GULF OF TONKIN

As the Geneva Accords bring an end to the Indo-China War and sets new boundaries in Southeast Asia it fails to implement and police it's own decisions. In Laos the Communist leftist still control territory on the east side of the Mekong River and increase their southward movement on the Ho Chi Minh Trail as the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV-North Vietnam) escalates its war capabilities. At the same time China provides 90,000 rifles and machine guns to the Peoples Liberation Armed Forces or National Liberation Front better known as the Vietcong (VC-fighting for the north) to increase their capabilities. In Russia Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev is ousted and on the heels of this major event Ho Chi Minh appeals to Moscow for support. The Soviets reply with $1 billion in military aid. China, jumping on the band wagon, ups the anti with an additional $200 million to back Ho Chi Minh and the growing Communist Party following the Tonkin Gulf Incident.

The Tonkin Gulf Incident was the tipping point the U.S. needed to justify an end to the growing concern over the spread of Communism in Vietnam. Patrolling the South China Sea the U.S. Navy destroyer the Maddox, equipped with electronic spying equipment, enters the Tonkin Gulf. Simultaneously the "DeSoto Missions", covert attack missions, were to be carried out by smaller vessels manned by South Vietnamese sailers but under U.S. control. Two islands off the coast of North Vietnam and two points on the mainland were to be shelled as fishing traullers were seized and interrogated. The job of the Maddox was to learn about North Vietnam's coastal defenses and it was believed it would learn more if they were under attack. The U.S. intentionally perpetrated this act of aggression which turned out to be the deciding factor on weither or not to go to war.

On August 2, 1964 the Maddox was unsuccessfully torpedoed by North Vietnamese ships leaving President Johnson furious that the Vietnamese escaped unharmed. On the next day the Maddox was joined by another destroyer, the C. Turner Joy, and resumed operations only further from shore reducing the destroyers ability to gather useful information. As the two ships kept a considerable distance from each other they picked up sonar readings of an undisclosed nature and began firing. President Johnson believing they were under attack gave orders for a retaliatory air strike. Operation Pierce Arrow began what would become a decade long air campaign against Norrh Vietnam. The following day Johnson asked for and got a congressional resolution, the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, which passed almost unanimously. Later evidence  proved that no attack occurred and the entire incident was miss communications. 

President Johnson's overall ratings skyrocketed with the handling of the incident and the Vietnam situation as a whole but that would soon dissipate. Congress believing perhaps it was duped and the incident was not a mistake but a deliberate act to draw the U.S. into the war soon turned on Johnson. In the long run his credibility was greatly damaged reducing Johnson to a one term president.

The USS Maddox patrolling the South China Sea.

The USS Maddox firing it's guns.

President Johnson signs the Tonkin Gulf Resolution and U.S. formally enters the War in Southeast Asia.

Front page news states congress is on board with President Johnson.

Fighter jets scramble across the South China Sea as Operation Pierce Arrow commences.

FIFTY YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE TONKIN GULF INCIDENT

Fom beginning to end Hai Phong Harhor, Tonkin Gulf, and The South China Sea all played a major roll in The Vietnam War. Just as the mining of Hai Phong Harbor helped bring negotiations to the table The Tonkin Gulf Incident publicly justified American involvement in the war.

I got as close as I could to the cargo ships and oil tankers coming into Hanoi. The ships, waiting amongst the Limestone Kiosks, add to the growing trade and prosperity of Vietnam.

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