What did Charlie Company do in My Lai?
CID begins a census of civilian casualties at My Lai. The census concludes that Charlie Company killed 347 Vietnamese men, women and children. 45 members of Charlie Company are found responsible for crimes ranging from violation of the rules of war to murder. The Peers Inquiry has gathered testimony from 39 witnesses.
How many soldiers did Charlie Company have?
The documentary follows the 100+ soldiers of C (Charlie) Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division in 1970 during the Vietnam War. The unit routinely patrols the harsh, heat-filled Vietnamese jungles in War zone C near the Cambodian border west of Saigon looking for enemy contact and supplies.
What happened at the village of My Lai?
My Lai Massacre, also called Pinkville Massacre, mass killing of as many as 500 unarmed villagers by U.S. soldiers in the hamlet of My Lai on March 16, 1968, during the Vietnam War.
Who was Charlie during the Vietnam War?
American soldiers referred to the Viet Cong as Victor Charlie or V-C. “Victor” and “Charlie” are both letters in the NATO phonetic alphabet. “Charlie” referred to communist forces in general, both Viet Cong and North Vietnamese.
What Caused My Lai massacre?
The My Lai Massacre stemmed from previous events in the Vietnam War. The Tet Offensive, which occurred during the first two months of 1968, was a large military invasion of South Vietnam by North Vietnam. Regardless, many Vietnamese were gathered and executed in ditches, homes were burned and crops destroyed.
What happened at My Lai in 1968?
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.
What is the significance of the My Lai massacre?
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 killings and the official cover-up fueled anti-war sentiment and further divided the United States over the Vietnam War.
When Did My Lai massacre happen?
March 16, 1968
Mỹ Lai massacre/Start dates
On March 16, 1968 the angry and frustrated men of Charlie Company, 11th Brigade, Americal Division entered the Vietnamese village of My Lai. “This is what you’ve been waiting for — search and destroy — and you’ve got it,” said their superior officers. A short time later the killing began.
Why is enemy called Charlie?
During the Vietnam War, the Vietnamese Communist guerillas we’re referred to as Viet Cong. This was shortened to VC. For radio communication, soldiers would use the phonetic alphabet to spell VC, thus VC becomes Victor Charlie. Soldiers, as they do, then used the name Charlie to refer to the Viet Cong.
Where was the Charlie Company located in Vietnam?
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.
Who was involved in the my Lai Massacre?
My Lai Massacre by Soldiers of Charlie Company On the morning of March 16, 1968, soldiers of Charlie Company, a unit of the American Division’s 11th Infantry Brigade arrived in the hamlet of My Lai in the northern part of South Vietnam. They were on a “search and destroy” mission to root out 48th Viet Cong Battalion thought to be in the area.
Who was the leader of the Charlie Company?
Sergeant David Mitchell leads the first squad, followed by Lieutenant Calley and a squad of about 24 GI’s, then Sergeant L.G. Bacon’s squad and finally Sergeant Isaiah Cowan. As they move into My Lai the men shoot many fleeing Vietnamese and bayonet others.
Who was the first lieutenant to land at my Lai?
Despite his high rank, his men reported feeling resentful towards Calley, and many members of Charlie Company witnessed Captain Ernest Medina treat the Lieutenant with hostility and disrespect. On the morning of March 16, 1968, Calley commanded the first group of men to land at My Lai.