• THE VIETNAM CENTER AND ARCHIVE
  • Texas Tech University

 Finding Aid: My Lai Collection Item Number: 1540000000

Individual Collection
Location: D078.5A


Scope & Content:

  • Just over four linear feet of photographs, legal documents, correspondence, handwritten notes, printed materials, and military records document the My Lai incident (16 March 1968) and the subsequent investigation and trial of the participants of the incident by the Department of Defense in 1969. The materials are dated between 1956 and 1973, with the majority of the documents from 1968 to 1972, and are divided into the following categories: legal documents, correspondence, handwritten notes, printed materials, military records, and photographs.

    Included in these documents are witness statements of many of the participants at My Lai, which formed the basis of evidence the U.S. Army used to indict Lieutenant William L. Calley, Jr. and others. Also included are legal documents of the court cases between the United States Government and members of Company C, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry and Department of the Army documents, which explain the procedures of the trial process in a military court of law during the Vietnam Conflict era.

    The My Lai Collection has eighteen photographs taken by United States Army photographer Ronald Haeberle, some of which were subsequently published in Life magazine. Haeberle won a Pulitzer prize for these photographs which document the horrific results of the incident. Most of the pictures are quite graphic in their depiction of violence and should only be viewed by a mature audience. The remaining photographs were taken by Defense Department officials to document the My Lai investigation and other biographical information.

Biographical Note:

  • On March 16, 1968, Company C/1st Battalion/20th Infantry under Captain Ernest L. Medina's command executed what was supposed to be another routine search and destroy mission against the village My Lai 4, believed to be a Viet Cong stronghold. Upon entering the hamlet with no resistance, 1st platoon's commander, Lieutenant William L. Calley, Jr., ordered his men to round all of the civilians living there and to bring them to the center of the village. Lt. Calley then opened fire on the unarmed Vietnamese, summarily executing them. The rest of his platoon subsequently looted the hamlet, burned the huts, and shot all Vietnamese that were still alive. The massacre remained covered up until Ronald Ridenhour wrote a letter describing what he knew of the incident to President Richard Nixon and several congressmen and defense department officials in 1969. The letter prompted an investigation and the indictment of several officers and enlisted men on charges of murder and assault with the intent to commit murder. Lt. Calley was the only soldier to be found guilty while the others were either acquitted or had their charges dismissed. Calley was later pardoned by President Nixon.

Access Level:

  • Unrestricted

Collection Inventory:

LocationBoxFolderContents
D078.5A1
Legal Documents
1
List of Hearing Testimonies, April 1970 and undated
2
Hearing Testimony - Lawrence Charles La Croix, May 1969
3
Hearing Testimony - William F. Doherty, May 1969
4
Hearing Testimony - Michael A. Bernhardt, May 1969
5
Hearing Testimony - Robert L. Hauck, May 1969
6
Hearing Testimony - Ernest L. Medina , May 1969
7
Hearing Testimony - Manuel Lopez, May 1969
8
Hearing Testimony - Charles C. Calhoun, May 1969
9
Hearing Testimony - L. G. Bacon, May 1969
10
Hearing Testimony - Isaiah Cowen, May 1969
11
Hearing Testimony - Oran K. Henderson, May 1969
12
Hearing Testimony - David Mitchell, May 1969
13
Hearing Testimony - William L. Calley, Jr., June 1969
14
Hearing Testimony - Roger D. Murray, June 1969
15
Hearing Testimony - John H. Paul, June 1969
16
Hearing Testimony - Dan R. Millians, June 1969
17
Hearing Testimony - Lawrence M. Colburn, June 1969
18
Hearing Testimony - Stephen J. Gamble, June 1969
19
Hearing Testimony - Andress Delgado, July 1969
20
Hearing Testimony - Frederick J. Widmer, July 1969
21
Hearing Testimony - Paul D. Meadlo, July 1969
22
Hearing Testimony - Oran K. Henderson, December 1969
23
Hearing Testimony - Eugene M. Kotouc, December 1969
24
Hearing Testimony - Oran K. Henderson, December 1969
25
Hearing Testimony - Oran K. Henderson, December 1969
26
Hearing Testimony - L. G. Bacon, December 1969
27
Hearing Testimony - Oran K. Henderson, December 1969
28
Hearing Testimony - Louis B. Martin, December 1969
29
Hearing Testimony - Frederick J. Widmer, December 1969
30
Hearing Testimony - Oran K. Henderson, December 1969
31
Hearing Testimony - David B. Hein, January 1970
32
Hearing Testimony - Joe Grimes, January 1970
33
Hearing Testimony - Brian W. Livingston, January 1970
34
Hearing Testimony - Dennis M. Bunning, January 1970
35
Hearing Testimony - Mr. Partsch, January 1970
36
Hearing Testimony - Eugene M. Kotouc, February 1970
37
Hearing Testimony - James H. Flynn, February 1970
38
Hearing Testimony - Oran K. Henderson, February 1970
39
Hearing Testimony - Oran K. Henderson, February 1970
40
Hearing Testimony - Dennis Bunning, May 1970
41
Hearing Testimony - James H. Flynn, July 1970
42
Hearing Testimony - Mrs. Pham Thi Di, December 1970
43
Hearing Testimony - Duong Minh, December 1970
44
Hearing Testimony - Nguyen Duc Te, December 1970
45
Hearing Testimony - Ta Linh Vien, December 1970
46
Hearing Testimony - Nguyen Van Toan, December 1970
47
Witness Statements, September 1969 - November 1969
48
Witness Statements, November 1969
49
Witness Statements, December 1969
50
Witness Statements, December 1969
51
Witness Statements, December 1969
52
Witness Statements, December 1969
2
Legal Documents
1
Witness Statements, January 1970
2
Witness Statements, January 1970
3
Witness Statements, January 1970
4
Witness Statements, January 1970
5
Witness Statements, January 1970 - March 1970
6
Witness Statements, March 1970
7
Witness Statements, March 1970
8
Witness Statements, March 1970
9
Witness Statements, March 1970 - November 1970
10
Affidavit - James H. Flynn, July 1970
11
Witness Statements - James H. Flynn, April 1971
12
Witness Statements Against Kenneth Hodges, April 1970 - May 1970
13
Addendum to Witness Statement - General S. W. Koster, December 1969
14
CID Investigation Reports, December 1969 - June 1970
15
Charges and Specifications - Ernest L. Medina, August 1970
16
Statements to Senate Subcommittee to Investigate Juvenile Delinquency, March 1970
17
U. S. vs. William L. Calley, Jr., November 1969 - March 1970 and undated
18
U. S. vs. William L. Calley, Jr., December 1969 - July 1970 and undated
19
Counsel's Oaths, August 1969 - November 1969
20
Court-Martial Convening Orders, August 1969 - January 1971
21
Witness Lists, April 1970 - May 1970 and undated
22
Charles Hutto vs. Melvin Laird, Secretary of Defense, et al., January 1970 - February 1970
23
U. S. vs. Charles Hutto, January 1970 - July 1970
24
U. S. vs. Charles Hutto, October 1970 - December 1970
25
U. S. vs. Charles Hutto, Undated
26
U. S. vs. Charles Hutto, October 1970 - December 1970
27
U. S. vs. Charles Hutto, Hutto's Personal Records, Undated
28
U. S. vs. Kenneth Schiel, May 1970 and undated
29
U. S. vs. Kenneth Schiel, June 1970 - February 1971 and undated
30
Charles Hutto / Kenneth Schiel vs. U. S., Undated
31
U. S. vs. Eugene Kotouc, March 1971 - April 1971 and undated
32
U. S. vs. Eugene Kotouc, Undated
33
Esequiel Torres vs. Albert O. Connor, June 1970 - July 1970
34
Esequiel Torres vs. Albert O. Connor, July 1970 - August 1970 and undated
35
Robert T'Souvas vs. Albert O. Connor, July 1970 - August 1970
36
Robert T'Souvas vs. Albert O. Connor, Undated
37
U. S. vs. Robert T'Souvas, August 1970
38
U. S. vs. Gerald Smith, July 1970 and undated
39
U. S. vs. Gerald Smith, Undated
40
U. S. vs. Max Hutson, March 1970 and undated
41
U. S. vs. Max Hutson, Undated
42
Max Hutson vs. U. S., May 1970
43
U. S. vs. Ardell Faul, September 1965 - June 1970 and undated
44
U. S. vs. Ardell Faul, September 1965 - December 1970
45
U. S. vs. Frank Smith, December 1969 - February 1970
46
U. S. vs. Terry Manion, April 1970 - January 1971
47
Captain Jeffrey MacDonald vs. Major General Edward M. Flanagan, July 1970
48
Oran Henderson vs. Stanley Resor, September 1970
49
U. S. vs. Michael Coates, November 1970
50
U. S. vs. Haywood Barnes / U. S. vs. Sam Barnwell, Undated
51
U. S. vs. Billy Baskette, February 1970 - March 1970 and undated
52
U. S. vs. James G. Entrekin, May 1970
53
U. S. vs. Gilford Tyler, Undated
54
U. S. vs. Williams, Undated
55
U. S. vs. David Mitchell, Undated
56
U. S. vs. William Doherty, et al., March 1970 - April 1970
57
Draft of Court Instructions, Undated
58
Fact Sheet Briefs, Undated
3
Correspondence
1
Ronald Ridenhour, March 1969
2
Defense Counsel, February 1970 - June 1970 and undated
3
Defense Counsel, July 1970 - September 1970
4
Memorandums - Reports of Quang Ngai Province , March 1968 - January 1970
5
Memorandums - General , March 1970 - April 1971 and undated
6
Memorandum for Record, April 1970
7
Memorandums - "Obedience to Orders...", Undated
8
Miscellaneous - James W. Lane, September 1969 - February 1972
9
U. S. vs. William L. Calley, Jr., October 1969 - May 1970
10
Charles Hutto vs. Melvin Laird, Secretary of Defense, et al., January 1970
11
U. S. vs. Charles Hutto, December 1969 - March 1970
12
U. S. vs. Charles Hutto, April 1970 - December 1970
13
U. S. vs. Charles Hutto, January 1971 - March 1971 and undated
14
U. S. vs. Kenneth Schiel, April 1970 - February 1971
15
Memorandums - U. S. vs. Kenneth Schiel, May 1970 - June 1970 and undated
16
U. S. vs. Eugene Kotouc, March 1970 - March 1971
17
U. S. vs. Esequiel Torres, July 1970
18
U. S. vs. Max Hutson, October 1969 - December 1969
19
U. S. vs. Ardell Faul, February 1970 - January 1971
20
U. S. vs. Frank Smith, January 1970 - February 1970
21
U. S. vs. Terry Manion, June 1970
22
U. S. vs. Oran K. Henderson , April 1970
23
U. S. vs. Haywood Barnes / U. S. vs. Sam Barnwell, February 1972 - March 1972
24
U. S. vs. Billy Baskette, February 1970 - March 1970
25
Request for Discharges for the Good of the Service, February 1970 - July 1970 and undated
26
U. S. vs. James Rector, April 1970 - July 1970 and undated
27
National Committee for a Citizens' Commission of Inquiry on U. S. War Crimes in Vietnam
Handwritten Notes
28
U. S. vs. Max Hutson, March 1970 and undated
29
U. S. vs. Frank Smith, Undated
30
Courtroom Notes - James W. Lane, April 1971 and undated
31
Courtroom Notes - James W. Lane, Undated
32
Article 32 Investigation - James W. Lane, Undated
33
Article 32 Investigation - James W. Lane, Undated
34
U. S. vs. Charles Hutto, September 1970 - October 1970
35
U. S. vs. Kenneth Schiel, April 1970 - February 1971 and undated
36
U. S. vs. Eugene Kotouc, March 1970
37
Miscellaneous, Undated
Printed Materials
38
News Releases, March 1970 - September 1970 and undated
39
Map of My Lai 4, Undated
40
Criminal Justice Military Structure, Undated
41
U. S. Army Rosters, Undated
42
Army Staff Judge Advocate Headquarters / Third U. S. Army, March 1971
43
Table of Forfeitures and Detentions of Pay Upon Enlisted Persons, July 1969
44
Enlisted Personnel Reclassification Guidance, July 1971
45
Combat Standard Operating Procedures - 6th Battalion / 11th Artillery, November 1967
46
Americal Division Artillery Field Standard Operating Procedures, December 1967
47
Investigation of Artillery Incidents, January 1968
48
Americal Division - Combat Operations, March 1968
49
U. S. vs. Ardell Faul, June 1970 - July 1970
50
Military Justice Jurisdiction of Courts-Martial, June 1965
51
Trial Technique Handbook, April 1968
52
Personnel Procurement - Regular Army Enlistment Program, May 1968
53
Legal Clerk's Handbook, February 1969
54
General Military Criminal Law and Affirmative Defenses, March 1969
55
Lessons in Military Law, January 1972
56
Exchange Service Personnel Policies, April 1973
57
Military Justice Handbook, November 1962 - May 1969
58
The Judge Advocate General's School, Extension Course - Evidence, July 1968
59
Legal Aspects of Internal Defense / Internal Development Operations, July 1964 - August 1968
60
Documents on International Law for Military Lawyers, Volume One - General International Relations, January 1969
61
Documents on International Law for Military Lawyers, Volume Two - Security Arrangements, January 1969
62
Documents on International Law for Military Lawyers, Volume Three - Status of Forces, January 1969
63
International Law, Volume Two, October 1962
64
Military Justice Trial Procedure, June 1964
65
Military Justice Evidence, June 1962
4
Printed Materials
1
Military Justice, November 1968 - July 1969
2
Procedure for Investigating Officers and Boards of Officers Conducting Investigations, August 1966
3
Disposition of Conscientious Objectors, September 1970
4
Personnel Procurement - Regular Army Enlistment, March 1969 - January 1970
5
The Decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States at October Term, 1945 - The Matter of Yamashita, Undated
6
Department of the Army Pamphlet - Judge Advocate Legal Service, November 1970 and Undated
7
Department of the Army Pamphlet - Judge Advocate Legal Service, Semiannual Index, July 1970
8
Class Q Allotments, February 1965 - 1968
9
Court of Military Appeals - U. S. vs. Nathan Salinsky, Undated
10
Court of Military Appeals - U. S. vs. Ronald D. Cieslak, Undated
11
Court of Military Appeals - U. S. vs. Bill G. Wood, Undated
12
Court of Military Appeals - U. S. vs. Samuel L. Griffin, Undated
13
Court of Military Appeals - U. S. vs. John E. Savoy, Jr., Undated
14
Court of Military Appeals - U. S. vs. Robert H. Hirt, Undated
15
Court of Military Appeals - U. S. vs. Horace J. Noble, Jr., Undated
16
Court of Military Appeals - U. S. vs. Harvey D., Undated
17
Court of Military Appeals - U. S. vs. Martin, Undated
18
Court of Military Appeals - U. S. vs. Wallace M. Wheeler, Jr., Undated
19
Court of Military Appeals - U. S. vs. Schuering, Undated
20
The United States LAW WEEK, October 1970 and undated
21
The Criminal Law Reporter, May 1969 - November 1969
22
U. S. Supreme Court Reports, Ernest A. Miranda vs. State of Arizona, Undated
23
U. S. Supreme Court Reports, William Murphy vs. Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, Undated
24
American Bar Association - "Lawyers and Law Firms Look Ahead - 1971 to 2000", October 1971
25
Flag Control Procedures for Military Personnel in National Security Cases and Other Investigations or Proceedings, June 1970
26
Demands for Production of Statements and Reports of Witnesses, Undated
27
Materials on the Law of War - Basic Rules and Principles, Undated
28
Compliance with Military Orders in Municipal Law and according to the Law of War, May 1970
29
Military Police - Confinement Procedures, July 1969
30
Third U. S. Army Circular, Personnel - General, Army Command Policy and Procedure, June 1970
31
Treaties Governing Land Warfare, December 1956
32
Grants of Immunity and Military Law, March 1971
33
Developments Under the Federal Tort Claims Act, Undated
34
Pre-Trial Investigation and Court Martial Procedures Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, Undated
35
"O'Callahan vs. Parker, Where Are We Now?" by Franklin R. Wurtzel, Undated
36
"Is There Justice in the Military?" by Major General Kenneth J. Hodson, Undated
37
Command Information Fact Sheet - Correctional Training Facility, June 1969
38
Command Information Fact Sheet - Guidelines for Handling Dissident and Protest Activities Among Members of the Armed Forces, October 1969
39
U. S. Army Command Information Fact Sheet, April 1971
40
U. S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory Newsletter, September 1969
41
The Advocate, November 1969
42
Armed Forces Management, February 1970
43
Armed Forces Journal, July 1970
44
Newsweek, August 1970
45
Castle Courier, September 1970 - December 1970
46
Tropic, December 1970
47
The JAG Journal, December 1970 - January 1971
48
Fort McPherson's Lucky Times, February 1971
49
Liberty Letter, April 1971
50
Master Training Program, Undated
51
Cartoon Captions, Undated
52
Business Reply Mail Cards - American Judicature Society, February 1971 and Undated
Military Records
53
Court Members' Biographies, August 1970 - December 1970 and undated
54
Travel Orders, April 1970 - August 1970 and undated
55
Travel Orders, December 1970 - January 1972
56
Disposition Forms, February 1970 and undated
57
Letter Orders Numbers, November 1970
58
Minutes of I Corps Phoenix Committee, April 1968
59
Military Identifications, May 1960 - December 1967
60
Fiscal Year 1972 Third U. S. Army Reserve Training Expenditures, Undated
Photographs
61
My Lai Incident by Ronald Haeberle, March 1968
62
My Lai Investigation, 1969
63
Eugene Kotouc, Undated
64
Court Members' Profiles, Undated

Separated Materials:

Photographs:VA025963 - VA026046: 84 photographs taken by United States Army photographer Ronald Haeberle and Department of Defense officials.
 VAN019510-VAN019527.

Digitized Materials

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