From: raczka@HQ.Ileaf.COM (christopher raczka)
Subject: Book on  My Lai
Reply-To: raczka@HQ.Ileaf.COM (christopher raczka)
Organization: Interleaf, Inc.
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 92 16:48:33 GMT


I have finished reading "Four Hours in My Lai" 
by Michael Bilton and Kevin Sim
published 1992 by  Viking Penguin

I felt as though I had to leave this life to read this book,
I can't really state that any better.

I had read a few books that I cannot recall at this time,
and have seen the typical movies. I have spoken to Vietnam-era
vets, both during my time in the Marines (76-81) and after.

Now, this book makes the other books and the movies seem like a
deception. It is not hard for me to say I feel decieved, because
my feelings are very real. People can disagree with my statements,
and opinions, but not with my feelings.

The book spent a great deal of time describing the events in Sotheast
Asia, and the change in US Policy courtesy of LBJ. The book then tried
to recreate the events that brought Charlie Company soliders together
during recruit training and then followed them to VietNam.
I read of the first patrols that Capt. Medina and Charlie Company
made in Vietnam, and I read of the events that continued to foster
a lack of military discipline in that unit. I read of Capt. Medina's
lack of respect for Lt. Calley and how Lt.Calley's platoon came to share
in that disrepect displayed openly by Capt. Medina.

I read of the continued pressure placed on the Field officers to
have a "high body count" and how this continued pressure lead many officers
to falsify numbers to their superiors. I read of how Unit Commanders
also concerned for "high body count" would at least ask if the numbers
they recieved included civilians (or the word I now hold with disgust;
NON-Combatants) and some of these commanders would at least check the
operation area themselves or have one of their staff do that.

I read of "Task Force Barker" CO, LtCol Frank Barker, who planned
the infantry assault on "Pinkville", "MyLai 4" on March 16, 1968.
For the first time in reading the book I was now faced with a decision ...
This LtCol died in VietNam, so were the statements made about him true ??
Well, my question was partily answered when I made it to the end and
finished reading.

I will add here that the authors did a fine job pointing to references
to deflect the challenges they knew would come as to the veracity
of their work.

I read how this CO explained this operation to those Company CO's
under his charge, and how these Capt.'s (including Medina) then shared
this information with their troops.

The book then took me from the Task Force's LZ to "Pinkville" and
the authors did not try to make those events any more or less horrible
than they were. A few of the pictures I had seen in 'Life Magazine' years
ago.

The book followed the actions of helicopter Pilot Thompson, who
landed when after he dropped a marking to indetify wounded and then
watched as a Capt. came over and shot the woman lying there.
I then read that this pilot landed and was told by Lt.Calley that 
this was none of his business. This pilot when to take off and watched
10 civilans trying to run away and being pursued by soliders and that
this pilot landed between the civilans and the soliders and told his
gunner to fire if they moved. WOW, this was incredible action to take.

From then on the book goes on into how Commanders had not acted on the
reports they recieved and how this group even recieved an award and
mention in the 'Stars and Stripes' for a battle Victory! incredible

The book goes into the Peers Commissions investigation which lead to
charges and Court Martials. It was quite disturbing to read that
only Lt.Calley went to trial. Charges againist the others were dropped
despite their sworn testimonies to the Peers commission. also incredible

The Calley court martial according to the events as retold, appears to have
been a media circus, but the Army was trying to calm public opinion.

My opinion of Gen Colin Powell has to be rethought, as do my opinions
of Al Hague, Henry Kissinger. 

My opinion of Richard Nixon was never high, and his action to have Calley
released from the stockade, and having his sentenced reduced are
numbing. Considering all the other events occuring at this same time
it is easy to see how both the Army and Nixon were concerned for their
images, but now maybe I have explained better why I wrote in my opening
that I feel decieved.

I already stated my disgust for the word "non-combantant", I also would
like to share my disgust for the word "gook". The use of terms like this
to try and dehumanize others is wrong. What these words do however is
express an ignorance and hatred, that is; Racism. 

In closing I am very glad that I purchased and read this book to the end.
The emotions and feelings aroused casued me to write this, I hope that
in sharing I can now go on from here a little wiser and confident that
I can still take people at their word, not be suspicious of them.

Back to life,
christopher raczka
-- 

		Mephistopheles ... ruthless, sleepless, unsmiling,
                concentration on self or humorous, civilised, sensible
                and adaptable 
Newsgroups: alt.war.vietnam