My Lai

The Vietcong, our enemies in the Vietnam War, used very deceitful tactics. Sometimes their guerrillas would dress like elderly civilians or use women with children, begging for food, and then when close enough they would unleash explosives on our soldiers.

Frustrated with these tactics, one of our officers, Lieutenant William Calley of Columbus, Georgia, believing he was following orders, ordered his men to go into the village of My Lai and kill them all, since they didn't know who they were dealing with. Calley participated in the massacre.

On March 16, 1968 the massacre was carried out in the village of My Lai. Calley was the highest ranking officer in the village. 

Calley was tried for war crimes at Ft. Benning, Georgia.