relea00142.pdf
DRV Naval Entity Stresses Indoctrination of Personnel Regarding Events in the Gulf of Tonkin
This appears to be the last part of a 6 part message.
Document date: 1964-09-30
Department: NSA Headquarters, Ft. Meade, MD (DIRNSDA)
Author: MIEN; MIEENJ
Document type: Message
pages: 1
Archivist's Notes: This document is a message from DRV regarding Naval Entity (personnel) Stresses in the Gulf of Tonkin. It goes to show how the
(assumption) commanding officials congratulate the "leaders" on the ground. It also gives further orders on conditioning the men on the ground to be
ready day or night for any attack by the US forces.
This document is an intercepted communication from the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) after the Gulf of Tonkin Incident. The date on the
document is Sept. 23, 1964, which was several weeks after the incident. It was a message from DRV command to continue reporting weekly on the
“attitude” of the men. The message also states that the Tonkin Affair was a setup by the US and spoke of vague arguments by President Johnson and
Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara to increase tensions between their two countries. The message continued with the expectations of a surprise
attack and to mobilize the men and to be ready day and night.
Definitely sounds like they are trying to paint America as the aggressors. My understanding is the DRV sent attack boats at a U.S. Vessel and after
being fired upon, broke off the attack. I'm guessing the USS Maddox was still in international waters but really pushing the envelope.
The issue gets clouded as to whether a second attack occurred. Regardless, the incident prompted congress to pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
(which is about as close to declaring war on commies as you could get).