When the story broke, many americans refused to believe it. The massacre at my lai on march 16, 1968 continues to haunt students of the vietnam war as a moment that challenges notions of american virtue. The my lai massacre in american history and memory book. Army center of military history for a panel discussion with leading historians and military legal experts to discuss the important legacy and. The hugh thompson story revised edition only 18 left in stock more on the way. Victims included men, women, children, and infants. My lai massacre survivor speaks of his survival thingsasian. The my lai massacre and millions of other books are available for instant access. The vietnam war is a very controversial subject for many americans. The authors discuss the ramifications of the coverup and the ensuing investigations for the american public, policymakers, the antiwar movement and the soldiers involved. Vietnam, 1968 and the descent into darkness notable historian howard jones argues that the massacre that took place on march 16, 1968 killing 504 vietnamese villagers laid bare the war, revealing that it was unwinnable and that, in the process of fighting for democracy and a way of life. In my lai william thomas allison explores and evaluates the significance of this horrific event.
Calley apologizes for my lai massacre us news military nbc news my lai massacre. Vietnam, 1968, and the descent into darkness pivotal. The armys secret investigation of the massacre at my lai. This is the first book to examine the response of american society to the my lai massacre and its ambiguous place in american national memory. How the armys coverup made the my lai massacre even. The my lai massacre in american history and memory the ghosts of my lai history smithsonian magazine vietnamese survivors remember my lai massacre with horror and. Army realized that the essence of the story, and therefore responsibility for those events, hinged on the chain of command. The my lai massacre of march 16, 1968 and the court martial of lt. Murder in the name of war my lai the my lai massacre, which took place on the morning of march 16, 1968, was a watershed in the history of modern american combat, and a turning point in the public perception of the vietnam war. The my lai massacre in american history and memory by. This lesson discusses the events of the my lai massacre, arguably one of the worst atrocities committed during the vietnam war. On march 16, 1968, american soldiers killed as many as five hundred vietnamese men, women, and children in a village near the south china sea.
Subsequent revelations about war crimes, including reports from the vwcwg pentagon investigation, shed much light on this. Bbc news asiapacific murder in the name of war my lai. Historical account of the my lai massacre, the mass killing of hundreds of unarmed civilians by u. The 1968 my lai massacre was one of the most horrific incidents of violence committed against unarmed civilians during the vietnam war. An american atrocity in the vietnam war by william. The my lai massacre happened on march 16 1968, and the peers report concludes that between 190 and 230 civilians including women and children were killed, many of them very cruelly. Vietnam, 1968, and the descent into darkness pivotal moments in american history only 12 left in stock more on the way. So allison wrote this book, he says, to provide students a concise but thorough overview of the context, events, legacies, and principal sources about my. Recent generations may have learned of my lai, perhaps from a brief paragraph in anamerican history textbook, but increasingly, it seems, students in history classrooms have not. Howard jones my lai is one of the most important books of the past decade on the vietnam war. Between 347 and 504 unarmed people were killed by u.
My lai incident me li, a massacre of vietnamese civilians by u. Some of the women were gangraped and their bodies mutilated as. Situating the my lai massacre in the context of the wider pattern of us atrocities in the war is important because the reader should be given a glimpse of the significance and relative salience of the my lai massacre. Olson is the author of many other books and articles, including the ethnic dimenion in american history, second edition 1995. Mar 09, 2020 my lai massacre, also called pinkville massacre, mass killing of as many as 500 unarmed villagers by u. A brief history with documents edition 1 by james s. The my lai massacre, the armys cover up, and the military courts abject failure to bring military leaders and gis to justice further undermined the faith of some americans in their political. Mar 17, 2018 the massacre at my lai was not the only time american troops committed war crimes against vietnamese civilians, but it was the single worst instance. Lai massacre was the vietnam war mass murder of unarmed south vietnamese.
James olson and randy roberts have combed unpublished testimony and gather a collection of eyewitness accounts from those who were at my lai and reports from those who investigated the incident and its coverup. More specifically, it was a despicable microcosm of the japanese atrocities. More than 500 people were slaughtered in the my lai massacre. This book about the famous massacre of vietnamese villagers by american soldiers. Randy roberts is professor of history at purdue university. Author howard jones discusses his new book on one of the most infamous chapters of the vietnam war and american military history. This book about the famous massacre of vietnamese villagers by. My lai massacre survivor tran van duc breaks his silence on how he survived the 1968 my lai massacre. The my lai incident increased disillusionment with the armys conduct of the vietnam war, fueled growing antiwar sentiment, and underscored concerns within the army itself regarding the professionalism and ethics of its officer corps. The massacre of several hundred vietnamese civilians by u. A brief history with documents 98 edition 9780312142278 by james s.
My lai massacre vietnamese citizens photographed during the my lai massacre, march 16, 1968. This is a translated version of mr, trans own words. The my lai massacre in american history and memory. Thirty years later, memories of my lai massacre remain fresh. Dorothy borg professor in the history of the united states and east asia. The history of the vietnam wars most notorious atrocity by charles river editors isbn. Join the csis project on military and diplomatic history and the u. William thomas allison, a professor of military history at georgia southern. Mar 15, 2018 my lai became a flashpoint in the debate over american involvement in vietnam and remains a dark moment in american military history. Jun 07, 2019 a company of american soldiers brutally killed most of the peoplewomen, children and old menin the village of my lai on march 16, 1968. 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. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. As the korean war was winding down, america joined the southeast asia treaty. At first, the soldiers were only holding the villagers hostage.
The my lai massacre was one of the most horrific incidents of violence committed against unarmed civilians during the vietnam war. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. Kendrick oliver argues that the massacre revelations left many americans untroubled. Vietnam, 1968, and the descent into darkness, university of alabama history professor emeritus howard jones looks back at the events and their aftermath in a chronological 475page narrative based on original archival research and eyewitness interviews. The history of the vietnam wars most notorious atrocity. James olson and randy roberts have combed unpublished testimony and have gathered a collection of eyewitness accounts from those who were at my lai.
He has masterfully peeled away the complexity of the my lai massacre and its coverup to reveal more clearly than ever the dark horror, willful deceit, moral incompetence of this mass killing and its aftermath. They herded people into the center of a small hamlet called my lai and held them at gunpoint, ordering them to produce the hidden viet cong forces that the americans imagined they were hiding. Calley, invaded the south vietnamese hamlet of my lai more correctly, son my, a reputed viet cong stronghold. Vietnam, 1968 and the descent into darkness notable historian howard jones argues that the massacre that took place on march 16, 1968 killing 504. A company of american soldiers brutally killed most of the peoplewomen, children and old menin the village of my lai on march 16, 1968. Lai massacre was the vietnam war mass murder of unarmed south vietnamese civilians by u. Shop my lai massacre vietnam 1968 books at alibris. 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. Introducing readers to the most controversial event of the vietnam war, this brief history examines the massacre and its coverup and discusses the ramifications that the ensuing. William calley a year and a half later are among the bleakest episodes in american history and. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Aug 30, 2018 the my lai massacre, the armys cover up, and the military courts abject failure to bring military leaders and gis to justice further undermined the faith of some americans in their political. Uncovering the secrets behind the 1968 my lai massacre in vietnam, this is a brutal, cautionary tale that serves as a painful reminder of the worst that can happen in. Uncovering the secrets behind the 1968 my lai massacre in vietnam, this is a brutal, cautionary tale that serves as a painful reminder of the worst that can happen in war.
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