My Lai

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My_Lai_340.jpg (39934 bytes) Half a mile down the road, passing through the gate to Son My (My Lai), we were very much aware of that other March day almost 30 years ago when these were the "killing fields"
Memorial Sculpture Garden 

The Son My Memorial stands  in a park, on the site of Xom Long hamlet, scene of some  of the worst  atrocities of what is known as the My Lai Massacre,

 My_Lai_341.jpg (39954 bytes)
My_Lai_394.jpg (39863 bytes) In front  of a ditch where 170 villagers died on a March morning in 1968,  stands a memorial stone.  In the fields and woods around it  are the graves of the victims, buried in family groups.  Before the day was over 504 villagers in  Xom Long and surrounding hamlets had died.
A guide tells the story of the village.  On the table under glass are business card left by visitors, many of whom are veterans.  There is also a very moving visitors book to read and sign. My_Lai_395.jpg (38768 bytes)
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