The Misinterpreted Order
This picture shows the initial confusion of the soliders as they roam the village, not aware of what Calley's orders actually meant.
|
One major similarity in the book and the actual massacre is the fact that the soldiers were at first confused with Calley's orders to "take care" of the civilians. An article clearly states that Meadlo and a fellow-soldier, "Were actually playing with the kids, telling the people where to sit down and giving the kids candy. When Calley returned and said that he wanted them dead, the soldier said, "Meadlo just looked at him like he couldn't believe it. He says, 'Waste them?' " When Calley said yes, another soldier testified, Meadlo and Calley "opened up and started firing" (galegroup.com). This quote is extremely similiar to the passage in the book in chapter 16, when one of the soldiers states that, "He (Calley) went away, then he came back and said, "I thought I told you to take care of these people...... I mean kill them'" (Obrien 143). The similiarities of these quotes from the text to the article proves the books accuracy on this detail.
|