My Lai

[Jedburgh]

For those of you with an interest, I turned up this old Congressional Research Service report on My Lai: Issues Underlying the My Lai Trials - June 18, 1971 (http://star.vietnam.ttu.edu/cgi-bin/starfetch.exe?euWoqwrrQj18oFKUkK9gwxds2nffAuX@c.vF vxtlYEbFO8Hg5WWx@fbdt2c3i5J@ip1n4e@4@XG139iXvM2LpM El6WEsuja3Ad1s1uJNqSM/2293812005.pdf)

The report also takes a look back at the Sand Creek Massacre during the Indian Wars and two cases from the Philippines - a US incident when fighting the Moros, and the Japanese during WWII.

[Steve Blair]

Thanks for posting this. I had a chance some years ago to pick up a copy of the original Peers report regarding My Lai, and have been kicking myself ever since for not doing so. Unlike the Congressional report, there was a great deal of background material with the original report. Another interesting take on these issues can be found in Self Destruction written by an Army officer using the pen name Cincinnatus.

Instead of Sand Creek, perhaps they should have used the Marias River in 1870. I know this is quibbling after small bits, but Chivington had made it clear from the start that he was going to attack ANY Indians he came across, for a number of reasons (at least one of which centered around his own political ambitions). The Marias, on the other hand, comes closer to the My Lai scenario (IMO, anyhow). Still...an interesting piece.

[slapout9]

Interesting, but it left out that a short time later Pres. Nixon ordered him removed from the stockade and placed under house arrest. Some time in late 1974 he was paroled by the Sec. of the Army. He later married the daughter of a jewelry store owner in Columbus,Ga. And I believe he is still there.

[bismark17]

If you are referring to Lt. Calley, he was selling jewelry in Columbus, Ga while I was at jump school in July of 1989. One of my classmates bought a ring from him.

[slapout9]

Yep, that is who I was talking about. Guess he is still there. website www.law.umkc.edu has information about the trial encluding the Peers report.