What was the My Lai Massacre and how did it affect views of the war?

The My Lai Massacre was the mass killing of as many as 500 unarmed Vietnamese civilians by U.S. soldiers on March 16, 1968, during the Vietnam War. During a search-and-destroy mission, members of Charlie Company indiscriminately shot women, children, and elderly men at close range and committed numerous rapes.12

The event was initially covered up by the military, which characterized the operation as a success. However, the truth emerged through the efforts of individuals like helicopter pilot Hugh Thompson, who attempted to intervene, and soldier Ronald Ridenhour, who reported the incident after learning of it from others. The publication of graphic photographs taken by Sgt. Ron Haeberle and a Pulitzer Prize-winning account by journalist Seymour Hersh shocked the world.32

The massacre and the subsequent court-martial of Lieut. William Calley deeply divided the U.S. public. By revealing the brutal reality of the conflict, the incident contributed to widespread disillusionment with the war and became a defining, tragic symbol of the Vietnam War era.23