WILLIAM CALLEY COURT-MARTIAL (1971)

COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH FILE

Case: United States v. First Lieutenant William L. Calley Jr.
Date: November 17, 1970 – March 29, 1971
Location: Fort Benning, Georgia
Charge: Premeditated Murder under Article 118, Uniform Code of Military Justice
Verdict: GUILTY OF PREMEDITATED MURDER OF 22 CIVILIANS

SECTION 1: DEFENDANT PROFILE

1.1 Personal Information

Field	Detail
<strong>Full Name</strong>	William Laws Calley Jr.
<strong>Nickname</strong>	"Rusty"
<strong>Birth</strong>	June 8, 1943, Miami, Florida
<strong>Death</strong>	April 28, 2024, Gainesville, Florida (hospice center)
<strong>Age at Death</strong>	80 years old
<strong>Height</strong>	5 feet 3 inches

1.2 Family Background

Father: William Laws Calley Sr.

United States Navy veteran of World War II
Heavy construction equipment salesman
Business later went bankrupt

Mother: Name unknown

Homemaker
Died of cancer in 1966

Siblings:

Second of four children
Three sisters
Only son in family

1.3 Education

Florida Military Academy (attended during high school years)
Georgia Military Academy (attended during high school years)
Miami Edison Senior High School, graduated June 1962
Ranked 666th out of 731 students
Palm Beach Junior College, enrolled fall 1962
Dropped out after one semester (1963)
Failed majority of classes
Grades consisted of one C, two Ds, and one F

1.4 Pre-Military Employment

After dropping out of college (1963-1966), Calley held various jobs:

Bellhop
Dishwasher
Restaurant worker
Railroad switchman
Insurance appraiser
Train conductor
Salesman

Note: Initially attempted to enlist in Army in 1964 but was rejected due to a hearing defect.

1.5 Marriage and Family

Marriage:

Wife: Martha Penelope “Penny” Vick
Married: May 15, 1976, in Columbus, Georgia
Wife’s family: Owned V.V. Vick Jeweler in Cross Country Plaza mall
Children: One son, Laws Calley
Divorced: Approximately 2006
Calley had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and gastrointestinal problems
Working ability reduced to “zero”

1.6 Post-Military Life

Residence and Career:

Moved to Columbus, Georgia after release (1974)
Briefly worked selling insurance
Worked as manager and salesman at V.V. Vick Jeweler (1976-2004)
Known to employees by nickname “Rusty” to maintain anonymity
Received gemology training
Earned real estate license in 1980 despite criminal record

Later Years:

After divorce, moved to live with son in Atlanta
Relocated to Gainesville, Florida in late 2010s
Avoided public attention for nearly 40 years

Public Apology (August 20, 2009):

Location: Kiwanis Club of Greater Columbus, Georgia
First public statement about My Lai since trial
Statement: “There is not a day that goes by that I do not feel remorse for what happened that day in My Lai. I feel remorse for the Vietnamese who were killed, for their families, for the American soldiers involved and their families. I am very sorry.”

Death:

Death went publicly unnoticed for three months
Discovered through public records in July 2024
Death certificate reportedly marked “No” to question about armed forces service

SECTION 2: MILITARY CAREER

2.1 Enlistment and Training

Enlistment:

Date: July 26, 1966 (some sources: July 5, 1966)
Age: 23
Reason: Vietnam War escalation created need for more soldiers; selection standards relaxed

Basic Combat Training:

Location: Fort Bliss, Texas
Duration: 8 weeks

Advanced Individual Training:

Location: Fort Lewis, Washington
Duration: 8 weeks
Specialty: Company clerk (clerk-typist)

Officer Candidate School (OCS):

Location: Fort Benning, Georgia (“Fort Benning School for Boys”)
Start: Mid-March 1967
Duration: 26 weeks
Class: OCS Class No. 51
Graduation: September 7, 1967
Class Rank: 120th out of 156
Commission: Second Lieutenant, Infantry

2.2 Unit Assignment

Field	Detail
<strong>Platoon</strong>	1st Platoon
<strong>Company</strong>	Company C ("Charlie Company")
<strong>Battalion</strong>	1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment
<strong>Brigade</strong>	11th Infantry Brigade
<strong>Division</strong>	23rd Infantry Division ("Americal Division")
<strong>Commanding Officer</strong>	Captain Ernest L. Medina

Pre-Deployment Training:

Location: Schofield Barracks, Hawaii
Purpose: Preparation for deployment to South Vietnam

2.3 Vietnam Service

Arrival in Vietnam:

Date: December 1, 1967
Province: Quang Ngai, South Vietnam
Base: Established January 1968

Performance Evaluations:

Official evaluations: “Average”
Informal assessments by platoon members:
“Lacked common sense”
“Could not read a map or use a compass properly”
“Kid trying to play war”
“Glory-hungry person”
“Nervous, excitable type who yelled a lot”
“Incompetent”
“Something about him that rubbed people the wrong way”
Captain Medina reportedly addressed him as “Lieutenant Shithead”
Some soldiers allegedly placed a bounty on his head

Notable Incidents:

May/June 1969: Physical confrontation with five U.S. Marines near Chu Lai Base Area
Fight involved two other Americal Division lieutenants
Ended when one Army officer fired pistol into air
Calley was “merely beaten up”
Marines pleaded guilty at special courts-martial

2.4 Awards and Decorations

Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster
Purple Heart

SECTION 3: THE MY LAI MASSACRE (March 16, 1968)

3.1 Background and Intelligence

Task Force Barker:

Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Frank A. Barker Jr.
Formed: January 1968
Composition: Three rifle companies (A, B, C) of 11th Brigade
Mission: Pressure Viet Cong in “Pinkville” area

Target:

Village: Sơn Mỹ (Son My)
Hamlet: My Lai 4 (designated by U.S. military)
Location: Quang Ngai Province, northeastern coast of South Vietnam
Approximately 7 miles northeast of Quang Ngai city
Nickname: “Pinkville” (due to reddish-pink color on military maps indicating dense population)

Intelligence Assessment:

48th Viet Cong Local Force Battalion reportedly hiding in area
Intelligence indicated unit would be opposed by veteran enemy battalion
Expected enemy-to-friendly ratio: 2:1
Prediction: Heavy resistance expected
Assessment: All civilians would be absent (at market by time of assault)

Note: Intelligence was faulty; 48th Battalion had been regrouping in mountains miles away.

3.2 Pre-Operation Briefing (March 15, 1968)

Location: Company C briefing area

Briefing Officer: Captain Ernest L. Medina

Memorial Service: Held for Sergeant George Cox (killed by booby trap March 14) and other company members killed in preceding weeks

Briefing Content (disputed):

Medina’s version: Instructed to destroy My Lai 4 by “burning the hootches, to kill the livestock, to close the wells and to destroy the food crops”; denied ordering civilian killings
Calley’s version: Made clear everyone in village was to be shot; “all were Viet Cong”
21 Charlie Company members corroborated Calley’s account
Other members denied such orders were given
Some testified intent of order was plain, while unstated

3.3 Operation Timeline (March 16, 1968)

Pre-Assault:

Early morning artillery and helicopter gunship barrage
Landing zone prepared approximately 140 yards south of My Lai

07:22: Nine helicopters lift off for flight to My Lai 4

07:30: Charlie Company lands in rice paddy

First Platoon (Calley) assigned to sweep into village from south
Second Platoon (Lieutenant Stephen Brooks) to sweep through north
Third Platoon (Lieutenant Larry LaCroix) held in reserve
Captain Medina and headquarters unit following

07:35: First Vietnamese civilian killed

08:00-08:40: Main massacre period

No enemy fire received
No Viet Cong combatants found
Village occupied by women, children, and elderly men

08:40: My Lai 4 in ruins

Approximately 09:00: Hugh Thompson observes massacre from helicopter

09:00-11:00: Continued killing; Thompson intervention

11:00: Thompson returns to base, reports massacre

Cease-fire order issued by Captain Medina after Barker radioed inquiry

3.4 Methods and Atrocities

Weapons Used:

M-16 automatic rifles
M-60 machine guns
M-79 grenade launchers
Hand grenades
Bayonets

Atrocities Documented:

Villagers gathered and herded to collection points
Groups taken to trail intersection and irrigation ditch
Mass executions by automatic weapons fire
Women and girls raped (some as young as 12)
Bodies mutilated
Infants and children bayoneted
Elderly monk beaten with rifle butt and shot
Child thrown into ditch and shot
246 homes burned (“Zippo squads” using cigarette lighters)
Livestock killed
Wells poisoned
Bodies dumped down wells

3.5 Specific Incidents Attributed to Calley

Trail Intersection (South Side of Village):

Approximately 30-40 civilians gathered by Meadlo and Conti
Calley ordered: “You know what to do with ’em” (or similar)
Returned 10-15 minutes later: “How come they’re not dead?”
Ordered: “I want them dead” / “Waste them”
Calley and Meadlo opened fire on full automatic
Meadlo broke down crying during shooting
Calley finished off survivors with single shots

Irrigation Ditch (East Side of Village):

70-80 civilians brought to ditch
Ordered soldiers to push people into ditch
Ordered soldiers to fire into ditch
Some soldiers refused (James Dursi, Robert Maples)
Calley and Meadlo, Sergeant David Mitchell fired into ditch
Calley admitted firing with muzzle within 5 feet of victims
Expended 10-15 magazines of ammunition

Elderly Monk:

Interrogated by Calley
Struck with rifle butt
Shot in head

Child at Ditch:

Two-year-old child survived initial gunfire
Ran toward hamlet
Calley grabbed child, threw back in ditch
Shot the child

3.6 Casualty Figures

Source	Estimated Dead
U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division	347
Vietnamese Government Memorial	504
Son My Village Chief Report	400+ (My Lai) + 90 (My Khe)

Victim Demographics (Vietnamese Memorial):

504 total victims from 247 families
24 families lost everyone (three generations, no survivors)
60 elderly men
282 women (17 pregnant)
173 children (53 infants)
Age range: 1 to 82 years

American Casualties:

One soldier wounded (accidental discharge of own weapon)

3.7 Hugh Thompson Intervention

Helicopter Crew:

Name	Rank	Position
Hugh Thompson Jr.	Warrant Officer One	Pilot
Glenn Andreotta	Specialist Four	Crew Chief
Lawrence Colburn	Specialist Four	Door Gunner

Aircraft: Hiller OH-23 Raven observation helicopter

Actions:

Observed bodies throughout village during reconnaissance
Marked wounded Vietnamese with green smoke (standard call for aid)
Returned to find marked individuals dead
Witnessed Captain Medina approach wounded woman, prod her with foot, then shoot her
Observed irrigation ditch filled with bodies
Saw Sergeant David Mitchell executing people in ditch
Spotted group of 10 civilians (including children) fleeing toward bunker
Observed 2nd Platoon soldiers pursuing civilians

Confrontation:

Thompson landed helicopter between American soldiers and Vietnamese civilians
Ordered Colburn and Andreotta: “If these bastards open up on me or these people, you open up on them”
Confronted 2nd Platoon leader Lieutenant Stephen Brooks
Confronted Lieutenant Calley
Calley allegedly threatened Thompson with hand grenade

Rescue:

Coaxed 11 Vietnamese out of bunker
Persuaded UH-1 Huey gunship pilots to evacuate civilians
Andreotta spotted movement in ditch, extracted live boy (Do Ba) from among approximately 100 bodies
Flew survivors to ARVN hospital in Quang Ngai

Aftermath:

Thompson reported massacre to superiors upon return (approximately 11:00)
Report led to cease-fire order
Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross (Thompson threw away citation because it falsified events)
1998: Thompson, Colburn, and Andreotta (posthumously) awarded Soldier’s Medal

Glenn Andreotta: Killed in action April 8, 1968 (three weeks after massacre)

SECTION 4: COVER-UP AND EXPOSURE

4.1 Initial Cover-Up

March 16, 1968:

Initial reports claimed “128 Viet Cong and 22 civilians” killed in “fierce firefight”
General William C. Westmoreland congratulated unit on “outstanding job”
Stars and Stripes: “U.S. infantrymen had killed 128 Communists in a bloody day-long battle”

March 27, 1968: Letter of Commendation issued to Captain Medina

March 28, 1968: Lieutenant Colonel Barker submitted combat action report

Described operation as “successful”
Claimed 128 VC combatants killed

April 8, 1968: Task Force Barker mission declared success; companies disbanded

Investigation by Colonel Oran Henderson:

Interviewed several GIs
Pronounced himself “satisfied”
No attempt to interview Vietnamese survivors
Late April: Submitted report indicating approximately 20 civilians “inadvertently killed”

June 13, 1968: Colonel Barker and Captain Earl Michles killed in mid-air collision (before investigation)

4.2 Ronald Ridenhour’s Investigation

Background:

Door gunner, 11th Infantry Brigade
Stationed 30 miles south of My Lai
Did not witness massacre
Heard accounts from friends in Charlie Company

Investigation (April 1968 – March 1969):

Conducted informal investigation while still in Vietnam
Tracked down and interviewed witnesses including:
Larry LaCroix (specifically mentioned Calley’s involvement)
Michael Bernhardt (refused to participate in massacre)
Discharged from Army: December 1, 1968
Continued gathering information in Phoenix, Arizona

The Letter (March 29, 1969):

Length: Approximately 2,000 words
Opening: “Gentlemen, It was in late April, 1968 that I first heard of ‘Pinkville’ and what allegedly happened there.”
Described: “something very black indeed”
Sent to 30 prominent individuals including:
President Richard Nixon
Secretary of Defense Melvin R. Laird
Secretary of State
Joint Chiefs of Staff
Congressman Morris “Mo” Udall
Senator Edward Kennedy
Senator Barry Goldwater
Senator Eugene McCarthy
Senator William Fulbright

Response: Most recipients ignored the letter

4.3 Army Investigation

April 1969: Army Inspector General’s Office begins investigation

Colonel William V. Wilson:

Assigned to determine if Ridenhour’s claims had merit
WWII Green Beret and Purple Heart recipient
Began interviews end of April 1969
May 2: Interviewed Larry LaCroix (first to corroborate Ridenhour)

June 13, 1969: Thompson presented lineup; identified Calley as officer he confronted

September 5, 1969: Calley charged with six specifications of premeditated murder

Charged with deaths of 109 South Vietnamese civilians
Charges not released to press

September 9, 1969: NBC Huntley-Brinkley Report airs segment on civilian killings

4.4 Seymour Hersh Exposé

October 22, 1969: Hersh receives tip from Geoffrey Cowan (Village Voice columnist)

Investigation:

Contacted Pentagon; found AP story identifying Calley
Located Calley’s lawyer George Latimer in Salt Lake City
Latimer showed document revealing charges for killing 109 people

November 11, 1969: Hersh interviews Calley at Fort Benning

November 12, 1969: Story offered to Life and Look magazines; both declined

November 13, 1969: Story published through Dispatch News Service

Appeared in 35 newspapers
Alabama Journal and New York Times ran separate stories (November 12-13)

November 20, 1969: Cleveland Plain Dealer publishes Ronald Haeberle’s photographs

December 5, 1969: Life magazine publishes Haeberle photographs; galvanizes anti-war movement

1970: Hersh wins Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting

4.5 Peers Commission

Established: November 26, 1969

Commander: Lieutenant General William R. Peers

Purpose: Investigate cover-up at every command level

Scope:

Conducted 399 interviews
Compiled 20,000+ pages of testimony
Constrained by two-year statute of limitations

Final Report (March 14, 1970):

Concluded: “At every command level from company to division, actions were taken or omitted which together effectively concealed from higher headquarters the events which transpired”
30 individuals cited for failure to report or investigate
Criminal Investigation Division census: 347 confirmed civilian deaths
First Platoon (Calley) responsible for 90-130 murders (approximately one-third)

SECTION 5: THE COURT-MARTIAL

5.1 Pre-Trial Proceedings

Article 32 Hearing: December 1969

Charges Filed: September 5, 1969

Six specifications of premeditated murder
Deaths of 109 South Vietnamese civilians
Under Article 118, Uniform Code of Military Justice

Charges Characterized: Capital offense (death penalty possible)

5.2 Prosecution Team

Role	Name	Rank
Chief Prosecutor	Aubrey M. Daniel III	Captain
Co-Prosecutor	John Partin	Captain

Captain Aubrey M. Daniel III:

Lead military prosecutor
Later wrote letter to President Nixon criticizing presidential intervention
Called Nixon’s actions “degrading” and “defiling” to military justice system

5.3 Defense Team

Role	Name	Notes
Chief Defense Counsel	George W. Latimer	Civilian attorney, Salt Lake City
Defense Counsel	Brookes S. Doyle Jr.	Military attorney
Defense Counsel	Richard B. Kay	Military attorney
Defense Counsel	Kenneth A. Raby	Military attorney

George W. Latimer:

Born: November 28, 1900, Draper, Utah
Died: May 3, 1990
Utah Supreme Court Justice (1946-1951)
U.S. Court of Military Appeals Judge (1951-1961, original member)
Retained by Calley for $6,000 (Calley’s life savings)
Age at trial: 70 years old
Described as “past his prime,” hard of hearing
Questions described as “rambling and hard to follow”
WWII Pacific Theater veteran (staff of General Douglas MacArthur)
Rank: Brigadier General (Utah National Guard)

5.4 Judge

Name: Colonel Reid W. Kennedy

Role: Military Judge presiding over court-martial

5.5 Court Members (Jury)

Composition: Six Army officers

Vietnam Experience: Five of six had served in Vietnam

All had combat experience

Function: Served as both judge and jury (standard military court-martial)

5.6 Trial Proceedings

Start Date: November 17, 1970 (some sources: November 12)

Location: Fort Benning, Georgia

Duration: Approximately 4 months

Description: Longest court-martial in U.S. military history to that date

5.7 Prosecution Case

Strategy:

Prove Calley ordered and personally participated in deliberate murder of unarmed civilians
Establish no enemy resistance was encountered
Show violations of U.S. Military Rules of Engagement

Challenges:

Reluctance of soldiers to testify against fellow soldier
Some witnesses invoked Fifth Amendment
Nearly 33 months had passed since massacre

Witnesses Called: Over 100

Key Prosecution Witnesses:

Witness	Role	Key Testimony
Paul David Meadlo	PFC, 1st Platoon	Described Calley ordering shootings; participated in killings
Dennis Conti	PFC, 1st Platoon	Corroborated Meadlo; described executions in detail
Robert Maples	Machine Gunner	Calley asked to use his machine gun; Maples refused
Ronald Haeberle	Army Photographer	Provided photographs of massacre
Charles Hall	Assistant Gunner	Described bodies with "blood coming out of all parts"
James Dursi	PFC, 1st Platoon	Refused Calley's order to shoot

Paul Meadlo Testimony:

Initially refused to testify; held in contempt by Judge Kennedy
Granted immunity from prosecution
Described guarding 30-40 villagers
Calley arrived: “You know what to do with ’em”
Assumed meant to guard them
Calley returned 10-15 minutes later: “How come they’re not dead?”
“I didn’t know we were supposed to kill them”
Calley: “I want them dead”
Calley “backed off twenty or thirty feet and started shooting into the people”
Meadlo joined in shooting
Broke down crying during killings
Attempted to give rifle to Conti

Dennis Conti Testimony:

Described gathering villagers at Calley’s direction
“Calley told me and Meadlo to take the people off and push them in a rice paddy”
Described shootings: “There were bursts and single shots for two minutes”
“Lots of heads was shot off, pieces of heads and pieces of flesh flew off the sides and arms”
Refused to participate: “If they’re going to be killed, I’m not going to do it. Let Lieutenant Calley do it”
“Some kids were still standing and Calley finished them off with single shots”

5.8 Defense Case

Initial Defense: Deaths caused by helicopter or aerial bombardment

Disproven by prosecution witnesses

Primary Defense: Following orders of superior officer (Captain Medina)

Alternative Arguments:

Diminished capacity/low intelligence
Calley should not have been made infantry officer
Commissioned only due to manpower shortages
Portrayed as victim of poorly planned war
Marijuana use affecting judgment

Calley’s Testimony:

Claimed Medina made clear everyone in village was to be shot
All Vietnamese classified as Viet Cong
“I was ordered to go in there and destroy the enemy. That was my job on that day. That was the mission I was given.”
“I did not sit down and think in terms of men, women, and children. They were all classified the same.”
“I felt then and I still do that I acted as I was directed, and I carried out the orders that I was given, and I do not feel wrong in doing so.”
Expressed no remorse at trial

Corroborating Witnesses: 21 Charlie Company members supported Calley’s claim about Medina’s orders

Expert Witness:

Dr. Albert LaVerne (psychiatrist)
Testified Calley lacked ability to make complex decisions
Under cross-examination: Admitted Calley had mental ability to premeditate
Example of “complex decision” he couldn’t make: “Like going to the moon”

Captain Ernest Medina (Witness of the Court):

Denied giving orders to kill civilians
Stated he meant “enemy soldiers”
Claimed not present when killings began
Later admitted he “had not been completely candid to avoid disgracing the military”

5.9 Verdict

Deliberation:

Began: March 16, 1971 (three-year anniversary of massacre)
Duration: 79 hours (some sources: approximately 80 hours)
Secret ballot

Verdict Date: March 29, 1971

Finding: “Guilty of the premeditated murder of not fewer than 22 South Vietnamese civilians”

Also Found: Guilty of assault with intent to murder one Vietnamese child

Charges Not Proven: Murder of 109 civilians (reduced to 22)

Juror Statement: “We labored long and hard to find some way, some evidence, or some flaw in the testimony so we could find Lt. Calley innocent”

5.10 Sentencing

Sentencing Phase: March 31, 1971

Calley’s Statement to Jury:
“Yesterday you stripped me of all my honor. Please, by your actions that you take here today, don’t strip future soldiers of their honor—I beg of you.”

Prosecution Response (Daniel): “You did not strip him of his honor.”

Latimer’s Plea: Described Calley as “a good boy until he got into that Oriental situation”

Deliberation: 7 hours

Original Sentence:

Confinement at hard labor for life
Dismissal from the service
Forfeiture of all pay and allowances

SECTION 6: POST-CONVICTION AND APPEALS

6.1 Presidential Intervention

April 1, 1971 (3 days after conviction):

President Richard Nixon ordered Calley removed from Fort Leavenworth
Transferred to house arrest at Fort Benning
Allowed to remain in bachelor apartment pending appeal

White House Response:

300,000+ letters and telegrams received denouncing sentence
Public pressure influenced decision

Criticism:

Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird protested leniency
Captain Aubrey Daniel wrote letter to White House:
Called intervention “degrading” and “defiling” to military justice
“The greatest tragedy of all will be if political expedience dictates the compromise of such a fundamental moral principle as the inherent unlawfulness of the murder of innocent persons”

6.2 Sentence Reductions

Date	Action	Authority
August 20, 1971	Reduced to 20 years	Lieutenant General Albert O. Connor (Commanding General, Third Army/Fort Benning)
February 16, 1973	Conviction affirmed	U.S. Army Court of Military Review
December 21, 1973	Conviction affirmed	U.S. Court of Military Appeals
April 15, 1974	Findings and sentence approved	Secretary of the Army
April 1974	Reduced to 10 years	Secretary of the Army Howard H. Callaway (clemency action)
May 3, 1974	Review completed	President Nixon (determined no further action required)

6.3 Federal Court Appeals

February 11, 1974:

Calley filed petition for writ of habeas corpus
U.S. District Court for Middle District of Georgia
Judge: J. Robert Elliott

February 27, 1974:

Judge Elliott released Calley on $1,000 bail
Pending determination of habeas corpus petition

June 13, 1974:

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed district court
Returned Calley to Army custody

September 25, 1974:

Judge Elliott granted habeas corpus
Ordered immediate release
Grounds: Improperly convicted due to:
Extensive pre-trial publicity
Denial of defense witnesses
House of Representatives refused to release executive session testimony
Inadequate notice of charges

September 10, 1975:

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals (en banc) reversed Judge Elliott
Vote: 8-5
Conviction and sentence reinstated

April 5, 1976:

U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear case
Let conviction stand

6.4 Actual Time Served

Total Confinement:

House arrest: Approximately 3-3.5 years
Fort Leavenworth stockade: Approximately 3-4 months

Parole:

Date: November 9, 1974
Eligible after serving one-third of 10-year sentence
Army refused to incarcerate for remaining 10 days after Fifth Circuit ruling

Honorable Discharge: September 9, 1974

SECTION 7: PUBLIC REACTION

7.1 Opinion Polls

Gallup Poll (April 1971):

79% of Americans believed Calley had been made a scapegoat
Only 9% approved of conviction

ABC News Poll (3,000 respondents):

77% believed Calley was scapegoated

Louis Harris and Associates (April 1971):

77% thought Calley singled out as scapegoat
65% disagreed with conviction

Other Surveys:

51% favored full release

7.2 “Free Calley” Movement

Public Support:

Bumper stickers: “Free Calley”
5,000+ telegrams sent to White House
Florida lowered flags to half-mast
Army veterans returned medals in protest
“Free Calley” painted as scapegoat for government’s failed Vietnam policies

Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter:

Instituted “American Fighting Man’s Day”
Asked Georgians to drive with headlights on for a week
One of Calley’s most ardent defenders

7.3 Music

“The Battle Hymn of Lt. Calley”:

Performed by: C Company featuring Terry Nelson
Written by: Julian Wilson and James M. Smith
Label: Plantation Records (1971)
Sales: Over 1 million records
Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #37 (May 1, 1971)
Lyrics included: “My name is William Calley / I’m a soldier of this land / I’ve tried to do my duty and to gain the upper hand / But they’ve made me out a villain / They have stamped me with a brand”
Tex Ritter cancelled cover due to controversy

Vietnam War Song Project:

100+ songs released about My Lai and Calley
1969-1973: Pro-Calley songs outnumbered anti-Calley songs 2:1
Post-war era: All songs critical of Calley’s actions

7.4 Divided Opinions

Supporters Argued:

Calley following orders
War conditions made distinguishing combatants impossible
Military and political leaders bore greater responsibility
Low-ranking officer scapegoated while superiors escaped

Critics Argued:

War crimes cannot be excused
Calley personally participated in murders
Orders to kill civilians are illegal and should be refused
Other soldiers (Dursi, Maples) refused illegal orders

Colonel Harry G. Summers Jr. (U.S. Army):

Stated Calley and Medina should have been “hanged, drawn, and quartered”
Their remains should be placed “at the gates of Fort Benning, at the Infantry School, as a reminder to those who pass under it of what an infantry officer ought to be”

SECTION 8: OTHER COURTS-MARTIAL

8.1 Soldiers Charged

Total Charged: 26 officers and soldiers (various sources cite 14-26)

Courts-Martial:

14 officers charged with crimes related to massacre or cover-up

8.2 Individual Cases

Name	Rank	Charge	Outcome	Date
Sergeant David Mitchell	Sergeant	Murder	Acquitted	October 1970
Charles Hutto	Private	Murder, assault	Acquitted	1971
Ernest Medina	Captain	Murder, assault	Acquitted	September 22, 1971
Oran Henderson	Colonel	Cover-up	Acquitted	December 17, 1971
Eugene Kotouc	Captain	Maiming, assault	Acquitted	N/A
Samuel Koster	Major General	Cover-up	Charges dropped; demoted to Brigadier General; lost position as West Point Superintendent
William Calley	Lieutenant	Murder	<strong>GUILTY</strong>	March 29, 1971

Ernest Medina Trial:

Location: Fort McPherson, Georgia
Dates: August-September 1971
Defense Attorney: F. Lee Bailey
Charge: Involuntary manslaughter of 100+ civilians; premeditated murder of wounded woman
Verdict: Not guilty on all counts
Witnesses corroborated he was not present when slaughter began
After trial: Admitted he had “not been completely candid” and “had suppressed evidence and had lied to Henderson about the number of civilian deaths”

8.3 Convictions Summary

Only Conviction: William L. Calley Jr.

Found guilty of 22 murders
Only American convicted for My Lai Massacre

SECTION 9: LEGACY AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

9.1 Military Reforms

Training Changes:

Increased emphasis on Laws of Armed Conflict
My Lai used as case study at military academies and law schools
Training on refusing illegal orders

Command Responsibility:

Medina’s acquittal established “Medina Standard”
Command responsibility doctrine refined

9.2 Legal Precedent

Superior Orders Defense:

Established that illegal orders should be disobeyed
“Nuremberg defense” limitations reinforced

Court of Military Appeals Ruling:

For 100 years, settled rule: Summary killing of enemy who has submitted is murder
Prisoners and civilians under control cannot be executed

9.3 Cultural Impact

Vietnam War Perception:

Reinforced anti-war sentiment
Became symbol of war’s moral costs
Changed how veterans were perceived

Documentaries and Films:

“Four Hours in My Lai” (1989, Yorkshire Television) – British Academy Award, International Emmy
“Remember My Lai” (1989, PBS Frontline)
“Judgment: The Court-Martial of Lieutenant William Calley” (1975)
Directed by Stanley Kramer and Lee Bernhard
Tony Musante as Calley
Harrison Ford as Frank Crowder
“My Lai Four” (2010, Italian)
“My Lai Inside” (2018, Christoph Felder)
Ken Burns’ “The Vietnam War” (2017, Episode 8)

9.4 Hugh Thompson Recognition

1998 (30th Anniversary):

Thompson, Colburn, and Andreotta (posthumously) awarded Soldier’s Medal
Major General Michael Ackerman: “It was the ability to do the right thing even at the risk of their personal safety that guided these soldiers to do what they did”
Senator Max Cleland entered tribute into Congressional Record

1999:

Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award
Thompson and Colburn served as co-chairs of STONEWALK

2006: Hugh Thompson died (age 62); buried Lafayette Memorial Park, Louisiana

2010: Hugh Thompson Foundation chartered

9.5 Vietnamese Memorial

Location: Son My Village, Vietnam

My Lai Museum:

Marble plaque lists 504 victims by name and age
Thompson’s name displayed alongside victims
Small museum preserves memory of massacre

SECTION 10: SOURCE BIBLIOGRAPHY

Primary Sources

Court-martial proceedings, Fort Benning, Georgia (November 1970-March 1971)
U.S. Court of Military Appeals Decision: United States v. Calley, 46 C.M.R. 1131 (1973)
Federal Court Records: Calley v. Callaway, 496 F.2d 701 (5th Cir. 1974); 519 F.2d 184 (5th Cir. 1975)
The Peers Report (Report of the Department of the Army Review of the Preliminary Investigations into the My Lai Incident), March 1970
National Archives: Records of the Office of the Judge Advocate General, RG 153
Ronald Ridenhour Letter, March 29, 1969

Secondary Sources

Books:

Hersh, Seymour M. “My Lai 4: A Report on the Massacre and Its Aftermath” (1970)
Hersh, Seymour M. “Cover-Up: The Army’s Secret Investigation of the Massacre at My Lai 4” (1972)
Hammer, Richard. “The Court-Martial of Lt. Calley” (1971)
Sack, John. “Lieutenant Calley: His Own Story” (1971)
Bilton, Michael and Sim, Kevin. “Four Hours in My Lai” (1992)
Peers, William R. “The My Lai Inquiry” (1979)
Angers, Trent. “The Forgotten Hero of My Lai: The Hugh Thompson Story” (2014)
Jones, Howard. “My Lai: Vietnam, 1968, and the Descent into Darkness” (2017)
Olson, James S. and Roberts, Randy. “My Lai: A Brief History with Documents” (1999)
Anderson, David L., ed. “Facing My Lai: Moving Beyond the Massacre” (1997)
Oliver, Kendrick. “The My Lai Massacre in American History and Memory” (2006)

Archives and Collections

George W. Latimer Papers, University of Utah Special Collections
National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution
Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
Famous Trials Collection, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law

SECTION 11: ABOUT THE COURT-MARTIAL

A court-martial is a military court convened to try members of the armed forces for offenses under military law. The William Calley case was prosecuted under Article 118 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice for premeditated murder. The proceedings lasted approximately four months, making it the longest court-martial in U.S. military history at that time. A six-officer panel, five of whom had served in Vietnam, served as both judge and jury. After deliberating for 79 hours, the panel convicted Calley of the premeditated murder of 22 Vietnamese civilians.

The case established important precedents regarding the defense of superior orders, affirming that illegal orders to kill civilians must be disobeyed. Despite the conviction, Calley served only approximately three and a half years under house arrest due to presidential intervention and multiple sentence reductions. Public opinion was deeply divided, with polls showing significant majorities viewing Calley as a scapegoat. The case remains studied at military academies and law schools as a landmark proceeding examining war crimes, command responsibility, and military justice.

The My Lai massacre and Calley trial had profound effects on American society, intensifying opposition to the Vietnam War and changing public perceptions of the conflict and those who served in it. Only one person—William Calley—was ever convicted for the massacre that killed between 347 and 504 unarmed civilians.

Research compiled from multiple verified historical sources.