Word: medinae
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Before the My Lai attack, Calley received two briefings from his company commander, Captain Ernest Medina. According to Calley, Medina repeatedly emphasized that "we would have to neutralize My Lai completely, not let anyone get behind us. He said it was completely essential that we not lose our momentum of attack." According to Calley, Medina suggested that the troops would not encounter any civilians, that psychological-warfare units had warned civilians to clear the area, and that "anyone there would be considered enemies." Said Calley: "I believe somebody asked if that meant women and children. He said that meant everything...
Thus the killing began. But even when enemy resistance did not materialize, the savagery continued. Twice during the morning, said Calley, Medina radioed him, demanding that he hurry and "get rid of" or "waste" the Vietnamese so that the attack could press forward. At one point, said Calley, "I broke out in a clearing, and my men had a number of Vietnamese in a ditch and were firing upon them." According to the charges, there were at least 70 men, women and children killed at the ditch, but Calley estimated the number last week at from four...
...orderly progress of inquiry up the chain of command." Charges of covering up the massacre are still pending against Colonel Oran K. Henderson, a brigade commander who served under Koster, and Captain Dennis Johnson, an intelligence officer. Murder charges have been filed against Captain Ernest Medina, commander of Charlie Company, and Captain Eugene M. Kotouc, an intelligence officer. No courts-martial have yet been scheduled for any of them...
...only My Lai trial now under way is that of Lieut. William Calley Jr., a platoon commander in Medina's Company C. His trial has been delayed while he undergoes sanity tests ordered by the presiding judge. A major contention of his defense is that he was only carrying out the orders of his superior officer...
...villagers as Viet Cong, even correcting Trial Judge Reid Kennedy's use of the term Vietnamese. "You mean Viet Cong, sir," said Meadlo. Just once did he betray any emotion or deviate from his insistence that he had followed orders to kill a feared enemy: "Captain Medina was there before this ditch. With all the bodies laying around, why didn't he put a stop to all the killing...