2nd Consequence - Court Martial Flashcards
What occurred at the court martial trials?
The court martial trials are where justice was denied to the victims of the massacre with only one member of Charlie Company, Calley, was held accountable.
What does the 1949 Geneva Conventions of the Laws of War state?
“Non-combatants must be treated humanely and that violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment, and torture, are prohibited with respect to these people”.
What does it mean to violate the 1949 Geneva Conventions of the Laws of War?
Violating this statement would constitute a war crime.
Where should the responsibility lie (command responsibility).
The responsibility may rest not only with the actual perpetrators but also with the commander, implementing command responsibility.
How many officers and enlisted were charged and who were 4 key ones?
25 officers and enlisted were charged, including General Koster, Colonel Henderson, Captain Medina, and Calley.
What charges did Medina face and based off of what?
Medina faced charges of murdering 102 civilians, based off of command responsibility.
How did command responsibility play into Medina’s charged and what did he admit to doing?
As the officers in charge of CC he should be accountable for the actions of his men. Despite strong evidence, he was found not guilt but months afterwards he admitted to lying.
What was calley charged with and when did his trial begin?
Calley was charged with 104 counts of murder, his trial began 12/11/1970.
What was Calley’s defence + quote?
Calley’s defence was that he was following orders - “I felt then - and still do - that I acted as directed, I carried out my orders, and I did not feel wrong in doing so”.
When and what was Calley eventually convicted for?
Calley was convicted of murdering 22 My Lai citizens and sentenced to life in prison on March 31st 1971.
What did President Nixon change about Calley’s sentence and what did this prompt?
President Nixon ended up changing Calley’s sentence to house arrest, prompting U.S outrage about the lack of justice for My Lai victims.
What did a phone survey show?
In a phone survey, 79% disagreed with the verdict, 81% believed life sentence was too harsh, and 69% believed he was a scapegoat.
When was Calley paroled and what did this show?
Calley was paroled in November of 1974, showing the lack of justice shown to victims and the role of command responsibility.
