Ernest Medina was born on August 27, 1936 into a Mexican-American family in Springer, New Mexico. After a variety of post–high school odd jobs, Medina joined the Army in 1956. He served twelve years in the enlisted ranks before being commissioned through Officer Candidate School in 1964. Awarded both the Silver Star and Bronze Star Medal, Medina was promoted to Captain in 1966 and was given command of Charlie Company, Americal Division in Hawaii, prior to its deployment to Vietnam.
Court-martial
According to the 1970 investigation by General William R. Peers, Medina:
"Planned, ordered, and supervised the execution by his company of an unlawful operation against inhabited hamlets in Son My village which included the destruction of houses by burning, killing of livestock, and the destruction of crops and other foodstuffs, and the closing of wells; and impliedly directed the killing of any persons found there."
"Possibly killed as many as three noncombatants in My Lai."
Medina was court-martialed in 1971 for willingly allowing his men to murder non-combatants. Medina denied all the charges and claimed that he never gave any orders to kill Vietnamese non-combatants. Medina's defense team, led by F. Lee Bailey and a support staff that included Gary Myers, alleged that his men killed Vietnamese noncombatants under their own volition and not under Medina's orders. Medina also testified that he did not become aware that his troops were out of control at My Lai until the massacre was already well underway. Medina also strongly denied killing any Vietnamese non-combatant at My Lai, with the exception of a young woman whom two soldiers testified that they found hiding in a ditch. When she emerged with her hands up, Medina shot her because, he claimed, he thought she had a grenade. In fact, she was unarmed. The defense lawyers brought up many incidents during the Vietnam War of Viet Cong suspects and sympathizers faking surrender to use hidden pistols or grenades to harm or kill American military personnel. In August 1971, Medina was ultimately found not guilty of all charges. His jury deliberations lasted approximately 60 minutes. Despite his acquittal, the court martial and negative publicity brought Medina's military career to an end. He resigned his commission and left the Army shortly afterward.
Post-military
After resigning from the Army, Medina went to work at an Enstrom Helicopter Corporation plant owned by F. Lee Bailey in Menominee, Michigan. Medina moved with his family to Marinette, Wisconsin. He worked in his family's real estate business: Medina, Inc. Realtor in Marinette, Wisconsin. He died on May 8, 2018 at the age of 81.
Cultural references
Medina is mentioned by name in the first stanza of Pete Seeger's Vietnam protest song "Last Train to Nuremberg".
Do I see Lieutenant Calley? Do I see Captain Medina? Do I see Gen'ral Koster and all his crew?
