Word: calley
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...Helfand began the SDS attack, saying, "The CFIA helps develop the military strength of reactionary governments to contain popular uprisings, and paves the way for foreign investment," He charged, "Massacres of entire Vietnamese villages can be traced not to Lieutenant Calley but to CFIA research...
...Nebraska, did nothing to diminish the stark picture drawn by Sledge. From a position some 75 yds. from the drainage ditch, he was witness to much of the killing there. His testimony clarifies some of the discrepancies between earlier versions of what took place. He, too, swore that both Calley and Meadlo had fired at groups of civilians. "Continually," he said, "small groups of people were brought up, and they would be put into the ditch and fired upon by Lieut. Calley...
Then the prosecution's last witness took the stand. He was James Dursi, 23, a rifleman in Calley's platoon, who recently applied for a job as a New York City cop. He reinforced the testimony of both Sledge and Turner, then added a weird example of the kind of transformation that men in combat can undergo. At one point, Dursi related, having rounded up a group of civilians, "Meadlo had them sitting on a dike [near the trail]. He was playing with the kids, giving them C-rations and candy like we always did." Calley arrived...
Against such damning testimony, Defense Attorney George Latimer faces an uphill battle. But as he opened his defense late last week, he appeared to be arguing on a level different from that of the prosecution. In his opening speech, Latimer pointed out that Calley's platoon was inadequately trained and instructed, that the men were bent on avenging the buddies they had buried the afternoon before, and that although "higher commanders were in the area . . . not until after lunch were there any orders to cease firing." His choice of initial witnesses seemed designed to bear out these contentions...
Latimer has not denied that Calley killed some Vietnamese at My Lai. It is not likely he will do so. Instead, he is offering circumstantial evidence that he hopes will appeal to the military tribunal. Calley will eventually take the stand on his own behalf as well. Perhaps he will answer the one remaining question about My Lai: Why did it happen...