The Vietnam War (1954-75) occurred during the Cold War, a period of tense rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union. As the war progressed, American involvement in Vietnam increased along with communist forces. American troops were seen as too aggressive, with soldiers trained to perceive the Vietcong only as "the enemy" and to employ "search and destroy" tactics (Sanders 5). This resulted in many deaths on both sides and many exhausted soldiers suffering from low morale, both physically and emotionally, especially among the Americans (Sanders). Although atrocities were committed by both sides, the My Lai massacre was perhaps the most brutal. On March 16, 1968, the US Army's "Charlie Company" division entered the village of Son My led by Captain Medina and the leader of the 1st platoon, Lieutenant Calley (Oliver). According to the soldiers, Medina ordered “the massacre of every living being in My Lai.” As a result, over 300 unresisted and unarmed civilians were rounded up and violently killed (Oliver 37). These civilians considered Vietcong supporters included men and women of all ages who were beaten, sexually assaulted, and shot, their bodies mutilated. Although a helicopter pilot named Hugh Thompson attempted to protect the civilians, the majority were mercilessly killed (Digital History). The 11th Brigade covered up the massacre by reporting that 128 Vietcong had been killed, considered an impressive number exterminated in 24 hours (Digital History). ). When Thompson claimed civilians were killed, Medina said 20 to 28 civilians died unintentionally at My Lai, which was confirmed by Colonel Henderson (Herring). This event came to light a year later when a helicopter gunner wrote letters to the US Congress detailing the mas...... middle of paper ......ia, 2012. Web. February 24, 2014. Kohls, Dr. Gary G. “The My Lai Massacre Revisited.” » Global research. March 16, 2009. n.pag. Internet. February 24, 2014. Moyar, Mark. “Vietnam: Historians at War.” National Association of Researchers. (2008): no. page. Internet. February 25, 2014. “Teaching with Documents: The Vietnam War – A History in Photographs.” » National Archives. and Web. March 02, 2014.Oliver, Kendrick. “Atrocity, authenticity and American exceptionalism: (ir)rationalizing the My Lai massacre. » Journal of American Studies. 37 (2003): 247-268. Print.Oliver, Kendrick. “Accepting the Past: My Lai. » History Today 56.2 (2006): 37-39. Print.Sanders, Vivienne. The United States and Vietnam 1945-75. London: Hodder Education, 2007. Print. “My Lai photographer, Ron Haeberle, exposed a massacre in Vietnam 40 years ago today in The Plain Dealer. »Cleveland.com. np November 20, 2009. Web. February 25. 2014.