Reflecting on My Lai: Seymour Hersh's Emotional Journey Through a Dark Chapter in History

In a poignant reflection on one of the darkest chapters in American military history, investigative journalist Seymour Hersh recounted the My Lai massacre, which occurred 55 years ago, on March 16, 1968. Hersh, who broke the story of the massacre that left over 500 Vietnamese men, women, and children dead, shared his lasting emotional turmoil over the events he uncovered. The My Lai massacre, a pivotal moment during the Vietnam War, involved U.S. soldiers from Charlie Company executing a large number of unarmed civilians in the village of My Lai. It was a brutal display of the war's human cost, and the aftermath revealed a grave accountability issue within the military ranks. Hersh's reporting, sparked by a tip-off, led him to Fort Benning, Georgia, where he tracked down Lt. William Calley, the platoon commander at My Lai. Calley would later be tried and convicted for his role in the atrocities, becoming the only soldier to face court-martial for the incident. Reflecting on his investigative work, Hersh described the difficulty of confronting the horrific realities of the massacre. He revealed that some of the details he discovered were so harrowing that he chose not to include them in his original reports, recognizing the profound impact they would have had on the public's perception of the war and the military. During an interview with BBC Hardtalk's Stephen Sackur, Hersh's emotional response was evident as he recalled the events of that fateful day. The weight of the tragedy still brings him to tears, a testament to the deep scars left by violence and inhumanity. His commitment to uncovering the truth has not only shed light on the My Lai massacre but has also sparked broader discussions about the ethics of war and the responsibility of journalists to report on such atrocities. As we mark the anniversary of this tragic event, it serves as a crucial reminder of the consequences of war and the importance of accountability. Hersh’s work remains a significant part of the narrative surrounding the Vietnam War, urging us to confront uncomfortable truths and to remember the lives lost in My Lai. The issues raised by the massacre continue to resonate today, reminding us of our collective responsibility to ensure that history does not repeat itself.