The photos served as undeniable evidence of the mass killings that forced the White House to open an investigation in the case.
Forty-threeyears after the incident, Haeberle came back to Son My as a witness ofthe massacre. He also helped the Son My Museum make more accuratecaptions for the photos.
The mass killings occurred on March 16, 1968in the hamlet of My Lai, Son Tich district, Quang Ngai province. Themassacre began when US soldiers under the command of Lieutenant WilliamCalley opened fire on civilians during a "search and destroy" mission inMy Lai and neighbouring villages.
The targets of the killings weremainly old men, women and children – all unarmed – as most younger malesof the My Lai community were working in the fields. More than 500people were massacred that day./.