		William Calley

		Texas Tach University, The Vietnam Project Database on the Vietnam War
		University of Missouri, Famous trials page The My Lai Courts-Martial 1970

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Ernest Medina

context :	Vietnam
judgement place :	United States
status :	Acquitted
particulars :	Acquitted on charges of premeditated murder, murder and assault
position :	Army Captain

facts

legal procedure

On 16 March 1968, near eight o’clock in the morning, Charlie Company, one of the three units of Task Force Barker of the American Army, entered the village of My Lai in Quang Ngai Province in the south of Vietnam. This Company was under the leadership of Captain Ernest Medina. In just over three hours, members of this Company executed close to 500 civilians including children, women and elderly people.

The exact role of Captain Medina during these events is still today subject to controversy. According to the Defence Department, which held its own enquiry (See the Peers Report), his responsibility was implied on several grounds: on the eve of the attack, he told his soldiers that anyone present in the village was to be considered as an enemy combatant, thereby implicitly authorising the execution of these persons; it is likely that he himself executed three non combatants during this operation; he abused a prisoner by beating him over the head and by firing his revolver close to his head; he attempted on several occasions to cover up these events.

In March 1969, Ronald Ridenhour, a former GI., on being made aware of what had taken place at My Lai, decided to inform the American authorities. The case was then handed over to the Inspector General of the Army to open up an enquiry. It was subsequently committed to the army’s Criminal Investigation Division.

Captain Medina was nevertheless acquitted on 22 September 1971.

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		nationality :
		United states
		date of birth :
		27.08.1936
		period of charges :
		16.03.1968 - 16.03.1968
		judgement period :
		22.09.1971 - 22.09.1971
		charges :
		War crimes
		profile last modified :
		03.03.2005

	Investigation of the My Lai Incident. July 15, 1970 report by the My Lai Incident Subcommittee of the Armed Services Investigating Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, pp. 1-26. Armed Services Investigating Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee

	Investigation of the My Lai Incident. July 15, 1970 report by the My Lai Incident Subcommittee of the Armed Services Investigating Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, pp. 27-53. Armed Services Investigating Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee

	Report of the Department of the Army Review of the Preliminary Investigations of the My Lai Incident (The Peers Report), William Peers