Murder in the name of war - My Lai
More than 500 innocent Vietnamese were killed during one morning 30 years ago, when a company of American troops ran berserk through the village of My Lai. The heroic image of GI Joe was broken forever. (Real Video)

My Lai: the cover-up
From day one, efforts were made to cover up the terrible truth of what happened at My Lai. It took a conscientious GI to bring the attrocity to the corridors of powers.

My Lai: the whitewash
When the military's high command was told about My Lai, it responded with a thorough investigation. But prosecutions crumbled leaving only Lt Calley in the dock.

Vietnam 1945 to 1975: timeline
At the end of World War II Vietnam tried to shrug off its colonial past with a surge of nationalism in the guise of communist leader Ho Chi Minh. When America tried to contain the spread of communism, it became locked in a protracted and bloody war.