Vietnam Timeline

French Intervention U. S. supports France in their attempt to reclaim Vietnam. France is defeated in 1954.

South/North

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

The Tonkin Gulf Incident Making the Vietnam War Official

Gulf of Tonkin Incident two separate incidents involving naval forces of North Vietnam and the US in the waters of the Gulf of Tonkin 1.On August 2, 1964, the USS Maddox engaged three North Vietnamese torpedo boats, resulting in damage to the three boats. 2.On August 4 the Maddox reported a second engagement with North Vietnamese vessels.

Background The Gulf of Tonkin Incident occurred during the first year of the Johnson administration Johnson's supported military escalation in Vietnam After Kennedy's assassination, Johnson ordered in more American forces to support the Saigon government

The 1 st Incident On July 31, 1964, the Maddox had begun its intelligence collection mission in the gulf The Maddox was under orders not to approach closer than eight miles from the North's coast On August 2, Maddox claimed it was attacked by three North Vietnamese patrol boats 28 miles away from the North Vietnamese coast in international waters

The 1 st Incident Maddox evaded a torpedo attack and opened fire with its guns, forcing the patrol craft away U.S. aircraft were launched then attacked the retiring patrol boats, claiming one as sunk and one heavily damaged Maddox, suffering very minor damage retired to South Vietnamese waters

The 2 nd Incident On August 4, another North Vietnamese patrol off the North Vietnamese coast was launched This time the Maddox was to close to no more than 11 miles from the coast of North Vietnam During an evening and early morning of rough weather and heavy seas, they received radar, sonar, and radio signals that they believed signaled another attack by the North Vietnamese navy

The 2 nd Incident For some two hours the ships fired on radar targets and maneuvered vigorously amid electronic and visual reports of enemies. At 1:30 am Washington time, Maddox sent a cable in which he admitted that the attack may never have happened and that there may have been no Vietnamese craft in the area One hour later, Maddox sent another cable, stating, "Entire action leaves many doubts except for apparent ambush at beginning. Suggest thorough reconnaissance in daylight by aircraft."

The 2 nd Incident At 6 pm Washington time, Maddox cabled yet again, this time stating, "the first boat to close the Maddox probably fired a torpedo at the Maddox which was heard but not seen. All subsequent Maddox torpedo reports are doubtful in that it is suspected that sonarman was hearing ship's own propeller beat"

Consequences Although Maddox had been involved in providing intelligence support for South Vietnamese Defense Secretary McNamara denied that the U.S. Navy had supported South Vietnamese military operations in the Gulf He thus characterized the attack as "unprovoked" since the ship had been in international waters

Consequences As a result of his testimony, on August 7, Congress passed a joint resolution titled the Southeast Asia Resolution, The Resolution gave President Johnson approval "to take all necessary steps, including the use of armed force, to assist any member or protocol state of the Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty requesting assistance in defense of its freedom."