Tet Offensive & My Lai Massacre Flashcards
When was the Tet Offensive
January 1968
When was the war going well?
1965-1967
When was us confidence shattered?
January 1968 tet offensive
How many cities did the vc attack during the Tet Offensive?
Over 100
What did one vc commando unit try to capture during the Tet offensive?
The US embassy in Saigon
How many vc fighters tied down a much larger us force in Saigon during the Tet Offensive?
4500
How many vc soldiers were lost in Tet Offensive?
10,000
How many US troops were in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive?
500,000
How much a year was US spending on the war?
$20 billion a year
what ancient city was destroyed in Tet Offensive?
Hue
What CBS journalist asked “what the hell is going on I thought we were winning the war”
Walter Cronkite
When did a peace conference begin in Paris?
March 1968
When was the My Lai Massacre?
March 1968
Where did the Charlie company start a search and destroy mission in March 1968?
Quang ngai
How many VC fighters were the Charlie company told they would find in Quang Ngai?
200
How many civilians were killed in My Lai?
300-400 in 4 hours
How many weapons were recovered?
3
Who did the commanding officers report say had been killed?
20 non combatants the rest VC
How long was it after the My Lai Masscare that a letter arrived at the offices of 30 politicians in Washington??
12 months
Who wrote a letter about the My Lai Massacre to the government?
Ronald Ridenhour
What did some soldiers call My Lai?
Pinkville
What magazine published photos of the massacre taken by an official army officer?
Life magazine
What investigation was triggered after the publishing of photos in life magazine?
The trial for the mass murder of Lieutenant William Calley
How many people was Calley charged with murdering?
109 in September 1969
In March 1971, how many civilians was Calley found guilty of murdering?
22
What was Calley sentenced to?
20 years hard labour
When was Calley released?
November 1974- after 3 years
How many politicians and military leaders did Ronald Ridenhower send letters to?
30
Who ordered an immediate enquiry after receiving a letter from Ronald Ridenhour?
General Westmoreland
Why were local villagers unlikely to be in My Lai?
It was a Saturday and they would be away at market
When did US troops land?
7:30am
What did the US troops do immediately after landing?
Firing at buildings
Hand grenades were thrown into houses and crops and livestock destroyed
What happened to villagers that tried to run away?
Shot or stabbed
