Every once in a while a story from the past comes to surface in an obscure way, this time in a death notice buried in public records. For many, the name William Calley does not mean anything, but for those of us old enough to remember stories of a massacre by U.S. troops at My Lai, it means a lot.
Claiming he was only carrying out orders to destroy the Viet Cong in a small village, he led an action which was a blot on all who serve in the armed forces. Almost 350 old men, women, and children were herded into a ditch, bayoneted, and shot in cold blood. Ron Ridenhour, a soldier, horrified by what he heard, brought the killings to light.
Taking the fall for higher ups, Calley was convicted and sentenced to life; however, Nixon cut his sentence and he ended up serving three years under house arrest. War does strange things to people who often want to forget what they did and what was done. Calley died April 28; his death certificate stated he never served in the military.
Prayer for the Day
The Psalmist tells us of our desire for vengeance, O God,
As we try to quell our anger towards others for revenge;
Startled by how deep our feelings take over our consciences,
We try to justify our inability to move beyond retaliation.
You, O Lord, call us to love even our enemies, real and imagined,
But it is so difficult not to want to destroy those in our path.
In the name of the One who calls us to love,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
The incident was just not the work of a deranged lieutenant. Other officers were aware of what was going on. And the extensive cover-up, including the destruction of documents, went all the way up to the rank of general, with two generals and three colonels implicated.
Thomas E. Ricks, historian, author of The Generals
I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, as only one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity.
Dwight D. Eisenhower, commander World War II, President (1890-1969)
O let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous,
You who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God.
God is my shield, who saves the upright in heart.
God is a righteous judge, and a God who has indignation every day
Psalm 7: 9-11