Lt. Calley has died

[DWalt]

Actually he died in April, but the story has just broken. Who can forget what happened at My Lai? Following is a very extensive article in today's Washington Post about the My Lai affair and Lt. Calley's role in it.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2024/07/29/william-calley-dead-my-lai-massacre/

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I knew Lt. Calley briefly at Fort Benning, GA during winter 1971-72. During his court martial proceedings Calley lived on post in a duplex in the junior officers housing area. Basically house arrest, not allowed to come and go as he might wish, shopping at the commissary and PX, meetings with his attorney, etc. His fiancé spent most evenings with him, usually watching television or playing board games.

A pleasant young guy, early 20s, very soft spoken. We kept a military police detail there, primarily to keep the press and public away from Calley. Calley always made his restroom available for the guys, occasionally share a pizza with them.

Also at Fort Benning was Captain Henderson, a staff officer on duty on the day of the My Lai incident, assigned there to be available as a witness. Career officer, pretty highly decorated, great military record up to that incident but I suppose that was the end of his career.

Bad times for many people.

 

[Greyman50]

Perhaps one believes what information those " in charge" put out. AFAIK Lt Calley got " hosed" as is the case in other " events"…..

 

[twodog max]

I remember the turmoil of that event and all the hyper news coverage. I cannot for the life of me recall the outcome.
Incidents like that have always been part of warfare since man first made weapons. Does not excuse it but do not expect it to stop. I would bet it is happening in the Ukraine on both sides.

 

[Rudi]

Another chapter in US history comes to a close.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I was on Active Duty in the Army then, I recall we got all sorts of hurried and rushed training on "Illegal Orders/Unlawful Orders" from our CO-a 1LT, Engineers-really qualified.
Our feeling was that Calley was a scapegoat, a fall guy.

 

[Greyman50]

One had to be there to fully understand the "overall situation". Those that would use a child to blow up anything are sub human. Over there you could rarely trust Any L. N's. Vietnam had been at war for 100's of years on and off. The " general public" just really did not care or give a rats a-' who was in charge. I best quit before I get banned.
BTW many years after back home met this Vietnamese lady that had a alterations shop, her husband had been a Major in the ARVN. Once she knew I was a Veteran she opened up and told me many " things" that happened once the commies took over..

 

[Greyman50]

Found one of my maps that was packed away. Those's that were there and got to drive around the point remember the cemetery with the large statue of Christ.

 

[steelslaver]

A young kid placed in a horrible environment and situation. IMHO only the people who have endured very similar situations at his age have any right to judge him. I am not qualified

 

[MelvinWalker]

Perhaps one believes what information those " in charge" put out. AFAIK Lt Calley got " hosed" as is the case in other " events"…..

Hugh Thompson would probably disagree with that....According to Thompson, the only people hosed were lying in the ditch.

 

[cherrypointmarine]

Greyman , that shop wouldn't be in Oviedo , Fl would it ? There's a shop here that we use , no one else does as good a job as her or her son . There's pictures all over about her and what she went through . She was even on the front of a magazine and also on the front page of the Orlando Sentinel .

 

[Greyman50]

Greyman , that shop wouldn't be in Oviedo , Fl would it ? There's a shop here that we use , no one else does as good a job as her or her son . There's pictures all over about her and what she went through . She was even on the front of a magazine and also on the front page of the Orlando Sentinel .

No, not in Florida but back in Virginia.

 

[DWalt]

Back when I was chief engineer for a large well service company in the late 1970s, we hired many Vietnamese refugees as heavy equipment mechanics. They were quick learners and excellent mechanics, but I did not have much personal interaction with them to hear their experiences. I imagine they had lots of stories. I once had an employee who had been a tunnel rat. A Marine as I remember. He had lots of stories about his Vietnam experiences. He was about a half-bubble off level, I was never very comfortable about being around him.

 

[Sistema1927]

The only one found guilty, but not the only one with blood on his hands. A travesty of justice in so many ways.

 

[llowry61]

I remember seeing televised trials or congressional hearings I can't recall which. I was a kid so a lot of it went over my head. 2 of my uncles had been in Vietnam so there wasn't much talk about it. They both struggled with alcohol affecting their families and ruining marriages. I can't imagine what they went through. Both were good guys I spent time with growing up and I miss them to this day. I hope they have gone to a better place because they weren't happy here on earth.

As another poster put it, kids put into impossible situations. I can't judge him either. He has met his maker and will be judged accordingly. I hope he is at peace.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

We all know what flows downhill and how high on the hill that Lieutenants are. RIP Salute.

 

[charlie sherrill]

I had a good friend who received an appointment, after spending 13 months in country as a NCO, to a short OCS course and was promoted to 2nd Lt. He was very excited about it until he found out they needed another warm body to lead patrols. He lasted six months over there. I talked to his widow a few months ago. Their only son is now in his early 50's. His Dad never got to see him.

 

[lkabug]

I too knew Lt Calley, while stationed at Ft Benning, early to mid 1967. His unit in Vietnam was hit pretty hard during Tet '68. Vietnam had a curel way of changing one's perception, for those that were in country.
May he finally rest.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I had a good friend who received an appointment, after spending 13 months in country as a NCO, to a short OCS course and was promoted to 2nd Lt. He was very excited about it until he found out they needed another warm body to lead patrols. He lasted six months over there. I talked to his widow a few months ago. Their only son is now in his early 50's. His Dad never got to see him.

I went to Vietnam as an 18-year old Private First Class, when I left I was a 19-year old Sergeant responsible for a dozen others. Went back to Vietnam and returned as a 20-year old Sergeant with two combat tours, Combat Infantryman Badge and Purple Heart medal along with several other decorations. Still too young to vote or step up to the bar for a beer in most states.

My mother insisted on taking me, in uniform, to the VFW post where she was an auxiliary member. Vietnam vets were not allowed to join because we hadn't been in a "real war".

Around military bases many apartment complexes and property managers refused to rent to military personnel. Many restaurants and clubs had signs posted, usually some version of "NO DOGS. NO SOLDIERS". Popular TV shows and movies depicted Vietnam veterans as drug addicted psychotic killers. Wearing the uniform off-post frequently drew insults or ridicule.

Many employers refused to hire Vietnam veterans until Congress passed the Veterans Reemployment Act providing tax credits for doing so.

Many of us learned it was best to not mention the fact we were veterans at social gatherings or nice parties.

VA medical care was a sorry joke. Go to the VA clinic with an appointment (which takes months to obtain), wait half a day to find out they couldn't get to you so come back next week, then show up a week later to find out you had missed your last appointment so you had been dropped from enrollment. Over a decade after coming home I needed minor out-patient surgery to remove a bit of shrapnel from my knee. Show up at the VA hospital, wait for 4 hours, then I was introduced to my surgeon AND HIS INTERPRETER (he spoke no English). Learned that proper licensing or graduation from accredited US medical schools were not required to work in the VA system (literally, a doctor could be under suspension or revocation by state authorities and still hold a position with VA).

Thankfully, today the VA has changed and now provides excellent (although limited) medical care with good staffing. Still a bureaucracy, but not unlike most modern American hospitals or clinics.

Enough ranting for today.

 

[Greyman50]

I went to Vietnam as an 18-year old Private First Class, when I left I was a 19-year old Sergeant responsible for a dozen others. Went back to Vietnam and returned as a 20-year old Sergeant with two combat tours, Combat Infantryman Badge and Purple Heart medal along with several other decorations. Still too young to vote or step up to the bar for a beer in most states.

My mother insisted on taking me, in uniform, to the VFW post where she was an auxiliary member. Vietnam vets were not allowed to join because we hadn't been in a "real war".
Around military bases many apartment complexes and property managers refused to rent to military personnel. Many restaurants and clubs had signs posted, usually some version of "NO DOGS. NO SOLDIERS". Popular TV shows and movies depicted Vietnam veterans as drug addicted psychotic killers. Wearing the uniform off-post frequently drew insults or ridicule.

Many employers refused to hire Vietnam veterans until Congress passed the Veterans Reemployment Act providing tax credits for doing so.

Many of us learned it was best to not mention the fact we were veterans at social gatherings or nice parties.

VA medical care was a sorry joke. Go to the VA clinic with an appointment (which takes months to obtain), wait half a day to find out they couldn't get to you so come back next week, then show up a week later to find out you had missed your last appointment so you had been dropped from enrollment. Over a decade after coming home I needed minor out-patient surgery to remove a bit of shrapnel from my knee. Show up at the VA hospital, wait for 4 hours, then I was introduced to my surgeon AND HIS INTERPRETER (he spoke no English). Learned that proper licensing or graduation from accredited US medical schools were not required to work in the VA system (literally, a doctor could be under suspension or revocation by state authorities and still hold a position with VA).

Thankfully, today the VA has changed and now provides excellent (although limited) medical care with good staffing. Still a bureaucracy, but not unlike most modern American hospitals or clinics.

Enough ranting for today.

Also remember rejection by VFW in the 70s-80s. Much different these days.