USS Maddox

The USS Maddox was a U.S. Navy destroyer involved in the Gulf of Tonkin Incident in August 1964. This event escalated U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. On August 2, the Maddox engaged North Vietnamese boats while on a reconnaissance mission. Two days later, it reported being attacked again, leading to the U.S. government claiming it was under threat. This incident prompted President Lyndon B. Johnson to seek Congressional approval for military action, resulting in the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which allowed for expanded military engagement in Vietnam, significantly intensifying the conflict.