My Lai: A Brief History with Documents (Bedford Series in History & Culture (Paperback))

This volume introduces students to the most controversial incident of the Vietnam War - the My Lai massacre when almost 400 Vietnamese civilians were killed in four hours. The authors discuss the ramifications of the cover-up and the ensuing investigations for the American public, policymakers, the anti-War movement and the soldiers involved. They examine the causes of the massacre and the issues of culpability and human rights. The narrative is built around 70 primary documents drawn mainly from testimony and reports from the government enquiry into the outrage. America Never Fully Recovered From Or Forgot The Grim Day In 1968 When The Soldiers Of Charlie Company Killed Almost Four Hundred Vietnamese Civilians At My Lai. Introducing Readers To The Most Controversial Event Of The Vietnam War, This Brief History Examines The Massacre And Its Cover-up And Discusses The Ramifications That The Ensuing Investigation Had For The Public, Policymakers, And The Antiwar Movement. Eight Topical Chapters Reprint 68 Primary Documents - Drawn Mainly From Testimony And Reports Of General Peers's Inquiry Into The Incident - To Chronicle The Events Leading Up To, During, And After The Massacre. An Introductory Essay Places The Carnage Within The Larger Context Of The War And Considers The Issues Of Culpability And Human Rights It Engendered. Photographs, A Glossary, A Chronology, Questions For Consideration, A Bibliography, Maps, And An Index Are Also Included To Make This Book A Fascinating Resource.--jacket. Introduction: The Road To My Lai: America's Longest War ; The Ground War In Quang Ngai ; Charlie Company ; The My Lai Massacre ; Aftermath -- 1. The Official Story: Press Release, March 1968 / Jay A. Roberts ; Combat Action Report, March 28, 1968 / Frank A. Barker Jr. ; Testimony Before Congressional Committee, 1970 / William Westmoreland -- 2. The Official Rules Of Modern Warfare: Testimony Before Congressional Committee, 1970 / William Westmoreland. Wallet Cards ; Training In The Rules Of Land Warfare: Testimony To Peers Commission, 1970 / Herbert L. Carter. Training Of 11th Brigade, 1970 / Peers Commission -- 3. Experience In War : December 1967 To March 14, 1968: Military Situation In Quang Ngai Province, 1970 / Peers Commission ; Testimony To Peers Commission, 1970 / Michael Bernhardt ; Combat Experiences Before My Lai, 1970 / William L. Calley ; Testimony To Peers Commission, 1970 / Jay A. Roberts --^ 4. The Briefings : March 15, 1968: Pre-operation Briefings, 1970 / Peers Commission ; Testimony To Peers Commission, 1970 / Eugene Kotouc ; Testimony To U.s. Army Cid, 1969 / Ernest L. Medina ; Testimony To U.s. Army Cid, 1969 / Max D. Hutson ; Testimony To U.s. Army Cid, 1969 / Gregory T. Olsen ; Testimony To U.s. Army Cid, 1969 / Harry Stanley ; Testimony To U.s. Army Cid, 1969 / Ronald L. Haeberle ; Testimony To U.s. Army Cid, 1969 / Herbert L. Carter ; Testimony To U.s. Army Cid, 1969 / Robert W. T'souvas ; Journal Entry, March 15, 1968 / Thomas R. Partsch ; Testimony To U.s. Army Cid, 1969 / Robert E. Maples ; Testimony To Peers Commission, 1970 / Nguyen Dinh Phu ; Testimony To U.s. Army Cid, 1969 / Michael Terry ; Testimony To Peers Commission, 1970 / Dennis Conti --^ 5. Assault On My Lai: Testimony To Peers Commission, 1970 / Dennis Conti ; Testimony To U.s. Army Cid, 1969 / Herbert L. Carter ; Testimony To Peers Commission, 1970 / Michael Terry ; Testimony To U.s. Army Cid, 1969 / Robert E. Maples ; Testimony To U.s. Army Cid, 1969 / Larry Polston ; Testimony To U.s. Army Cid, 1969 / Varnado Simpson ; Testimony Yo Peers Commission, 1970 / Hugh Thompson Jr. ; Testimony To U.s. Army Cid, 1969 / Ernest L. Medina ; Testimony To Peers Commission, 1970 / Nguyen Hieu ; Testimony To Peers Commission, 1970 / Nguyen Bat ; Summary Of Rapes, 1970 ; Testimony To U.s. Army Cid, 1970 / Do Vien ; Testimony At Court-martial, 1970 / William L. Calley --^ 6. The Cover-up: Testimony To Peers Commission, 1970 / Hugh Thompson Jr. ; Testimony To Peers Commission, 1970 / Carl Creswell. Testimony To Peers Commission, 1970 / Ernest L. Medina ; Testimony From Charlie Company: Testimony To Peers Commission, 1970 / Michael Bernhardt. Testimony To Peers Commission, 1970 / Dennis Conti. Testimony To Peers Commission, 1970 / Herbert L. Carter. Report Of Investigation, April 24, 1968 / Oran K. Henderson. Statement To Peers Commission, 1970 / Oran K. Henderson. Vietcong Leaflet, 1968. National Liberation Front Committee Notice, March 28, 1968. Summary Of Son My Chief's Letter, April 11, 1968. Report To Quang Ngai Province Chief, March 28, 1968 / Tran Ngoc Tan. Journal Entries, March 16-18, 1968 / Thomas R. Partsch. Letters Home, March 16 And 19, 1968 / Brian Livingston. Testimony To Peers Commission, 1970 / Samuel Koster --^ 7. Exposure And Investigation: Letter To Military And Political Leaders, March 29, 1969 / Ronald Ridenhour. I Had Prayed To God That This Thing Was Fiction, 1990 / William Wilson ; Newspaper Accounts: Officer Kept In Army In Inquiry Into Killing Of Vietnam Civilians, November 13, 1969 / Robert M. Smith. Resor Called To Testify About Alleged Massacre, November 26, 1969 / E.w. Kenworthy. Army Lawyers Seek Way To Bring Ex-g.i.'s To Trial, November 26, 1969 / Fred P. Graham. Photographs From Life Magazine, 1969 ; Public Reaction: Notes And Comment, December 20, 1969. The Great Atrocity Hunt, December 16, 1969. 8. Culpability: Meadlo's Home Town Regards Him As Blameless, November 26, 1969 / J. Anthony Lukas ; Testimony At Court-martial, 1970 / William L. Calley. Testimony To Peers Commission, 1970 / Paul Meadlo ; From Fortunate Son : The Autobiography Of Lewis B. Puller Jr., 1991 / Lewis B. Puller Jr. ; Calley And The Public Conscience, April 12, 1971 / Peter Steinfels ; From Rn : The Memoirs Of Richard Nixon, 1978 / Richard M. Nixon ; From A Soldier Reports, 1976 / William C. Westmoreland. James S. Olson And Randy Roberts. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 207-209) And Index. America never fully recovered from nor forgot the grim day in 1968 when the soldiers of Charlie Company killed almost 400 Vietnamese civilians at My Lai. Introducing the most controversial event of the Vietnam War, this brief history examines the massacre and its cover-up and discusses the ramifications the ensuing investigation had for the public, policymakers, and the anti-war movement. Eight topical chapters reprint 70 primary documents, drawn primarily from testimony and reports of General Peers' inquiry into the incident, to chronicle the events leading up to, during, and after the massacre. An introductory essay places the carnage within the larger context of the war and considers the issues of culpability and human rights it engendered. Photographs, a glossary, a chronology, questions for consideration, a bibliography, and an index are also included. Front Matter....Pages i-xv Introduction....Pages 1-25 The Official Story....Pages 26-33 The Official Rules of Modern Warfare....Pages 34-43 Experience in War....Pages 44-55 The Briefings....Pages 56-74 The Assault on My Lai....Pages 75-112 The Cover-Up....Pages 113-145 Exposure and Investigation....Pages 146-177 Culpability....Pages 178-199 Back Matter....Pages 200-222