Varnado Simpson

Participant in the My Lai Massacre

What is Varnado Simpson known for?

Varnado Simpson, born on October 7, 1948 in Jackson, Mississippi, made a significant and controversial mark on American history. An alumnus of Brinkley High School in Arkansas, he later served as a Private First Class in the U.S. Army. Simpson's military service was marked by his involvement in the notorious My Lai Massacre which took place in South Vietnam in March 1968.

In his military service, under the command of Captain Ernest Medina, Simpson was part of the Charlie Company assigned to South Vietnam. He infamously participated in the My Lai Massacre, where he is reported to have killed approximately 20-25 South Vietnamese civilians, including a mother and her baby. He later returned to civilian life, working at a bank and attending college post his military service. His reflections on the massacre, including his reported regret and guilt, made headlines in later interviews. His involvement in My Lai haunted him for the rest of his life, leading to his suicide on May 4, 1997, in his birthplace.

One of the chilling moments that Simpson recalled from the massacre was when he was ordered to kill a woman holding a baby, an action that deeply affected him. He later said his actions were initially justified in his mind as following orders but had since changed his views, expressing remorse for the incident. Interestingly, Simpson considered the entire Vietnam War to be a war crime, expressing this view in a 1970 interview.

Despite the gravity of his actions, Simpson never faced legal consequences. During the court-martial of officer William Calley, who was also involved in the My Lai massacre, Simpson pleaded the fifth to avoid self-incrimination.

In a somber historical note, Simpson's words from one of his interviews were later interpreted by Robert Lowell in his poem, "Women, Children, Babies, Cows, Cats."

For more information about Varnado Simpson's life and controversy, check out resources like the New York Times and History.com's coverage of the My Lai Massacre.