Episode 147: My Lai Massacre Testimony

In March 1968, Lieutenant William Calley ordered his troops to rape and murder a village of  Vietnamese civilians in a search-and-destroy mission performed on a Viet Cong stronghold known as “Pinkville.” At least 109 civilians were killed, including unarmed woman and children. On September 6, 1969, Calley was formally charged with six specifications of mass murder just a few days before he was due to be released from active service. He was cleared of all charges. Audio in this episode is extracted from Four Hours in My Lai directed by Kevin Sim, a 1989 television documentary made by Yorkshire Television. Testimony in the episode is from members of Charlie Company, in the following order:  Fred Widmer, Radio Officer; Private First Class Varnardo Simpson (committed suicide 1997); Rev Carl Creswell, Chaplain; Sergeant Kenneth Hodges; Warrant Officer Hugh Thompson; Sergeant Ronald Haeberle; Helicopter Gunner Lawrence Colburn; Machine Gunner Harry Stanley; Door Gunner Ronald Ridenhour; Captain Ernest L. Medina; General Kenneth Hudson; Lieutenant William Calley.

Listen to the episode here.