Report: Unsealed files detail U.S. atrocities in Vietnam war

AP on Bakersfield Californian ^ | 8/7/06 | AP

[NormsRevenge]

Atrocities against civilians and prisoners by Army soldiers during the Vietnam War were more common than originally disclosed to the public, according to a Los Angeles Times review of recently unsealed government files.

Some 9,000 pages of archives - the largest collection of documented war crimes in Vietnam - include sworn witness testimony, investigative files and status reports for top military brass that detail 320 wartime atrocities substantiated by the Army.

Still, few soldiers were held accountable for the war crimes, according to the newspaper.

The abuse was not restricted to one rogue Army division, but was committed by every Army division operating in Vietnam, the Times review found.

Among the incidents documented in the files:

-Seven civilian massacres from 1967 to 1971 that left at least 137 dead.

-Seventy-eight additional attacks on unarmed civilians that left at least 57 dead, 56 wounded and 15 sexually assaulted.

-141 incidents in which U.S. soldiers tortured civilian detainees and prisoners of war.

In one incident detailed in the report, members of the B Company rounded up and gunned down a group of villagers that included women and children after being ordered by a lieutenant to "kill anything that moves."

The files, collected by a Pentagon task force in the 1970s, do not include the most notorious U.S. atrocity, the 1968 My Lai massacre. The incident, which left some 500 Vietnamese villagers dead, was exposed by reporter Seymour Hersh the following year.

Retired Brig. Gen. John H. Johns, who was part of the task force that gathered the files, said he no longer thought the atrocities should remain in the dark.

"We can't change current practices unless we acknowledge the past," said Johns, 78.

The files show investigators found enough evidence to charge 203 soldiers with crimes related to the mistreatment of Vietnamese civilians and prisoners. But only 57 soldiers were court-martialed and 23 convicted, the Times reported.

Fourteen soldiers received prison sentences ranging from six months to 20 years, but most served much less time.

A former legal adviser to the Army's Criminal Investigation Division said there was scarce interest in prosecuting Vietnam war crimes after the war.

"Everyone wanted Vietnam to go away," said Steven Chucala, now a civilian attorney for the Army in Virginia.

[crazyhorse691]

MSM is still trying to paint our armed forces as drug deranged psychopaths. Weren't true then and ain't true now. Every vocation has a few bad apples(except the MSM, of course).

[Cinnamon]

they forget to mention the 50,000 + American Soldiers that died fighting that war.. killed by Vietcong... now that's an atrocity.

[Calusa]

Does this mean Kerry wins after all?

[centurion316]

The United States was engaged in ground combat for over 10 years. Millions of American soldiers served at least one tour of duty during that period. Our enemy pursued a deliberate policy of rape, torture, and atrocities. And now we learn that over 50 soldiers were prosecuted for crimes committed against the local populace, and that perhaps 150 more might have been, but were not.

One possible explanation is that insufficient evidence existed to justify prosecution. Whatever the case, this paucity of evidence of misconduct throughout the long agony of a difficult and brutal war is testiment to the honor, the discipline, and the humanity of the American soldier.

As for the press, may they drown in the outpouring of their own vile, vitriolic, and venomous vomit.

[Natural Law]

Bullshit!

[DoughtyOne]

Here we go again! I guess they didn't totally destroy the lives of the Vietnam Vets the last time around.

[elfman2]

"Would be interesting to compare those statistics with the violent crime rate per 500,000 men of similar age group back in the states during those same years."

Those statistics are on top of the violent crime perpetrated by our forces off duty or on each other. Still, it’s probably typical by historical standards of war.

The left will probably run with this for days. It would be nice if we had our act together enough to do a little media jujitsu and use the statistics to point out how few crimes have taken place in OIF.

[weegee]

As Jane Fonda promised, we'd all REALLY love Communism if we'd just give it a try.

[VOA]

I dont' know if this is related to the thread article...
but here's a like to the book "Tiger Force".

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316159972/qid=1155004599/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-6206312-3832858?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

I saw the authors talking about the book on "BookTV" (C-Span2 weekends) a
month or so ago.
They may have actually documented a unit that went off the rails
(and was not well-commanded).
But the other agenda of the book was to say that Rumsfeld and Cheney were
responsible for keep it fairly secret with the US withdrawal, the fall of
South Vietnam and Nixon leaving office.
In other words, those EEEVVVIIILLL Republicans that did this are back
in power and the world isn't safe.
Well, that's part of the purpose of the book "Tiger Force", IMHO.

[driftdiver]

"As Jane Fonda promised, we'd all REALLY love Communism if we'd just give it a try."

And if we don't they have a nice "summer" camp they'll send us to so we can get our minds right.

[HawaiianGecko]

I just simply can't get worked up over atrocities in a war period. It is a war after all.  While I wish troops were all Mr. Rodgers and Mary Poppins, they are simply human beings. Everyone has the ability to be the meanest nastiest creatures on the planet. It just a matter of whether or not one ever has to recognize that side of their personality.

When one considers the length of that war, the surreal feeling from coming out of a deadly firefight and 15 minutes later drinking beer, smoking a doobie and cooking a water buffalo, further comparing it to the millions that died when we left the country these atrocities appear rather paltry in my humble opinion.

 

[Jonah Johansen]

"We can't change current practices unless we acknowledge the past," said Johns, 78.

Wonder what he means by "current practices"

---

If the rules of engagement in Viet Nam had been the same as the rules of engagement in WW II then the US would have won the war with little loss of American life, while Johnson was still President. World War II style carpet bombing of Hanoi, , Haiphong at other population centers and the supply lines from China; would have ended the conflict rather quickly. At some point between 1945 and 1965 someone decided that killing large numbers of Japanese and German civilians was OK, but killing North Vietnamese civilians was not.

[DakotaRed]

Interesting that they can list viewing some "9,000" pages, yet, post so few pdf files along with the story, and only what supports their view.

Still, in viewing what little they do supply, I did not notice allegations of the routine atrocities claimed by sKerry before the Fulbright anti-war committee.

No one has ever claimed that atrocities never occurred, but they were hardly a day-to-day event as often claimed by the anti-war left. Had stronger prosecutions and sentences been meted out, who knows, it just may have ended up with many of the anti-war left's heroes themselves being the one's still sitting in prison instead of leading the charge to slander our troops.

The anti-war left may feel this vindicates them, but to me, it just further reveals them as the hypocrites they are. I am beginning to see verifications being offered to sKerry's 1971 testimony. Or, at least, what the anti-war left sees as verification that sKerry was totally truthful.

If this is the goal, it would fit the anti-war left. Slander 2.5 million brave decorated Veterans who served honorably, just to place their anti-American candidate into office.

I would sure love to be the fly on the wall at some very private meetings, starting with the junior Senator from Massachussetts on down the line.

I am still awaiting the expose' of all the World War Two atrocities committed and see how they slander and malign the "Greatest Generation."

More from yesterdays agenda media:
http://www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/theodyssey6.htm

[Cobra64]

Not to excuse these happenings, but war is not a science.

As for the press constantly reporting casualties of innocent civilians under W's watch, I offer this piece of information concerning Dresden, Germany, 1945..

http://www.rense.com/general19/flame.htm

[driftdiver]

Why do they ignore the women and children our enemies torture, rape, and murder and yet continue to issue baseless accusations against Americans?

I think we all know the answer, they hate America and want to help our enemies.

[weegee]

Hanoi Jane, John Kerry and others were not prosecuted for their acts of treason.

After the Vietnam War, there was a feeling of just letting it all go away. This is what happens when it is just forgotten. But the media is evidencing a selective memory to smear our troops.

They loved John Kerry when he confessed to committing war crimes. If they really cared, they'd have pushed for his prosecution and opposed his election.

[ChildOfThe60s]

In the big picture, these numbers don't mean squat. Nam is the glory years fantasy of leftists in the press.

And, the timing of this "article" only indicates that the Times wants atrocities on our minds while news of Iraq and Lebannon dominate the news. Subtle associations.

[Cobra64]

Obviously Bush's fault.

I agree. See what he did during WWII? He should be impeached. I don't care that he wasn't born yet.

http://www.rense.com/general19/flame.htm

[NonLinear]

Surrender? Is that anything like "redeploy over the horizon"?

[CremeSaver]

Man, I'm so sick and tired of hearing how bad our men and women in the military are. Without these brave souls where would this country be? To all of our military you have my undying love, respect and gratitude for what you have sacrificed. God bless each and every one of you.

A pox on the filthy media, leftist anti-American organizations and any other self-loathing American. You find fault with what you are too cowardly to be.