Rights Breached, Responsibilities Neglected: How the My Lai Massacre Exposed the Ethical Issues of the Vietnam War
"A trio of children look at photographs of the My Lai massacre in an unidentified war museum, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 1995." Derek Hudson/Getty Images
Thesis
The My Lai Massacre was a war crime committed by American soldiers in Task Force Barker against Vietnamese civilians in My Lai. American soldiers were obligated to uphold their ethical responsibilities abroad while respecting the rights of civilians they encountered. Commanding officers were also responsible for ensuring an environment where soldiers could fulfill these duties. The failure to uphold these standards raised larger questions on the morality of war conduct in Vietnam.
"Victims, including men, women, children and infants, of the My Lai massacre or Thảm sát Mỹ Lai (March 6, 1968) in central Vietnam." Ronald L. Haeberle / The LIFE Images Collection / Getty Images
“The bodies of Vietnamese civilians who were killed by U.S. soldiers rest on a road in My Lai, Vietnam, on March 16, 1968.” Ronald L. Haeberle / The LIFE Images Collection / Getty Images
"Off to the right, I noticed a woman appeared from some cover and this one GI fired first at her, then they all started shooting at her, aiming at her head. The bones were flying in the air chip by chip. I'd never seen Americans shoot civilians like that.”
-Task Force Barker Army Photographer, Ronald Haeberle, interview with the Plain Dealer, November 1969