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American Experience

My Lai Preview

What drove a company of US soldiers to commit the worst atrocity in US military history?

Aired 04/26/2010 | Rating NR

American Experience

My Lai Preview

Preview: Season 22 Episode 6 | 30s

What drove a company of US soldiers to commit the worst atrocity in US military history?

March 16, 1968, a company of American soldiers entered the village of My Lai, located in Quang Ngai Province in central Vietnam. By the end of the day, they had shot and killed between 300 and 507 unarmed and unresisting men, women and children. What drove a company of American soldiers -- ordinary young men from around the country -- to commit the worst atrocity in American military history?

Aired 04/26/2010 | Rating NR

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Corporate sponsorship for American Experience is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance and Carlisle Companies. Major funding by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

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Merely Following Orders?

Video has Closed Captions

Lt. Calley's 1971 trial upset those who felt he was unfairly blamed for Vietnam mistakes. (1m 20s)

The My Lai Massacre: A National Shame

Video has Closed Captions

Learning about My Lai changed American opinions about the Vietnam War. (3m 10s)

On the Road to Hell

Video has Closed Captions

In the Vietnam War, military leaders failed to give moral guidance to scared US soldiers. (2m 14s)

When Should a Soldier Say No?

Video has Closed Captions

The 1968 attack of My Lai pushed soldiers and Americans to ask this hard question. (1m 3s)

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Corporate sponsorship for American Experience is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance and Carlisle Companies. Major funding by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

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