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The Vietnam War involved many conscripts. These were most regular men who had lost friends (Captain Medina talks about one of his men being cut in half by a bouncing Betty (booby trap). Most - but not all - chimped out on the villagers (all women and children. The men were away at the market) because they were pissed that the villagers were quiet about where the bobby traps were. The villagers were caught between a rock and a hard place: they knew where the booby traps were but if they told the Americans the VC would come at night and kill them) and so they kept quiet. When the Americans realized the villagers were aware and keeping quiet they were hated.
So the reaction was a consequence of pent-up frustration over these people being aware of what could kill them - and did kill Americans - but keeping quiet.
I can understand why they were mad and wanted to take it out on villagers who aren't exactly helpful in keeping them and their friends alive. These were typical Americans. I'm sure some were psychopaths but most were normal Americans reacting to a fucked up situation. However, it was the job of the officers to keep everyone in line but instead it was the officers that led the charge to mass murder these civilians.
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