Over 500 people, many elderly, women, and children were killed when Calley's platoon entered Son My, also known as My Lai, in March 1968, with the mission to search for enemy soldiers from the FNL guerrilla. They had been given permission to shoot without restrictions.
Fifteen years ago, in 2009, Calley spoke publicly about the incident for the first time at a meeting in Georgia. He apologized and said that not a single day passes without remorse.
I have a bad conscience about the Vietnamese who were killed, for their families, for the American soldiers who participated and their families. I am very sorry.
Calley was sentenced to life imprisonment for killing 22 people in the massacre but was pardoned by President Richard Nixon and served a few years under house arrest. The commander who gave him the order escaped punishment.
Calley died at the end of April this year, but his death has not been known until now.
