So why did the American soldiers kill all those innocent people?
Kenneth Rodgers, a soldier who was involved with the massacre stated in the documentary "Four Hours In My Lai" a reason as to why they massacred an estimated 500 people. He said "They are taught hand-to-hand fighting. They are taught close-order fighting. They are taught how to deal with the enemy when they come face to face with him. They are trained to be killers." Soldiers in basic training would repeat the word "Kill" while completing close quarter drills as if it were a chant.
Another reason could be that moral between soldiers was low. The Viet Cong were attacking American soldiers without the Americans being able to find them. The massacre could've been a stress release mechanism. By letting the soldiers loose on a village it relieved stress and anger that the soldiers had while gaining moral in the unit.
Kenneth Rodgers, a soldier who was involved with the massacre stated in the documentary "Four Hours In My Lai" a reason as to why they massacred an estimated 500 people. He said "They are taught hand-to-hand fighting. They are taught close-order fighting. They are taught how to deal with the enemy when they come face to face with him. They are trained to be killers." Soldiers in basic training would repeat the word "Kill" while completing close quarter drills as if it were a chant.
Another reason could be that moral between soldiers was low. The Viet Cong were attacking American soldiers without the Americans being able to find them. The massacre could've been a stress release mechanism. By letting the soldiers loose on a village it relieved stress and anger that the soldiers had while gaining moral in the unit.