ApexNews
Return to Main
Book

My Lai: An American Atrocity in the Vietnam War

2012

Synopsis

On March 16, 1968, American soldiers killed as many as five hundred Vietnamese men, women, and children in a village near the South China Sea. In My Lai William Thomas Allison explores and evaluates the significance of this horrific event. How could such a thing have happened? Who (or what) should be held accountable? How do we remember this atrocity and try to apply its lessons, if any?

My Lai has fixed the attention of Americans of various political stripes for more than forty years. The breadth of writing on the massacre, from news reports to scholarly accounts, highlights the difficulty of establishing fact and motive in an incident during which confusion, prejudice, and self-preservation overwhelmed the troops.

Son of a Marine veteran of the Vietnam War—and aware that the generation who lived through the incident is aging—Allison seeks to ensure that our collective memory of this shameful episode does not fade.

Well written and accessible, Allison’s book provides a clear narrative of this historic moment and offers suggestions for how to come to terms with its aftermath.

Suggested Reading

Bobby Allison: A Racer's Racer

In Bobby Allison: A Racer’s Racer, NASCAR legend Bobby Allison, alongside co-author Tim Packman, offers a compelling narrative that captures the highs and lows of Allison's storied career and life. As one of NASCAR’s most respected drivers, Allison takes readers behind the scenes of his experiences ...

View Details

The Circle of Triumph: The Bobby Allison Story

The Circle of Triumph: The Bobby Allison Story by Ben White chronicles the life and storied NASCAR career of Bobby Allison, one of the sport’s most resilient and admired figures. Beginning with Allison’s early days racing on small tracks in Florida, the biography captures his rise through the NASCAR...

View Details

Latest News

August 1st, 2024

William Calley, who led My Lai massacre that shamed U.S. military in Vietnam, has died

We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. By continuing to browse, you accept our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.