Accounts of the Soldiers
Hugh Thompson
There are many accounts that display the perspectives of the soldiers who were a part of the massacre. Hugh Thompson, an army pilot who landed in the village, vividly describes the event when he wrote, “It was probably one of the saddest days of my life. I just could not believe that people could totally lose control and I've heard people say this happened all the time…it was no accident whatsoever. Pure premeditated murder.” (9)
In an interview with Seymour Hersh, Sergeant Michael Bernhardt stated, “We met no resistance and I only saw three captured weapons. We had no casualties. It was just like any other Vietnamese village—old Papa-san, women and kids. As a matter of fact, I don’t remember seeing one military-age male in the entire place, dead or alive. The only prisoner I saw was about 50.” (10)
Another soldier that took part in this gruesome event said “"I cut their throats, cut off their hands, cut out their tongues, scalped them. I did it. A lot of people were doing it and I just followed. I lost all sense of direction." (digital history) Larry Holmes, an American GI, told a reporter, "We just flattened the village, and that was it.” (11)
In an interview with Seymour Hersh, Sergeant Michael Bernhardt stated, “We met no resistance and I only saw three captured weapons. We had no casualties. It was just like any other Vietnamese village—old Papa-san, women and kids. As a matter of fact, I don’t remember seeing one military-age male in the entire place, dead or alive. The only prisoner I saw was about 50.” (10)
Another soldier that took part in this gruesome event said “"I cut their throats, cut off their hands, cut out their tongues, scalped them. I did it. A lot of people were doing it and I just followed. I lost all sense of direction." (digital history) Larry Holmes, an American GI, told a reporter, "We just flattened the village, and that was it.” (11)
Defying Orders
In many cases it has been reported that soldiers refused to participate in this violence. Thomson, the pilot, refused to take part. He told his commanding officer, “If this damn stuff is what's happening here, you can take these wings right now 'cause they're only sewn on with thread." (12) One soldier even went as far as to shoot himself in the foot in order to be taken out of the area so that he would not have to participate in the slaughter. Thompson was awarded the
Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery to resist the orders. He and
his crew were also awarded with the Soldier's Medal for their courage.
Survivors
Ha Thi Quy
In an interview with a New York Times reporter Ha Thi Quy, a survivor of the massacre, stated, "The dead bodies piled over me. That's why I survived... I managed to pull myself out of the bodies and walked home. It was burned and all the cows and pigs were killed. We had nothing left…I hope children all over the world don't have to go through what we did." (13)
Do Thi Tuyet, another survivor of the massacre, explained, "Everyone in my family was killed in the My Lai massacre -- my mother, my father, my brother and three sisters. They threw me into a ditch full of dead bodies. I was covered with blood and brains as I watched my family be murdered."(14)
Do Thi Tuyet, another survivor of the massacre, explained, "Everyone in my family was killed in the My Lai massacre -- my mother, my father, my brother and three sisters. They threw me into a ditch full of dead bodies. I was covered with blood and brains as I watched my family be murdered."(14)
