The Tonkin Gulf incident
In 1964, Johnson realised that the fight against the insurrectionists is unsuccessful, so he escalated the war to Laos and North Vietnam to show to the DRV (Democratic Republic of Vietnam - North) that the US doesn't endure the infiltration and supply of the North Vietnamese to South Vietnam. Reconnaissance of the North Vietnamese coastal defense was a part of this. That was the Desoto Patrol that reconnoitred not only Vietnam's coast, but also did intelligence work in China's and North Korea's coasts. The Maddox joined the patrol. She met unidentified vessels when she entered the gulf.
On 2nd August, Herrick captain was reported that the North Vietnamese will attack his ship. The radar showed five vessels 45 mins after noon. At two o'clock, the P4 torpedo boats launched an attack and pursued the Maddox that tried to flee out the gulf, while asking for aerial support. The Maddox manoevred to avoid rockets and fired. Three P4 was hit, while four F-8 Crusader arrived and they started a counter-attack. One of the torpedo boats sank. This action was only the beginning. On 3rd August, the Maddox returned with the Turner Joy and continued the interrupted intelligence service. On 4th August, radars detected approaching vehicles. The American destroyers fired everything that was suspicious for two hours. According to the crew of the Turner Joy, they were P-4 torpedo boats. It's unknown that there was attack or not, still, many people have doubts about it.
US leaders were convinced that the North Vietnamese attacked on international water, relying on the report of captain Herrick. President Johnson ordered a retaliatory air strike. The main fuel warehouse of the DRV was hit, seven ships were destroyed, ten were seriously and sixteen were lightly damaged. The plane of Everett Alvarez, Jr. crashed so he is the first maritime pilot POW (Prisoner of war), who was detained in North Vietnamese prison and spent eight an a half year there. Richard C. Sather's plane was also shot down, he's one of the first pilots who died during service in Southeast Asia.
On the 7th August the Tonkin Gulf Resolution was proposed by the Johnson administration and the House of Representatives passed it unanimously. The resolution was the legal basis for the USA to the armed support for South Vietnam.