Cable to Joint Chiefs of Staff Reporting First Gulf of Tonkin Attack

INCOMING 166 MESSAGE THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF SECRET PRECEDENCE (ACTION) PRECEDENCE (INFO) IMMEDIATE o 021059Z FM CINCPACFLT DECLASSIFIED TO RUMSBJ/SECOND AIRDIV Authority E.O. 11652 SEC. 5(A) and (D) RJAUAZ/FIFTH AIRFORCE By JB NARS, Date 4/38/76 RUMALC/THIRTEENTH AIRFORCE RUHLKM/PACAF RUMSMA/COMUSMACV UMFS/COMNAVPHIL RUATH/COMNAVFORJAPAL RUAMC/COMNAVFORKOREA RUAGFL/COMUSTDC RUHLHS/USARPAC RUEKDA/JCS RUECW/CNO RUHLHQ/CINCPAC RUATZL/COMSEVENTHFLT RUHPG/CG FMFMPAC RUATO/CG THIRD MARDIV RUWDAE/COMFIRSTFLT JECREI USS MADDOX WHILE ON DESOTO PATROL IN THE GULF OF TONKIN WAS PURSUED BY THREE DRV PT CRAF AND ATTACKED IN THE VICINITY OF 19. 41. 5N 106-35.6E AT 020808Z WHILE RETIRING TO EASTWARD AT 25 KTS. TORPEDO ATTACKS AND 37 MM MACHINE GUN FIRE WERE EXPERIENCED. MADDOX RETALIATED WITH 5 INCH GUN FIRE DAMAGING ONE PT. NO PERSONNEL CASUALTIES OR MATERIAL DAMAGE WAS INCURRED BY MADDOX. AIR SUPPORT FROM USS TICONDEROGA, CONSISTING OF FOUR F8ES ARMED WITH ZUNIS AND AMMO, WAS PROVIDED FEW MINUTES LATER. AIRCRAFT ATTACKED AND REPORTED ONE PT DIW AND BURNING WHILE REMAINING CRAFT FLED TOWARD SHORE WITH MINOR DAMAGE. MADDOX OPENED TO THE SOUTH. GP-4 CJCS-3 DJS-3 SJCS-1 J5-1 SACSA-5 DIA-14 NMCC-2 JRG-2 CSA-2 CSAF-2 CMC-10 OSD-15 (WHITE HOUSE)- FILE-1 (70)WIS (STATE) (DIRNSA) (CIA) ADVANCE COPIES TO: DIA, NMCC, JRG, OSD DUTY OFFICER PAGE OF PAGES MESSAGE CITE NO. DTG WU/JKD KLH 1 1 021059Z AUG 64 FORM NO, JCS DEC 85 58 REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED SECRET