Gulf of Tonkin Incident
by Krysta CardinaleThe Gulf of Tonkin incident was a supposed attack against two American Destroyers “The Maddox” and the “Turner Joy” by North Vietnamese PT boats in August of 1964. In recent findings, it has been proven that the second attack never occurred on the “Turner Joy,” and also dismissed the rumor that President Lyndon B. Johnson lied about this incident to get Congress to declare war.
The American destroyer, the USS Maddox, set sail for a reconnaissance mission on July 31, 1964 heading for the Gulf of Tonkin. On August 2nd, it was attacked in international waters by five North Vietnamese patrol boats. The American destroyer defended its self with torpedoes, and the ships fled. With minor damage, the USS Maddox traveled down to South Vietnamese waters where another American destroyer, the C. Turner Joy was located.
Only two days later, both the Maddox and the Turner Joy went to patrol North Vietnamese waters. The radar and radio signals these two ships simulated apparently signaled another assault from the enemy. There is no proof that any North Vietnamese ships were actually in the area during the gunfight.
The 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
The implication of these attacks led to the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. This granted U.S. President Johnson the authority to interfere in the North and South Vietnam struggle. This eventually led to the United States deploying troops and taking part in the controversial Vietnam War.
However, no one in the administration explained to Congress that the Gulf of Tonkin incident was not an unprovoked act. In fact, the American ships were placed off the coast of North Vietnam to supposedly instigate an attack. Once in place, the ships simulated the radio traffic that would take place leading up to an air assault against North Vietnamese ports. The not so unforeseeable counter attack is said to be Johnson’s cover story so he did not have to pay a heavy political price for his buildup in Vietnam.
Johnson retaliated by launching strikes immediately back at North Vietnam forces. He went on national television on August 4th to declare the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara, told Congress that the U.S. Navy did not support the South Vietnamese military. He described that attack as “unprovoked” because the USS Maddox was in international waters and stated there was “unequivocal proof” of the second attack. Due to McNamara’s explanation of the incident and the U.S. Navy’s intentions, on August 7th Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. It was a joint resolution that approved Johnson of taking all the “necessary steps,” including the use of armed forces. First Johnson then Richard Nixon used this Gulf of Tonkin Resolution to justify any escalated movements or involvement in Indochina.
