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She survived Lieutenant Calley


She survived Lieutenant Calley
Photo Information
Copyright: Gert Holmertz (holmertz) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 483 W: 52 N: 389] (2430)
Genre: People
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 1995-04
Categories: Daily Life, Event, Decisive Moment
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-03-24 1:49
Viewed: 429
Points: 18
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
All right, not a great picture, just an elderly woman posing in her garden. But I show it anyway, because she represents an important event in modern history.
This woman's name is Ha Thi Qui and she lives in a village called Tu Cung in the district of Son My in south-central Vietnam. In the morning of March 16, 1968 (40 years and a few days ago), American soldiers came to Tu Cung and the neighbouring village My Hoy. The soldiers set fire to the houses, burning many people to death inside their homes. Mrs Qui and many of her neighbours were led to an irrigation ditch where they were shot. However, the soldiers didn't notice that Mrs Qui was only hit in the leg. She fell into the ditch along with the others, clutching her dying grandson in her arms. For several hours she pretended to be dead, until she was sure that the Americans had gone. Then she walked back to her village and found it completely destroyed and all her neighbours dead. On this day 407 unarmed civilians were killed in Tu Cung and 97 in My Hoy.
This event – in the USA incorrectly known as the My Lai massacre (My Lai is the name of another village where nothing happened that day) and in Sweden (and maybe other countries) misspelt as the Song My massacre – was a turning point in the Vietnam war. When the news was spread, and the American public realized that their troops were not fighting a just and honourable war in Vietnam, the public support for the war dwindled considerably and the anti-war movement got a tremendous boost.
The only one who was ever punished for the atrocities committed at Son My was Lieutenant William Calley. He was sentenced to lifetime in prison but was pardoned by President Nixon after serving just three years of house arrest at a military camp. All the responsible men of higher ranks got away with mass murder.
This photo was scanned from a slide. It was taken in April 1995 when I was in Vietnam to write stories ahead of the 20th anniversary of the end of the war. Tomorrow I shall start posting fresh, non-political digital pictures from southern Vietnam.
saxo042, albertopiubello, Trekki, kschanna, wawa, skippy007, PerR, molla has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Gert,
very interesting document! I think a photo must speak about life end yours do it! I saw many interesting images in your gallery.
Alberto

Hej Gert,

Welcome home!

I am not surprised to see that you start off with an old picture, but now we are waiting for the new ones. A very interesting note to this portrait, which is very good and with a lot of character. Maybe I would have cropped a bit on the right side, but that is just a small niggle.

Hälsningar från Göteborg

No matter if it is a good or not good photo (in my opinion there are no no-good photos), it is an important one. Thanks for posting it, thanks for posting it in these days where slaughtering is happening across "door" of Vietnam. Hopefully many people remember and also remember that war is no solution to anything. Not in the past, not today and not in the future.
Happy Easter!
Ingrid

  • Great 
  • Alex61 (224)
  • [2008-03-24 2:06]

A terrible episode that will mark the souls of many an American citizien for many years to come. Anyway I don't find fair that this episode is often (and rightfully) remembered, but there is very little discussion about the massacres made by North Vietnamese Army against their South Vitneamese opponents and in Cambodia after the War against the U.S. finished. They were just as cruel.

Hello Gert

Its politically stirring but what an amazing shot and even better presentation. The note is very descriptive and greatley complements the shot. Brilliant work.

Regards
Kamran

Superb photo Gert,the perspective is really excellent following
this woman,great tones and look also.

Hi Gert,
Superb photo and even more sobering story, very well told.
Well done.
Regards
Santo

Hello Gert
AFFLICTIVE life
thanks for explanation
thanks for sharing
best regards
Ozhan

  • Great 
  • molla Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 527 W: 76 N: 551] (4101)
  • [2008-03-24 14:19]

hej Gert ,
and welcome home to the beginning of the winter !?
It's a warm and lovely portrait that makes any ones blood to Ice just by mention Song My, even if I was quite young I remember Olof Palmes speech about satan:s murderer and of cause the pictures of the child naked running for her life with burning napalm in the background. she's a very important Witness for what happened 35 years ago and and an important advisor for what's going on in Iraq.
Anders

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