VietNamNet Bridge – On the morning of March 16, Mr. Ronald Haeberle, the author of the set of My Lai massacre photos returned to Son My village in the central province of Quang Ngai to see the witnesses after 45 years.

Requiem for Son My massacre victims

My Lai massacre: horrible memoirs

Fatal morning through Ron Haeberle’s memoirs 

Unlike the first return to Son My in October 2011, in the second trip back to this painful land--on the occasion of the 45th commemoration anniversary of the My Lai massacre, Ronald Haeberle was confident to walk to visit each village road and alley, to see the survivals after the horrific morning on 16/3/1968. He meticulously took notes and photo of the witnesses who survived in the My Lai massacre.

On the morning of March 16, 1968, war photographer Ronald Haeberle followed a U.S. military unit to enter the village of Son My. Over the yellow-ripened rice fields, farmers - including women, the elderly and children - were working. U.S. soldiers shot to death hundreds of farmers and moved into the village to burn houses and shoot old men, women and children. The massacre began at 8 am and took place within 4 hours.

In late 1969, the My Lai massacre photos were published on the Life Magazine, for the first time announcing to the world the true horror of the death of 504 innocent people. In the second time back to Son My, Ronald said that he needed to finish the rest to express his heart for the innocent victims. Walking on the village road between the paddy fields, Ronald took photo of the survivors of the My Lai massacre who now have a peaceful life and no longer have to be afraid of guns. He said, this peaceful scene made the harassing sense in his heart burn out.

He came back to the Gon tree in Tu Cung hamlet, in Tinh Khe commune, the place where 45 years ago U.S. soldiers killed at the same time 15 people (mainly women and children).

He also visited the well, where Mr. Truong Tho was thrown down by U.S. soldiers. According to Ronald, not only him but other reporters also recorded the barbaric image of American soldiers dragging Mr. Tho from his house and throwing him into the well in the morning of March 16, 1968.

On the occasion of the 45th commemoration day of the My Lai massacre, the Management Board of the Son My Relics in collaboration with the HCM City Museum of War organized a photo exhibition entitled "Vietnam War Crimes," that touched the heart of thousands of people and international tourists.

The occasion of the 45th year commemoration day of the My Lai massacre, on 16/3, the Management Board evidence of Paint My collaboration--with HCM City War Museum exhibited more than 100 photos on the theme "War Crimes the Vietnam War."