March 16th 1968 07:30-11:30

Charlie company

All three of the companies (A, B and C) that comprised Task Force Barker were involved in the three-day operation to clear out the area. They were supported by artillery, helicopters and navy swift boats. The villages were surrounded.

Lt. Colonel Frank Barker

Lt. Colonel Frank Barker, Commanding Officer of Task Force Barker, photographed during the three-day search and destroy mission to clear the area of people, destroy the crops, kill the livestock and burn the houses (with General Young at left).

Task Force Barker was formed on January 26th 1968 and disbanded on April 8th 1968. On January 31st 1968, during the Tet Offensive, Charlie Company was at their base LZ Dottie. They watched in frustration from a distance as members of the 48th Local Force Battalion of Viet Cong retreated from their attach on Quang Ngai City, 12 miles away, into the area around My Lai (1) and My Lai (4). From then on army commanders wanted this unit of Viet Cong eliminated.

Bravo COmpany

An hour after Charlie Company began their assault on My Lai (4), Bravo Company were air-lifted to the south of My Lai (1) which was used by Viet Cong soldiers and was heavily booby trapped.

The planned attack on My Lai (1) never happened. Before the soldiers entered the village a mine was detonated killing one man and wounding four others. After a second mine was detonated and three more men were wounded the objective was abandoned. The men of 2nd and 3rd Platoon walked away, to their night time camp site. Meanwhile the 1st Platoon, who had been sent east to guard the bridge, went on to the tiny village of My Khe