Gulf of Tonkin 2 August 1964

Place

Background Naval commando attacks Goal was to take Hanoi’s temperature Hoping insurrection would cease Hanoi committed to South Vietnamese Attack

Commando

The Incident U.S.S. Maddox present in the Gulf of Tonkin Engaged in “innocent passage” N. Vietnamese 34-A raids Maddox was to record radar output

Maddox

DeSoto Patrol 34-A raids and intelligence cruise Secy’ of Defense Robert McNamara President Lyndon Johnson Capitol Hill Briefing

President

McNamara Speaks Went to Capitol Hill Explained two islands, attack boats, ammunition expenditures, and other details Asserted that 34-A were S. Vietnamese missions

McNamara

34-A Participants Used U.S. Navy Vessels Aimed at C.I.A. selected targets United States funded S. Vietnam recruited their own commandos. Led by Americans

Central Intelligence Agency

McNamara Continues 34-A purely South Vietnamese Stated in hearings on the Hill “Our Navy played absolutely no part in, was not associated with, was not aware of, any South Vietnamese actions, if any.”

Capitol Hill

Senate Hearing Foreign Relations Committee McNamara chief witness Provocation “fully explored” in 1964 hearings Culpability examined

Senate Committe

Senate 2 Investigated “in any way provoked by or related to certain South Vietnamese naval activity.” 34-A missions: “countermeasures being taken by the South Vietnamese”

Commando Action

U.S.S. C. Turner Joy Joined the Maddox on Aug. 4 Some reports of a second attack on both destroyers the night of the 4 th. LBJ ordered bombing of North Vietnam in retaliation

C. Turner Joy

Second Engagement? No evidence of wreckage No photographs Occurred at night Radar and sonar also confused Possible torpedo wakes

USS Ticonderoga

Eagle Eyes? Pilots of the U.S.S. Ticonderoga Cannot confirm story of second engagement Commander James Stockdale claims no gunfire except planes and no candle light or wakes

WooHOOO!!!!!!

Communications During Nixon administration Only communication from August 4 was a summary of the 2 nd No certainty of 2 nd attack as time could not have allowed it.