There was an extreme attempt to cover up what had happened at My Lai and it almost succeeded if it wasn't for Hugh Thompson and reporter Seymour Hersh, who told the story to 30 different newspapers. Up until November 12, 1969 the American public was completely in the dark for 16 months and had no idea that the Massacre even existed. The 11th Brigade reported to have killed 128 Viet Cong during the operation, which would have been the largest number of the enemy killed by the U.S soldiers in 24 hours. However, the Brigade claimed only 3 weapons captured. Hugh Thompson, the helicopter pilot, was the one who uncovered the report and wrote a letter stating that civilians had been murdered. After this astonishing news Charlie Company’s commanding officer, Ernest Medina, was asked how many civilians had been killed. He knew that at least 100 civilians had been killed, but he stood by and lied saying that only between 20 and 28 civilians had been killed by helicopter and artillery fire accidentally. That statement was then included in a report a month later by the commander of the 11th Infantry Brigade, Col Oran K Henderson. He said that 20 civilians had been killed. Most of the blame for what had happened was put on Lt. William Calley, but he was not the only one that should have been blamed.
This was the first newspaper published on November 20, 1969 to the American public after the cover-up story was proven to be false by Hugh Thompson.