August 2 & 4, 1964 - US ships encounter North Vietnamese torpedo boats in the Gulf of Tonkin Incident (right). On August 2, the destroyer USS Maddox was conducting electronic surveillance operations when it was attacked by three North Vietnamese motor torpedo boats. After driving them off with gunfire and air support, the destroyer withdrew from the area. Returning to the area two days later with USS Turner Joy, Maddox received several radar and sonar signals that indicated it was again under attack. Sailing through heavy weather, the two ships fired on a variety of radar targets but aircraft above failed to spot any enemy vessels. The second "attack" on August 4, which now appears not to have occurred, led to retaliatory air strikes on North Vietnamese torpedo boat bases. On August 10, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which gave Johnson a free hand to "Americanize" the war and send troops to the region.
Photograph Courtesy of the US Naval History & Heritage Command
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