2nd Lt. William Calley
I'm writing to you today not just as a fellow combat veteran, but as an American. I understand the legal concept of innocent before proven guilty, but our justice system has no tolerance for those who flagrantly ignore the established rules of international conflict. To deploy to a foreign nation with the express purpose of protecting the local people, only to betray their trust by murdering them in cold blood is completely unacceptable.
I too was a member of the U.S. Army. I had the privilege of serving in Vietnam as an infantry platoon leader, and at no time did I ever sacrifice my personal integrity or sense of honor for nothing more than a personal vendetta against a group of 'hostile locals'. War isn't just about killing, it's about hearts and minds. That's what I always told my soldiers; always double-tap their hearts and minds. That's how you win a village over. You have to storm in, arms open, and deliver the sweet release of freedom to those people at a muzzle velocity of 3,110 feet per second.
Instead you just went in there with guns blazing — alone. That should have been your first clue that what you were doing was wrong. At no point did you get orders from your company commander to "kill all combatants and suspects" regardless of your personal thoughts on the matter. You didn't go into that tiny hamlet supported by a platoon or more of your fellow soldiers, righteous in the knowledge that your decisions were correct because everyone was taking part. For this I condemn you. Your cruel and evil actions have set the war effort back years, and have contributed to an increased negative focus on our war effort overseas, something the troops definitely don't need at this juncture.
