Many politically correct "history books" make the My Lai Massacre into an important event of the war. In March 1968 in the hamlet of [[My Lai]], approximately 400 civilians were killed by American troops under the command of 2nd Lt. William Calley. Many troops present that day protested and did not take part in the event. After the event, the U.S. Army conducted an investigation and concluded there had been poor training in the Laws and Rules of Engagement, poor discipline and poor leadership up to the brigade commander. Atrocities on some level occur in every war. Since the 19th century, the U.S. is one of the few nations who prosecute its soldiers for such acts when they happen. The enemy in Viet Nam "conveniently" overlooked their far more numerous acts of atrocities and used this event for propaganda.<ref>Dunnigan & Nofi, ''Dirty Little Secrets of the Vietnam War'' (1999)</ref> This does not justify the massacre, but 3 to 5,000 civilians were killed and found in mass graves after the retaking of Hue following the [[Tet Offensive]], a point not often noted. Other atrocities are listed in other sections of this article. | Many politically correct "history books" make the My Lai Massacre into an important event of the war. In March 1968 in the hamlet of [[My Lai]], approximately 400 civilians were killed by American troops under the command of 2nd Lt. William Calley. Many troops present that day protested and did not take part in the event. After the event, the U.S. Army conducted an investigation and concluded there had been poor training in the Laws and Rules of Engagement, poor discipline and poor leadership up to the brigade commander. Atrocities on some level occur in every war. Since the 19th century, the U.S. is one of the few nations who prosecute its soldiers for such acts when they happen. The enemy in Viet Nam "conveniently" overlooked their far more numerous acts of atrocities and used this event for propaganda.<ref>Dunnigan & Nofi, ''Dirty Little Secrets of the Vietnam War'' (1999)</ref> This does not justify the massacre, but 3 to 5,000 civilians were killed and found in mass graves after the retaking of Hue following the [[Tet Offensive]], a point not often noted. Other atrocities are listed in other sections of this article. |