Tonkin Gulf
What is the Tonkin Gulf?
Definition:
The Tonkin Gulf Resolution (officially, the Southeast Asia Resolution, Public Law 88-408) was a joint resolution of the United States...
The Tonkin Gulf incident was two distinct incidences that involved naval forces of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the U.S. in the Gulf of Tonkin that provoked the first large-scale involvement of U.S. armed forces in Southeast Asia.
On August 2nd, 1964, the destroyer USS Maddox involved three North Vietnamese P-4 torpedo boats, causing damage to the three boats. Two days later the Maddox stated a second engagement with North Vietnamese vessels. This second report was later claimed to be in error.
On August 7th, 1965 the Tonkin Gulf Resolution was made, while not declaration of war, it gave Johnson wide military powers in Vietnam. Johnson did not tell Congress or the citizens of the United States that he had been leading stealthy raids against North Vietnam. The Maddox was gathering information in these raids; it was posted in the Tonkin Gulf.
In February 1965, Johnson unleashed “Operation Rolling Thunder,” the first sustained bombing of North Vietnam. In March of that year the first American combat troops began arriving in South Vietnam. More than 50,000 soldiers of the United States were battling the Vietcong and the Vietnam War was now Americanized.
The Tonkin Gulf Resolution (officially, the Southeast Asia Resolution, Public Law 88-408) was a joint resolution of the United States...
The Tonkin Gulf incident was two distinct incidences that involved naval forces of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the U.S. in the Gulf of Tonkin that provoked the first large-scale involvement of U.S. armed forces in Southeast Asia.
On August 2nd, 1964, the destroyer USS Maddox involved three North Vietnamese P-4 torpedo boats, causing damage to the three boats. Two days later the Maddox stated a second engagement with North Vietnamese vessels. This second report was later claimed to be in error.
On August 7th, 1965 the Tonkin Gulf Resolution was made, while not declaration of war, it gave Johnson wide military powers in Vietnam. Johnson did not tell Congress or the citizens of the United States that he had been leading stealthy raids against North Vietnam. The Maddox was gathering information in these raids; it was posted in the Tonkin Gulf.
In February 1965, Johnson unleashed “Operation Rolling Thunder,” the first sustained bombing of North Vietnam. In March of that year the first American combat troops began arriving in South Vietnam. More than 50,000 soldiers of the United States were battling the Vietcong and the Vietnam War was now Americanized.
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By: Sam B