William Calley, My Lai Massacre Convict, Dies at 80

William L. Calley Jr., the only U.S. Army officer convicted for the infamous My Lai Massacre during the Vietnam War, has died at age 80. Calley led a platoon that killed 504 unarmed Vietnamese civilians, including women and children, on March 16, 1968, in what is regarded as one of the most notorious war crimes in American military history. Initially sentenced to life in prison, he served only three days before being placed under house arrest by President Nixon. Over the years, Calley maintained he was following orders and viewed himself as a scapegoat for the atrocities committed. Despite his notoriety, he lived a life of relative obscurity in later years, working as a jeweler and avoiding discussions about the massacre. His death was reported by major outlets, including The Washington Post and The New York Times, although no cause of death has been disclosed.