Pinback button advocating the release of Lt. William Calley, c. 1971. Mottling. On the morning of March 16, 1968, a company of U.S. Army infantry entered the South Vietnamese village My Lai on a "search and destroy" mission. Finding no enemy Viet Cong, they instead turned their weapons on unarmed civilians, killing upwards of 500 elderly men, women, children and infants. Revelations of the atrocity sent shockwaves through the U.S. political establishment and effectively turned the public against the war. Though higher ranking officers were implicated, there was enough evidence to successfully prosecute only one platoon commander, Lt. William Calley.
Brought to trial on charges of premeditated murder, Calley was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. Following a public outcry that Calley had been scapegoated, President Nixon intervened in the case and after numerous appeals, Calley was parolled.
Supporters of Calley issued this rare button--the only pro-Calley button we have seen. Discovered in a warehouse where they had been stored for 30 years, all suffered water damage. We acquired the best examples, with just a hint of scattered foxing (representative example shown). A button you are not likely to see elsewhere.
