The Gulf of Tonkin Incident: A Misunderstanding that Led to War

This chapter discusses the Gulf of Tonkin incident, a misunderstanding that played a significant role in the United States becoming involved in the Vietnam War. It explores how different distances from shore marked the territorial waters for the United States and North Vietnam, leading to a gunfire exchange between American and North Vietnamese ships. The chapter also mentions President Johnson's justification for sending troops to Vietnam based on the false belief that American fleets had been attacked.