Why Did My Lai Lead To A Crisi

Question 1

Phase 1 massacre and cover up

Answer 1

16th of march 1968 nine helicopters carrying 80 members of Charlie company entered my lai on a search and destroy mission

Partly response to Tet offensive
5 of their company killed from tet offensive so they were angry.
They massacred 350 peasants.
Grenades and mutilated bodies.

Official reported it as a success and army hid the massacre. They reported it as 90 vietcong fighters killed.

Question 2

Exposure and outrage

Answer 2

Gi Ronald Ridenhour wrote toc30 leading politicians about events of my lai.
Investigations began in secret
Journalist Seymour hersh published the truth in 1969
The plain dealer put it on their front page
Soldiers on public trial but only William called found guilty of shooting 22 peasants in a Ditch. Sentences to life but serves three and a half years.

Moratorium to end the war was established.
15th November 1969 it organised a huge demonstration in Washington DC
500,000 people marched. Largest political protest in us history.

Powerful poster and babies and babies.
Crisis of support for war as anti war movement grows.