Which officer led the unit at My Lai who killed unarmed civilians and later claimed he was following orders?

Which officer led the unit at My Lai who killed unarmed civilians and later claimed he was following orders?

• A. William Calley
• B. Norman Schwarzkopf
• C. Colin Powell
• D. David Petraeus

Answer: (A)

The event tests understanding of accountability for war crimes and who led the troops at My Lai. The officer in charge of the unit that carried out the killings and later claimed he was following orders was William Calley. He commanded Company C, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry, part of the Americal Division, during the My Lai massacre in 1968. Calley argued he was carrying out orders, but military justice held individuals responsible for war crimes regardless of commands given from above. He was convicted of murder in 1971, with his sentence eventually reduced and served under house arrest, highlighting that following orders does not shield someone from culpability for atrocities. The other names listed are prominent generals from different eras and theaters of war and were not involved in My Lai, so they do not pertain to this incident.

The event tests understanding of accountability for war crimes and who led the troops at My Lai. The officer in charge of the unit that carried out the killings and later claimed he was following orders was William Calley. He commanded Company C, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry, part of the Americal Division, during the My Lai massacre in 1968. Calley argued he was carrying out orders, but military justice held individuals responsible for war crimes regardless of commands given from above. He was convicted of murder in 1971, with his sentence eventually reduced and served under house arrest, highlighting that following orders does not shield someone from culpability for atrocities. The other names listed are prominent generals from different eras and theaters of war and were not involved in My Lai, so they do not pertain to this incident.