caption branch commands birth_place allegiance unit battles birth_date rank article_title name
captain ernest medina united states army company c , 1/20 americal springer , new mexico united states of america 1st , americal division battalion , 20th infantry of the 11th brigade vietnam war 27 august 1936 captain ernest medina
 '' ` ernest medina '' '
ernest medina

ernest lou medina -lrb- born august 27 , 1936 -rrb- is a former captain of infantry in the united states army .
he served during the vietnam war and was acquitted in a court-martial of war crimes charges in 1971 .
he was the commanding officer of company c , 1st battalion , 20th infantry of the 11th brigade , americal division , the unit responsible for the my lai massacre of 16 march 1968 .
he was court martialed in 1971 for his role in the my lai massacre , but acquitted in 1971 .
