What war crimes were committed by U.S. soldiers during the My Lai Massacre?

During the My Lai Massacre on March 16, 1968, U.S. soldiers from Charlie Company committed numerous war crimes against unarmed Vietnamese civilians. These acts included:12

• Indiscriminate Killing: Soldiers rounded up and shot groups of women, children, and elderly men at close range.2
• Mass Executions: Under the orders of Lieutenant William Calley, as many as 150 civilians were herded into an irrigation ditch and executed.2
• Sexual Violence: U.S. soldiers committed numerous rapes during the operation.2
• Destruction of Property: While the destruction of buildings and crops was often typical of search-and-destroy missions, the systematic killing of survivors and the razing of the hamlet were part of the broader atrocities committed that day.23

These actions were a profound violation of the ethical principles governing the conduct of war, which mandate the protection of noncombatants. Although the massacre resulted in the deaths of as many as 500 civilians, the subsequent military investigations and court-martials largely failed to hold the responsible parties accountable, with most charges being dismissed or resulting in acquittals.24