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Against communist Vietnam a war was waged For almost twenty years fierce fighting raged The French came first then the U. S. arrived Communism had grown and it had thrived. Most American soldiers served with distinction Carrying out orders for the good of their mission But in hearts of some men pure evil does reside And makes you wonder if they were on your side. On March the sixteenth nineteen sixty eight Hundreds of civilians suffered a horrific fate William Calley gave the order to shoot at will First they torched the village then shot to kill. Women were raped and young girls as well Then they were killed so they couldn't tell There was no where to hide, no where to run They carried out genocide with bayonet and gun. The Intelligence stated "you'll find Viet Cong" But in that peaceful village the intel was wrong They met no resistance only frail old men And mothers with babies and little children. The defenceless villagers just stood in fright And without any mercy were shot on sight Mutilations carried out on the living and dead All over the village flowed rivers blood red. Into a ditch some villagers were thrown Stabbed and shot no mercy was shown Calley then gave out the order " take no one alive" A chopper crew intervened and some did survive. Hugh Thompson, the pilot and two of his crew Were awarded soldiers medals for what they did do His helicopter touched down during the attack And warned the soldiers that he would fire back. He made contact with villagers trying to flee And airlifted many and took them to safety To hospital he took them for medical aid They were shaking with fear, very much afraid. When the story broke out it made the front page And all over the world it caused an outrage Inquiries were held and someone had to pay For the massacre at My Lai on that horrific day. There was cover ups and denials, no one was to blame And those at the top should bow heads with shame Over twenty soldiers stood trial and they all walked free Except Calley who got twenty years but only served three. They tried to suppress it but it was a war crime And with the exception of Calley, no one did time Brave soldiers in wartime their praises are sung But not so war criminals they should be hung. (Dedicated to the three brave American servicemen, Hugh Thompson, Glenn Andreotta and Lawrence Colburn who helped stop the massacre at My Lai and saved many lives on that horrific day) Written 12th January 2018
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