Some Americans blamed the war’s failure on the soldiers; the My Lai massacre might have tarnished the image of all U.S. soldiers.
In one of the most horrific incidents of violence against civilians during the Vietnam War, a company of American soldiers brutally killed the majority of the population of the South Vietnamese hamlet of My Lai in March 1968.
Though exact numbers remain unconfirmed, it is believed that as many as 500 people including women, children and the elderly were killed in the My Lai Massacre.
Many Vietnam veterans built successful lives after they returned home from the war. They finished their educations, established good careers, and had families. But many other veterans had a tough time readjusting to life in the United States after they completed their military service.
For many soldiers, coming home was the happiest part of the war. But some were surprised by the response they received when they returned. The cold reception the veterans got from many Americans left them feeling different and alone.
For further reading, see Encyclopedia.com's Coming Home: Vietnam Veterans in American Society.