Vietnam TimelineVietnam Timeline

French InterventionFrench Intervention

U. S. supports France U. S. supports France in their attempt to in their attempt to reclaim Vietnam. reclaim Vietnam. France is defeated in France is defeated in 1954.1954.

South/NorthSouth/North

Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail

North Vietnam North Vietnam smuggled weapons smuggled weapons into South Vietnam to into South Vietnam to support Communist support Communist insurgents through a insurgents through a network of trails network of trails through Laos and through Laos and Cambodia.Cambodia.

The Tonkin Gulf IncidentThe Tonkin Gulf Incident

Making the Vietnam War OfficialMaking the Vietnam War Official

Gulf of Tonkin IncidentGulf of Tonkin Incident

two separate incidentstwo separate incidents involving naval forces of involving naval forces of North Vietnam and the US in the waters of the Gulf of North Vietnam and the US in the waters of the Gulf of TonkinTonkin

1.1. On August 2, 1964, the USS On August 2, 1964, the USS MaddoxMaddox engaged three engaged three North Vietnamese torpedo boats, resulting in damage North Vietnamese torpedo boats, resulting in damage to the three boats. to the three boats.

2.2. On August 4 the On August 4 the MaddoxMaddox reported a second reported a second engagement with North Vietnamese vessels. engagement with North Vietnamese vessels.

BackgroundBackground

The Gulf of Tonkin Incident occurred during the The Gulf of Tonkin Incident occurred during the first year of the Johnson administration first year of the Johnson administration

Johnson's Johnson's supported military escalationsupported military escalation in in Vietnam Vietnam

After Kennedy's assassination, Johnson After Kennedy's assassination, Johnson ordered in more American forcesordered in more American forces to support to support the Saigon government the Saigon government

The 1The 1stst Incident Incident

On July 31, 1964, the On July 31, 1964, the MaddoxMaddox had begun its had begun its intelligence collection missionintelligence collection mission in the gulf in the gulf

The The MaddoxMaddox was under orders not to approach was under orders not to approach closer than closer than eight mileseight miles from the North's coast from the North's coast

On August 2, On August 2, MaddoxMaddox claimed it was attacked by claimed it was attacked by three North Vietnamese patrol boats 28 miles three North Vietnamese patrol boats 28 miles away from the North Vietnamese coast away from the North Vietnamese coast in in international waters international waters

The 1The 1stst Incident Incident

MaddoxMaddox evaded a torpedo attack and evaded a torpedo attack and opened opened firefire with its guns, forcing the patrol craft away with its guns, forcing the patrol craft away

U.S. aircraft were launchedU.S. aircraft were launched then attacked the then attacked the retiring patrol boats, claiming one as sunk and retiring patrol boats, claiming one as sunk and one heavily damaged one heavily damaged

MaddoxMaddox, suffering very minor damage retired to , suffering very minor damage retired to South Vietnamese waters South Vietnamese waters

The 2The 2ndnd Incident Incident

On August 4, another North Vietnamese patrol On August 4, another North Vietnamese patrol off the North Vietnamese coast was launched off the North Vietnamese coast was launched

This time the This time the MaddoxMaddox was to close to no more was to close to no more than 11 miles from the coast of North Vietnam than 11 miles from the coast of North Vietnam

During an evening and early morning of During an evening and early morning of rough rough weather and heavy seas,weather and heavy seas, they received radar, they received radar, sonar, and radio signals that they believed sonar, and radio signals that they believed signaled another attack by the North Vietnamese signaled another attack by the North Vietnamese navy navy

The 2The 2ndnd Incident Incident

For some two hours the ships For some two hours the ships fired on radar targetsfired on radar targets and maneuvered vigorously amid electronic and visual and maneuvered vigorously amid electronic and visual reports of enemies. reports of enemies.

At 1:30 am Washington time, At 1:30 am Washington time, MaddoxMaddox sent a cable in sent a cable in which he admitted that which he admitted that the attack may never have the attack may never have happenedhappened and that there may have been no Vietnamese and that there may have been no Vietnamese craft in the areacraft in the area

One hour later, One hour later, MaddoxMaddox sent another cable, stating, sent another cable, stating, "Entire action leaves many doubts except for apparent "Entire action leaves many doubts except for apparent ambush at beginning. Suggest thorough reconnaissance ambush at beginning. Suggest thorough reconnaissance in daylight by aircraft." in daylight by aircraft."

The 2The 2ndnd Incident Incident

At 6 pm Washington time, At 6 pm Washington time, Maddox Maddox cabled yet cabled yet again, this time stating, again, this time stating,

"the first boat to close the Maddox probably fired "the first boat to close the Maddox probably fired a torpedo at the Maddox which was heard but a torpedo at the Maddox which was heard but not seen. All subsequent Maddox torpedo not seen. All subsequent Maddox torpedo reports are doubtful in that it is suspected that reports are doubtful in that it is suspected that sonarman was hearing ship's own propeller sonarman was hearing ship's own propeller beat" beat"

ConsequencesConsequences

Although Although MaddoxMaddox had been involved in providing had been involved in providing intelligence support for South Vietnamese intelligence support for South Vietnamese DefenseDefense Secretary McNamaraSecretary McNamara denied that the U.S. Navy had denied that the U.S. Navy had supported South Vietnamese military operations in the supported South Vietnamese military operations in the Gulf Gulf

He thus characterized the attack as He thus characterized the attack as "unprovoked""unprovoked" since since the ship had been in international watersthe ship had been in international waters

ConsequencesConsequences

As a result of his testimony, on August 7, As a result of his testimony, on August 7, Congress passed a joint resolution titled the Congress passed a joint resolution titled the Southeast Asia ResolutionSoutheast Asia Resolution, ,

The Resolution gave President Johnson The Resolution gave President Johnson approval approval "to take all necessary steps, including "to take all necessary steps, including the use of armed force, to assist any member or the use of armed force, to assist any member or protocol state of the Southeast Asia Collective protocol state of the Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty requesting assistance in Defense Treaty requesting assistance in defense of its freedom." defense of its freedom."