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Paul Meadlo
My Lai Participant Who Testified Publicly
Private First Class, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment
Overview
Paul Meadlo was a Private First Class in Charlie Company who participated in the My Lai massacre on March 16, 1968, and later became one of the most important witnesses to the atrocity. Meadlo was among the soldiers who, under Lieutenant William Calley's direct orders, fired into groups of unarmed Vietnamese civilians, including women, children, and elderly villagers. The day after the massacre, Meadlo stepped on a land mine that blew off his foot, an injury he later described as divine punishment for his actions at My Lai. In November 1969, Meadlo became the first identified participant to speak publicly about the massacre when journalist Seymour Hersh tracked him down, and he subsequently appeared on CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite, telling the nation in devastating detail that "we were ordered to shoot" and describing how he personally shot men, women, and children. His CBS interview, broadcast to millions of Americans, was one of the most shocking moments of Vietnam War coverage and forced the nation to confront the reality of what had happened at My Lai. Meadlo was never charged with any crime, as military authorities determined he had been following orders. His testimony became some of the most critical evidence establishing the scope and deliberateness of the massacre.
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
Direct Participation in My Lai Massacre: Meadlo was among the soldiers who fired into groups of unarmed Vietnamese civilians at My Lai under Lieutenant Calley's orders. He described how he and Calley stood at the edge of a drainage ditch and fired clip after clip into the civilians who had been herded there. He estimated participating in the killing of approximately 100 people.
Landmark CBS Evening News Interview: In November 1969, Meadlo appeared on CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite and told the nation: "We were ordered to shoot. We huddled them up and I poured about four clips into the group." He described shooting men, women, children, and babies. The interview was one of the most shocking moments of Vietnam War television coverage.
Land Mine Injury the Day After the Massacre: On March 17, 1968, the day after the My Lai massacre, Meadlo stepped on a land mine that blew off his foot. As he was being evacuated, he reportedly screamed at Captain Medina: "God punished me, and God will punish you." He later described the injury as divine retribution for his participation in the massacre.
Following Orders Defense: Meadlo consistently stated that he was following direct orders from Lieutenant Calley to shoot the civilians. His testimony was critical in establishing that the killings were ordered rather than spontaneous. Meadlo was never charged because military authorities accepted that he had been following orders from his platoon leader.
Seymour Hersh Interview: Journalist Seymour Hersh tracked Meadlo down in Indiana as part of his investigation into the My Lai massacre. Meadlo agreed to speak, becoming the first identified participant to publicly describe the killings. His willingness to talk was instrumental in breaking the story that won Hersh the Pulitzer Prize.
Psychological Trauma and Post-War Life: Meadlo returned to Terre Haute, Indiana after losing his foot and struggled with severe post-traumatic stress disorder. He lived quietly, rarely speaking publicly after his initial interviews, haunted by his participation in the massacre for the rest of his life.
Related Investigations (1)
Known Associates & Connections
William Calley
Platoon leader who gave Meadlo direct orders to shoot civilians at the ditch
Ernest Medina
Charlie Company commander to whom Meadlo screamed "God will punish you" after his injury
Seymour Hersh
Journalist who tracked Meadlo down and broke the My Lai story
David Mitchell
Fellow Charlie Company SSG also involved in the massacre
Sources & Documentation
5 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
National Archives - My Lai Massacre Records
PBS American Experience - My Lai
Seymour Hersh - My Lai 4: A Report on the Massacre and Its Aftermath (1970)
CBS Evening News - Paul Meadlo Interview (November 1969)
Michael Bilton and Kevin Sim - Four Hours in My Lai (1992)
Personal Information
- Born
- 1949
- Birthplace
- Terre Haute, Indiana
Education
Key Timeline
1949
Born in Terre Haute, Indiana
1967
Deployed to Vietnam with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment
March 16, 1968
Participated in the My Lai massacre, firing into groups of unarmed Vietnamese civilians under Calley's orders
March 17, 1968
Stepped on land mine the day after the massacre, losing his foot; screamed that "God punished me"
1968
Medically evacuated and discharged from the Army
November 1969
Interviewed by journalist Seymour Hersh, becoming first identified participant to speak publicly
November 1969
Appeared on CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite, telling the nation "we were ordered to shoot"
1970
Provided testimony to the Peers Commission investigation