Was Lt. Calley Guilty Of Murder In The My Lai Massacre, Or Was He A Scape Goat

2015-04-22T14:47:53-04:00

I watch our local PBS station and last night the story of The My Lai massacre was on. I'm still out on whether Lt. Calley was a scape goat or guilty of murder. The video starts off slow, but does finally get to the story. Warning: This video has graphic content. The video link is
http://video.houstonpbs.org/video/ [login to see] /

Watch now: American Experience | My Lai | KUHT / Channel 8 Video

The 1968 My Lai massacre and its subsequent cover-up.

Response by MAJ David Vermillion made Apr 23 at 2015 3:54 PM

2015-04-23T15:54:42-04:00

This case of Lt. Calley happened during my era in Vietnam and until this day I think he was used to quiet the public outrage. If you were a platoon leader and gave a direct order to kill innocent men, women and children, would you or would something click in your head that says something is wrong here? It is so difficult to believe that he had that kind of power and influence to commit such an act as this, somebody else had to be at fault. The responsibility goes up and down the chain of command.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2015 2:49 PM

2015-11-08T14:49:05-05:00

I just finished reading about this in James Perone's "Songs of the Vietnam Conflict." They meantioned little about the massacre other than he was involved in it and served 20 years.

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made Nov 8 at 2015 6:25 PM

2015-11-08T18:25:47-05:00

I remember watching this in the need. Defiantly a scape goat.

Response by Capt Walter Miller made Nov 8 at 2015 7:05 PM

2015-11-08T19:05:18-05:00

Why do you think Calley -wasn't- guilty of murder?

Walt

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Nov 8 at 2015 9:07 PM

2015-11-08T21:07:09-05:00

Scapegoat.

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2015 10:56 AM

2015-11-12T10:56:13-05:00

Lt. Calley was guilty of Murder in the My Lai Massacre, but he was made the Scape Goat for others who knew what was happening and did nothing....

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Nov 13 at 2015 10:27 AM

2015-11-13T10:27:42-05:00

Most likely a little of both

Response by CPO Andy Carrillo, MS made Nov 13 at 2015 8:03 PM

2015-11-13T20:03:39-05:00

Yes.

Response by SPC Mark Beard made Nov 13 at 2015 8:07 PM

2015-11-13T20:07:42-05:00

scrape Goat