My Lai
The My Lai Massacre was originally a search and destroy mission. The result
of this mission became worse than expected. On March 16, 1968, the Charlie
Company, the 11th Brigade, and the American
Division were sent to the village of My Lai to search and destroy the town. U.S.
advisors warned the Charlie Company that anyone who was in the village was a
member of Vietcong. When the American soldiers arrived to My Lai, they found
nobody from the Vietcong, and ended up killing hundreds of innocent unarmed
civilians in very tortuous ways. Most of these citizens were women, children and
the elderly.
of this mission became worse than expected. On March 16, 1968, the Charlie
Company, the 11th Brigade, and the American
Division were sent to the village of My Lai to search and destroy the town. U.S.
advisors warned the Charlie Company that anyone who was in the village was a
member of Vietcong. When the American soldiers arrived to My Lai, they found
nobody from the Vietcong, and ended up killing hundreds of innocent unarmed
civilians in very tortuous ways. Most of these citizens were women, children and
the elderly.
This unfortunate event was kept a secret from Americans until November of
1969. The info about the massacre was released to the public by the Pentagon
Papers. The Pentagon Papers also revealed that Johnson had lied to the citizens of America, and to Congress about the Vietnam War. This is how Johnson was blamed for escalating conflict with Vietnam. This created Credibility Gap. Americans felt betrayed that President Johnson kept this a secret for so long. Citizens no longer trusted the government.
1969. The info about the massacre was released to the public by the Pentagon
Papers. The Pentagon Papers also revealed that Johnson had lied to the citizens of America, and to Congress about the Vietnam War. This is how Johnson was blamed for escalating conflict with Vietnam. This created Credibility Gap. Americans felt betrayed that President Johnson kept this a secret for so long. Citizens no longer trusted the government.