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American Cultures II > My Lai and War Crimes > Flashcards

My Lai and War Crimes Flashcards

1
Q

What is My Lai?

A

A Hamlet in the Quang Ngai province of South Vietnam

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2
Q

What kind of village was My Lai labeled as?

A

hostile

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3
Q

Had C Company been to My Lai before?

A

Yes

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4
Q

After C Company’s first visit to My Lai, how was it labeled?

A

hostile

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5
Q

What had the province of Quang Ngai been labeled as?

A

a free fire zone

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6
Q

What did it mean for Quang Ngai to be a free fire zone?

A

US does not need to coordinate with ARVN to fire at them

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7
Q

What usually happens in a non free fire zone with US and ARVN?

A

Usually ARVN would report back after asking for fire if we want permission to fire

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8
Q

What US group attacked My Lai?

A

C (Charlie Company)

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9
Q

Who was captain of C Company?

A

Ernest Medina

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10
Q

Who was field commander of C Company?

A

Lt. William Calley

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11
Q

How does Medina begin his plan to attack My Lai?

A

He gives order to Calley to destroy the enemy.

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12
Q

What did destroying the enemy mean to Calley?

A

To destroy everything that we assume can shoot a gun.

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13
Q

How did the actual attack begin?

A

Calley went into the village with a group of men and started shooting.

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14
Q

Why did Calley start shooting immediately at the residents of My Lai?

A

it was in a free-fire zone

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15
Q

When Calley comes in with a gun, what do the people of My Lai start doing?

A

Villagers start to run away and scatter

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16
Q

Why did the My Lai villagers scatter when they saw Calley shooting?

A

So not all of them get killed at once and there is more searching to the mission for Calley’s men.

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17
Q

Where did most of the villagers run to?

A

the jungle

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18
Q

When we saw them enter the jungle, what did we think they were doing?

A

getting guns to counterattack us

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19
Q

What happened after Calley’s first group walked in?

A

C Company lands

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20
Q

When C Company lands, what happens next?

A

They enter My Lai, round up the villagers who are hiding in their homes.

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21
Q

When the Vietnamese do not come out from their homes, what does C Company think?

A

They could have a bomb shelter, VC or guns and food in an area.

22
Q

After not getting those in their homes to get out, what did C Company do?

A

They shoot around to try to find what is inside

23
Q

What are the reasons why we destroyed My Lau

A
  • VC have been using it for cover
  • hostile village
  • we have lost many men here
  • we are frustrated
24
Q

After a few threat shots, what do we start to do?

A

We burn the roofs and all of their belongings that are reachable. We also shot their animals.

25
Q

Why did we shoot all of My Lai’s animals?

A

So enemy cannot use them for food or doing tasks.

26
Q

After burning stuff and killing animals, what is next?

A

We round up the villagers and tell them we are the VC.

27
Q

Are the VC hidden in My Lai?

A

Yes

28
Q

Why did we tell them we are the VC?

A

People are not cooperating with them and not telling them because they are counting on us not killing them

29
Q

Why do we want to kill everyone at My Lai?

A

There are VC hidden there and so if they support the VC, then they are the enemy.

30
Q

When we tell them about the VC, what do they do?

A

They get out of their houses.

31
Q

After they leave their homes, what do we do?

A

The villagers are shot, we kill all ages, women, as we are shooting.

32
Q

What are the two methods of us killing them?

A
  1. Rounding groups up and killing groups.

2. Some are running away and we kill them on the run.

33
Q

After the attack is done, how do the VC respond?

A

They put out propaganda saying that Calley had to write a report of body count.

34
Q

How many people were recorded dead at My Lai?

A

109

35
Q

How do people respond to the VC’s propaganda accusations?

A

People talk to C Company to investigate and question the issue.

36
Q

What does Calley receive for his actions at My Lai from the American people?

A

A medal

37
Q

Who was Ridenhour?

A

He was a Vietnam Veteran that was not at My Lai, but had friends that wrote to him about it.

38
Q

Why did Ridenhour’s friends write to him about My Lai?

A

They felt guilty about it and how it was unfair for the innocent.

39
Q

What did Ridenhour do with all the information in the letters he got?

A

He put evidence together and sends it into Nixon and Congress.

40
Q

What happens as a result of Ridenhour’s letters to the government?

A

They do a second investigation of Calley and they question Calley again.

41
Q

After questioning Calley again, what happens?

A

He gets charged with 109 counts of murder.

42
Q

How many of the 109 murders is Calley convicted guilty of?

A

22

43
Q

What was his initial jail sentence?

A

life sentence

44
Q

What was his sentence changed to?

A

3 years

45
Q

How much of the 3 years does Calley actually serve?

A

Only 9 months of house arrest.

46
Q

Why were all of Calley’s sentences reduced?

A

He claimed that he was not thinking of men women and kids and seniors when he had to “destroy the enemy.”

47
Q

What are characteristics of a war crime?

A
  • Torture
  • Physical or psychological
  • rape
  • civilians
  • forced labor
  • genocide/ethnic cleansing
48
Q

What was the reading about War Crimes and the identity conflicts they create?

A

“No Crime is a Crime During War”

49
Q

Did American support the limit on Calley’s sentences?

A

They supported them, but noticed the US’s conscience was dead.

50
Q

What did My Lai become a debate about?

A

Is it a war crime or not?

51
Q

How was the American conscience dead in Vietnam?

A

We could not figure out what to do with right vs. wrong.

52
Q

How many people are estimated to have died at My Lai?

A

about 500

American Cultures II (28 decks)

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