William Laws Calley Jr., a United States Army officer infamous for his role in the My Lai Massacre, was married to Penny Vick.
Before his marriage, William was convicted for a massacre that occurred in 1968 in South Vietnam, where he, along with other American troops, slayed hundreds of unarmed civilians.
Highlights
- William Calley married Penny Vick, and they were blessed with a son named William Calley III.
- Calley worked in his father-in-law’s jewelry business and became a gemologist. He also pursued a real estate license, which was initially denied due to his criminal record.
- After nearly thirty years of marriage, William and Penny Calley divorced around 2006, during which William had prostate cancer and gastrointestinal problems.
William’s story of brutality was also covered in a TV movie, Judgment: The Court Martial of Lieutenant William Calley.
William Calley Married Penny Vick in 1976 and Was Blessed with a Son!
William Calley married Penny Vick on May 15, 1976, several years after his conviction for the My Lai Massacre in 1971.
Their marriage ceremony took place at St. Paul United Methodist Church.
Federal District Judge J. Robert Elliott of Columbus, who reversed Calley’s conviction in 1974, and former Macon Mayor Ronnie Thompson were among the several hundred guests.
William Calley’s wife, Penny Vick, was the daughter of a prominent jewelry store owner in Columbus, Georgia.
Calley, then 32, met his 29-year-old bride several years before when he was a customer in one of her father’s stores, where Penny worked.
Penny Vick was a buyer for her father’s jewelry store and was responsible for selecting and purchasing the store’s inventory.
This marriage was the first for both of them, and after some years, the couple was blessed with one son, William L. Calley III.
Calley began working in his father-in-law’s jewelry business and became a gemologist.
Moreover, he also pursued a real estate license, which was initially denied due to his criminal record.
After Three Decades of Marriage, William Calley and Penny Vick Divorced Around 2006!
After nearly thirty years of marriage, William and Penny Calley decided to divorce around 2006.
During the divorce proceedings, Calley claimed he had prostate cancer and gastrointestinal problems, which he stated left him unable to earn a living.
His lawyer described his earning capacity as “zero based upon his age and health.”
Following the divorce, William requested a lump alimony sum of $200,000, half of their home equity, and half of the individual retirement account in Penny’s name.
Additionally, he asked for two baker’s shelves and a cracked porcelain bird that held emotional significance.
After settling everything in the divorce, Calley moved to Atlanta and settled in Florida.
It was revealed that Calley, 80, passed away in Gainesville on April 28, 2024, which was not reported until July 29, when Harvard Law School graduate Zachary Woodward uncovered it publicly.
Additional Information
- Calley was born in Miami, Florida, and his father, William Laws Calley Sr., was a United States Navy veteran of World War II.
- In 1983, it was reported that he was seen driving his Mercedes-Benz or Ford Granada around Columbus or working in the yard of his three-bedroom brick bungalow on Hilton Avenue.
- On August 20, 2009, William apologized for his role at My Lai. Speaking before the Kiwanis Club in Columbus, Georgia, Calley expressed regret for the civilians he slayed in Qiang Ngai province.
