy. He said that while he was in the village, Medina called and asked why he hadn't "wasted" the civilians yet. He admitted to firing into a ditch full of Vietnamese, but claimed that others were already firing into the ditch when he arrived. Calley said, "I felt then--and I still do-- that I acted as directed, I carried out my orders, and I did not feel wrong in doing so"
Medina said he was asked at the briefing on March 15 whether "we kill women and children," and-- looking straight at Calley behind the defense table--he said to the GIs "No, you do not kill women and children...Use common sense."
