By examining the material, an explanation of why this massacre occurred is drawn.
The press properly expressed horror at the revelations, but it also treated My Lai ethnocentrically as an American story. No one bothered to question the apparent discrepancies in the after-action report.
President Richard M. Many villages willingly or under duress harbored guerrilla fighters. In Vietnam, the United States relied on its technological superiority, mainly its massive firepower, to disrupt enemy operations, kill enemy soldiers, and inflict sufficient pain on the NLF and North Vietnam that they would be persuaded to cease the fight.
All were acquitted except for Calley, who was found guilty of premeditated murder for ordering the shootings, despite his contention that he was only following orders from his commanding officer, Captain Medina.
I love the information it has but not the outcome. But that belief is somewhat illogical.