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→Gulf of Tonkin Incident
====Gulf of Tonkin Incident====
[[File:Maddox.JPEG|400px]]
At the end of July, 1964, MACV-SOG assaulted North Vietnamese installations on the coast of North Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin. Though not manned by American sailors, four ships under the command of MACV-SOG attacked two islands in the Gulf, Hon Me and Hon Ngu. At the roughly the same time, the ''USS Maddox'' engaged in electronic surveillance also in the Gulf. On August 2, the North Vietnamese navy retaliated, sending 3 torpedo boats to engage the ''Maddox''. The ''Maddox'', with its superior firepower and better defenses easily thwarted the attack.
The following night, August 3 three more MACV-SOG vessels attacked targets on the mainland of North Vietnam. In the meantime, as a demonstration of presence and power, The ''Maddox'' was joined by the ''USS Turner Joy''. On the night of August 4, both the ''Maddox'' and ''Turner Joy'' reported they were under attack. After this was reported to Washington, Robert McNamara urged President Johnson to retaliate. The president agreed and ordered Operation Pierce Arrow, an airstrike on North Vietnamese mainland targets. The order to retaliate was given less than thirty minutes after of the initial report.
The timing of the retaliation order is significant because shortly after the Maddox and Turner Joy reported the attack, there was significant doubt that any action was taken by North Vietnam at all. McNamara was informed of this doubt, but decided to remain quiet because Pierce Arrow was already in motion. Johnson was also about to go on national television to describe the attacks and request the authority to undertake a military response, even though the decision had already been made. =====The Attack on August 4th Never Occurred====
====Operation Pierce Arrow====
