Sau ca'i che^'t cu?a To^?ng Tho^'ng Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m va`o nga`y 2.11.1963, con ddu+o+`ng chi'nh tri. cu?a mie^`n Nam Vie^.t Nam dda~ bi. ddu+a va`o mo^.t khu'c re~ mo+'i. Kho^ng co' ngu+o+`i ta`i ddu+'c la~nh dda.o, cha'nh phu? Nam Vie^.t Nam bi. suy su.p va` da^`n da^`n ro+i va`o co+n khu?ng hoa?ng chi'nh tri.. Ca'c tu+o+'ng la~nh trong qua^n ddo^.i chia tha`nh nhie^`u phe pha'i va` kho^ng tha^.t su+. ddoa`n ke^'t vo+'i nhau. Chi? no^.i trong 2 na(m ke^'p tie^'p tu+` 1964 dde^'n 1965 ma` dda~ co' dde^'n 7 vu. xa'o tro^.n binh bie^'n. Va` de^'t qua? la` dda~ chi? ta.o nhie^`u su+. cha'n na?n trong lo`ng qua^n da^n. Tha'ng 8 na(m 1964, mo^.t bie^'n co^' kha'c dda~ xa?y ra o+? ngoa`i kho+i Vi.nh Ba('c Vie^.t. Ca'c tie^?u ddi?nh (loa.i ta`u chie^'n nho?) Ba('c Vie^.t ta^'n co^ng mo^.t chie^'n ha.m Hoa Ky` khi chie^'n ha.m na`y ddang di chuye^?n trong ha?i pha^.n quo^'c te^'. DDa^y la` mo^.t trong nhu+~ng bie^'n co^' quan tro.ng nha^'t cu?a cuo^.c chie^'n Vie^.t Nam. Tra^.n ha?i chie^'n na`y dda~ gia'n tie^'p ta.o cho Hoa Ky` co' ly' do mang qua^n sang Vie^.t Nam. Lu'c a^'y, ddo^'i vo+'i gio+'i la~nh dda.o qua^n su+. Hoa Ky`, Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a (VNCH) chi'nh la` mo^.t qua^n ba`i "domino" cha'nh ye^'u o+? ma(.t tra^.n DDo^ng Du+o+ng.

Tra^.n ha?i chie^'n xa?y ra la^`n dda^`u tie^n va`o nga`y 2.8.1964. Ba (3) ngu+ lo^i ddi?nh (ta`u nho? loa.i torpedo boat) cu?a Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t (CSBV) ta^'n co^ng chie^'c USS Maddox cu?a HQ Hoa Ky`. Chie^'c Maddox la` loa.i khu tru.c ha.m (ship, destroyer type) ddu+o+.c trang bi. ha?i pha'o 76 ly, 127 ly, cu`ng ca'c he^. tho^'ng ddie^.n tu+? to^'i ta^n dde^? thi ha`nh co^ng ta'c "Desoto", mo^.t co^ng ta'c tha^u tha^.p tin tu+'c ti`nh ba'o do.c theo bo+` bie^?n o+? Vi.nh Ba('c Vie^.t. Ngay sau khi bi. ta^'n co^ng, ta`u Maddox la^.p tu+'c pha?n pha'o va` truy ki'ch ddo^'i phu+o+ng. Kho^ng da'm tru+.c die^.n chie^'n dda^'u, ca'c chie^'n ddi?nh cu?a CSBV lie^`n bo? cha.y tu+' ta'n. Trong khi tha'o cha.y, mo^.t trong 3 chie^'n ddi?nh na`y dda~ bi. dda.n tu+` chie^'c Maddox ba('n tru'ng ddi'ch la`m cho mo^.t qua? ngu+ lo^i bi. ha^'t kho?i tha`nh ta`u va` ba('n va(ng xuo^'ng bie^?n (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m: Bie^'n Co^' Vi.nh Ba('c Vie^.t, pha^`n 3).

Trong khi ddo', 4 ma'y bay loa.i F-8 Crusader tu+` ha`ng kho^ng ma^~u ha.m Ticonderoga ca^'t ca'nh bay dde^'n tra^.n ddi.a dde^? tie^'p u+'ng cho ta`u Maddox. Ca'c chie^'n ddi?nh cu?a Ba('c Vie^.t bi. phi co+ Hoa Ky` dduo^?i ki.p va` dda~ bi. ta^'n co^ng to+i bo+`i. Ca? 3 chie^'c ta`u dde^`u bi. tru'ng dda.n, bo^'c kho'i, va` ga^`n nhu+ hoa`n toa`n te^ lie^.t tre^n bie^?n ca?. Ca'c chie^'n ddi?nh Ba('c Vie^.t chu+a chi`m, nhu+ng ca'c phi co^ng Hoa Ky` nha^.n ddu+o+.c le^.nh ngu+ng oanh ki'ch va` quay tro+? ve^` ha`ng kho^ng ma^~u ha.m Ticonderoga.

Nga`y ho^m sau, 3.8.1964, khu tru.c ha.m USS Maddox va^~n tie^'p tu.c thi ha`nh co^ng ta'c "Desoto" ngoa`i kho+i Vi.nh Ba('c Vie^.t. Trong nga`y na`y, Hoa Ky` ddu+a the^m chie^'n ha.m USS Turner Joy va`o vu`ng dde^? ta(ng cu+o+`ng cho chie^'c Maddox. Chie^'c Turner Joy cu~ng thuo^.c loa.i "khu tru.c ha.m" nhu+ chie^'c Maddox. Tre^n ta`u ddu+o+.c trang bi. dda.i ba'c 76 ly, 127 ly, va` co' luo^n va`i gia`n dda.i lie^n lo+'n nho?. Ca? hai chie^'c Maddox va` Turner Joy dde^`u la?ng va~ng ngoa`i kho+i, nhu+ng ca? hai vie^n ha.m tru+o+?ng dde^`u kho^ng cho ta`u va`o ga^`n bo+` du+o+'i khoa?ng ca'ch 11 ha?i ly'.

Tu+` sa'ng 4.8.1964 cho dde^'n chie^`u nga`y ho^m a^'y, ca'c khu tru.c ha.m Maddox va` Turner Joy va^~n tua^`n tie^?u ngoa`i kho+i Vi.nh Ba('c Vie^.t. Kho^ng co' bie^'n chuye^?n so^i ddo^.ng gi` xa?y ra ngoa.i tru+` tho+`i tie^'t xa^'u xa dda~ la`m cho ma(.t bie^?n ddo^.ng ma.nh trong so'ng to gio' lo+'n. Nhu+~ng ddo+.t so'ng na`y tho^ng thu+o+`ng co' the^? ta.o ne^n nhu+~ng "ho^`i ba gia?" (false radar echo) tre^n ma`n a?nh radar. DDo^'i vo+'i nhu+~ng chuye^n vie^n radar i't kinh nghie^.m, ho. ha^`u nhu+ kho^ng pha^n bie^.t ddu+o+.c nhu+~ng ho^`i ba na`o la` so'ng bie^?n, hoa(.c nhu+~ng ho^`i ba na`o la` ta`u be`. Trong ta`i lie^.u "Bie^'n Co^' Vi.nh Ba('c Vie^.t", pho^? bie^'n la^`n dda^`u tie^n va`o mu`a Thu na(m 1998, nha` ba'o Tra^`n DDo^? Ca^?m dda~ vie^'t nhu+ sau: Tin khi' tu+o+.ng (nga`y 4.8.1964) cho bie^'t tho+`i tie^'t xa^'u, tro+`i kho^ng tra(ng sao va` ra^'t to^'i vo+'i ta^`m nhi`n xa chu+`ng 300 thu+o+'c, so'ng 5-6 feet, gio' chu+`ng 17 knots. Theo kinh nghie^.m, trong ddie^`u kie^.n tho+`i tie^'t nhu+ va^.y, nhie^`u ho^`i ba gia? thu+o+`ng xua^'t hie^.n tre^n ma`n a?nh radar. Ca'c ho^`i ba na`y lu'c a^?n lu'c hie^.n, khi ro~ khi mo+` hoa(.c ddo^.t nhie^n bie^'n ma^'t (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m: Bie^'n Co^' Vi.nh Ba('c Vie^.t, pha^`n 4).

La. lu`ng thay, co+n ba~o lo+'n na`y la.i chi'nh la` nguye^n nha^n chi'nh ta.o ne^n mo^.t tra^.n dda'nh "kho^ng co'" va`o dde^m 4.8.1964 trong Vi.nh Ba('c Vie^.t. DDe^m ho^m ddo', radar tre^n ca? hai chie^'n ha.m Maddox va` Turner Joy dde^`u pha't hie^.n nhie^`u "blips" (ddie^?m sa'ng) la. lu`ng dda~ xua^'t hie^.n tre^n ma`n a?nh. Nhu+~ng blips na`y xua^'t hie^.n nhu+ng ro^`i la.i mau le. bie^'n ma^'t, kho^ng ddu? tho+`i gian cho radar tre^n ca'c gia`n dda.i ba'c kho'a va`o mu.c tie^u (lock-on target). Ca'c thu?y thu? tre^n chie^'n ha.m Hoa Ky` dde^`u la`m vie^.c trong ti`nh tra.ng he^'t su+'c ca(ng tha(?ng. Ho. kho^ng the^? na`o bie^'t ro~ ddu+o+.c nhu+~ng blips a^?n hie^.n tre^n ma`n a?nh radar la` gi`. Co' the^? ddo' la` nhu+~ng la`n so'ng bie^?n to lo+'n, hoa(.c co' the^? ddo' chi'nh la` nhu+~ng chie^'n ddi?nh cu?a Ba('c Vie^.t.

Tra^.n Ha?i Chie^'n Trong Vi.nh Ba('c Vie^.t

Su+. Kie^.n Tru+o+'c Tra^.n DDa'nh	Ta`u chie^'n cu?a Ha?i Qua^n Hoa Ky` thi ha`nh co^ng ta'c "Desoto" trong Vi.nh Ba('c Vie^.t dde^? tha^u tha^.p ca'c tin ti`nh ba'o do.c theo bo+` bie^?n. Mo^.t su+. tru`ng ho+.p nho nho? dda~ ddu+a chie^'c USS Maddox cu?a My~ ddi va`o vu`ng bie^?n ma` tru+o+'c ddo' mo^.t nga`y dda~ co' cuo^.c giao chie^'n giu+~a Lu+.c Lu+o+.ng Ha?i Tua^`n Nam Vie^.t Nam va` qua^n Ba('c Vie^.t.
Lu+.c Lu+o+.ng Hoa Ky`	Khu tru.c ha.m (ship, destroyer type) USS Maddox, ha`ng kho^ng ma^~u ha.m Ticonderoga, va` khu tru.c ha.m USS Turner Joy (ta(ng cu+o+`ng nga`y 3.8.1964). Ta`u Maddox va` Turner Joy ddu+o+.c trang bi. ha?i pha'o (shipborne artillery) 76 ly, 127 ly, thu?y lu+.c dda.n (depth charge), va` dda.i lie^n ddu? co+?. Ha`ng kho^ng ma^~u ha.m Ticonderoga co' ga^`n 100 khu tru.c co+, oanh ta.c co+, va` tru+.c tha(ng to^?ng co^.ng.
Lu+.c Lu+o+.ng Ba('c Vie^.t	Ngu+ lo^i ddi?nh (torpedo boat) thuo^.c loa.i "P4" va` "Swatow" do Nga So^ cung ca^'p. Mo^~i chie^'n ddi?nh ddu+o+.c trang bi. dda.i lie^n 12.7 ly cu`ng 2 qua? ngu+ lo^i.
Tra^.n DDa'nh DDa^`u Tie^n (2 tha'ng 8)	Ba ngu+ lo^i ddi?nh (torpedo boat) Ba('c Vie^.t ta^'n co^ng chie^'c ta`u USS Maddox cu?a Ha?i Qua^n Hoa Ky` tre^n ha?i pha^.n quo^'c te^'. Ta`u Maddox pha?n pha'o (cu`ng vo+'i su+. tie^'p u+'ng cu?a 4 phi co+ My~), ga^y thie^.t ha.i na(.ng cho ca? 3 chie^'c ngu+ lo^i ddi?nh Ba('c Vie^.t.
Tra^.n DDa'nh Thu+' Nhi` (4 tha'ng 8)	Tho+`i tie^'t xa^'u ta.o ne^n nhie^`u ho^`i ba gia? (false radar echo) tre^n ta`u USS Maddox va` Turner Joy. Vi` nghi~ ra(`ng la.i bi. ngu+ lo^i ddi?nh cu?a Ba('c Vie^.t ta^'n co^ng, hai chie^'n ha.m cu?a Hoa Ky` dda~ khai ho?a dde^? tu+. ve^..
Ha^.u Qua?	Phi co+ My~ do^.i bom mo^.t so^' ca(n cu+' ven bie^?n Ba('c Vie^.t dde^? tra? ddu~a vu. 2 va` 4 tha'ng 8. Quo^'c Ho^.i tho^ng qua dda.o lua^.t "Gulf of Tonkin Resolution", cho phe'p to^?ng tho^'ng toa`n quye^`n xu+? du.ng qua^n ddo^.i dde^? ba?o ve^. quye^`n lo+.i Hoa Ky` tre^n toa`n the^' gio+'i.

Cuo^.c cho+i "na(m mu+o+`i" ke'o da`i dde^'n khoa?ng 10:37 to^'i thi` thu?y thu? tre^n ta`u Maddox pha't hie^.n mo^.t blip la. lu`ng tre^n ma`n a?nh radar. Blip na`y ddang cha.y tha(?ng ro^`i ddo^.t nhie^n que.o ga('t sang tra'i gio^'ng nhu+ la` vu+`a ba('n ngu+ lo^i ddi. Chuye^n vie^n sonar (loa.i radar ga('n du+o+'i lu+o+`ng ta`u du`ng dde^? pha't hie^.n tie^`m thu?y ddi?nh) tre^n ta`u Maddox ddo^.t nhie^n nghe tie^'ng "cha^n vi.t" (ship propeller) kha? nghi. Tu+'c thi` gia`n dda.i ba'c 76 ly tre^n chie^'c Maddox khai ho?a dde^? tu+. ve^.. Ro^`i chi? va`i phu't sau ddo', be^n ta`u Turner Joy cu~ng pha't hie^.n mo^.t blip kha'c ca'ch ddo' 8,000 yards (khoa?ng 7315 m). Ro^`i kha^?u ha?i pha'o 127 ly be^n ta`u na`y cu~ng ba('t dda^`u nha? dda.n. Nhu+ng chu+a ba('n ddu+o+.c bao la^u thi` mu.c tie^u la. lu`ng kia dda~ bie^'n ma^'t kho?i ma`n a?nh radar. Mo^.t so^' thu?y thu? tre^n chie^'n ha.m Maddox va` Turner Joy cho bie^'t la` ho. co' nhi`n tha^'y a'nh dde`n tu+` ta`u Ba('c Vie^.t. Tuy nhie^n, ca'c phi co^ng bay nhu+~ng phi vu. ye^?m tro+. tu+` ha`ng kho^ng ma^~u ha.m Ticonderoga la.i cho bie^'t la` dda~ kho^ng pha't hie^.n ddu+o+.c ta`u ddi.ch o+? trong vu`ng bie^?n na`y.

Nga`y 5.8.1964, ca'c phi co+ Hoa Ky` thi ha`nh chie^'n di.ch Pierce Arrow do^.i bom dde^? tra? ddu~a ve^` vie^.c ca'c ngu+ lo^i ddi?nh Ba('c Vie^.t ta^'n co^ng ta`u chie^'n Hoa Ky`. Chie^'n di.ch na`y na`y dda~ ga^y thie^.t ha.i kha' na(.ng cho cha'nh phu? Ha` No^.i. Ca'c ca(n cu+' ta`u be` va` nhie^`u bo^`n da^`u bi. do^.i bom pha' hu?y. Ca'c kho nhie^n lie^.u quan tro.ng o+? tha`nh pho^' Vinh cu~ng bi. phi co+ My~ oanh ta.c to+i bo+`i. Va`o nga`y 7.8.1964, Quo^'c Ho^.i Hoa Ky` tho^ng qua nghi. quye^'t "Gulf of Tonkin Resolution". Nghi. quye^'t na`y cho phe'p to^?ng tho^'ng toa`n quye^`n xu+? du.ng qua^n ddo^.i dde^? ba?o ve^. quye^`n lo+.i Hoa Ky` tre^n kha('p the^' gio+'i". Ho+n the^' nu+~a, nghi. quye^'t "Gulf of Tonkin" la.i co`n nha^'n ma.nh luo^n ca? vie^.c ddu+o+.c du`ng lu+.c lu+o+.ng qua^n su+. dde^? giu'p ddo+~ ba^'t cu+' quo^'c gia na`o o+? trong vu`ng DDo^ng Nam A'".

Lu'c ddo', ca^u ho?i ddu+o+.c dda(.t ra la` ta.i sao ngu+o+`i My~ kho^?ng lo^` la.i khi kho^ng va'c ca'i lu+ng da`i tho`n cu?a mi`nh dde^'n mo^.t xu+' so+? A' Cha^u xa la. dde^? ro^`i bi. ngu+o+`i ba?n xu+' xu'm la.i dda'nh dda^'m? Tha^.t su+. ra la` vi` quye^`n lo+.i gi`? Quye^`n lo+.i gi` ma` dda~ la`m cho ngu+o+`i My~ "ddi ra dda`ng mang a'ch va`o co^?"? Khi mang qua^n li'nh sang Vie^.t Nam, pha?i cha(ng ngu+o+`i My~ tha^.t ti`nh muo^'n ba?o ve^. DDo^ng Nam A' thoa't kho?i su+. xa^m la(ng cu?a Co^.ng Sa?n? Pha?i cha(ng ngu+o+`i My~ tha^.t su+. kho^ng muo^'n tha^'y mo^.t Nam Vie^.t Nam su.p ddo^? dde^? ro^`i sau ddo' lo^i ke'o theo nhu+~ng quo^'c gia kha'c trong vu`ng theo kie^?u qua^n ba`i domino? Pha?i cha(ng ngu+o+`i My~ muo^'n du`ng Nam Vie^.t Nam nhu+ mo^.t tie^`n ddo^`n chie^'n lu+o+.c (nhu+ ha?i ca?ng Cam Ranh) quan tro.ng dde^? ca^`m cha^n ca'c lu+.c lu+o+.ng ha?i qua^n cu?a kho^'i Co^.ng Sa?n? Tha^.t su+. ra thi` ngu+o+`i My~ muo^'n gi`? Ca^u ho?i na`y ra^'t phu+'c ta.p, sa^u xa, va` cu~ng ra^'t kho' dde^? ma` ti`m ra ddu+o+.c ca'c lo+`i gia?i thi'ch tho?a dda'ng va` chi'nh xa'c.

Tuy kho^ng bie^'t ro~ y' ddi.nh cu?a Hoa Ky` ve^` vu. bie^'n co^' Vi.nh Ba('c Vie^.t na(m 1964. Nhu+ng co' mo^.t su+. vie^.c ve^` Hoa Ky` ma` cho dde^'n ba^y gio+` ha^`u nhu+ ai ai cu~ng dde^`u bie^'t ro~. Su+. vie^.c na`y dda~ ddu+o+.c li.ch su+? chu+'ng minh ke^? tu+` na(m 1973, va` ve^` sau na`y la.i ca`ng ro~ ra`ng ho+n khi mie^`n Nam tha^'t thu? va`o na(m 1975. DDo' chi'nh la` su+. vie^.c la`m ddo^`ng minh cu?a Hoa Ky` tre^n ba`n co+` chi'nh tri.. Hoa Ky` co' pha?i la` mo^.t ngu+o+`i ddo^`ng minh chung thu?y tre^n mo^.t chie^'n tuye^'n cho^ng gai da`i da(ng da(?ng hay kho^ng? Ca^u tra? lo+`i la` "kho^ng!" Ngu+o+`i My~ mang qua^n ddo^.i sang mo^.t quo^'c gia kha'c chi? la` dde^? la.m du.ng va` tha^u ga(.t quye^`n lo+.i rie^ng tu+ cu?a ho.. Khi na`o nguo^`n lo+.i lo^.c na`y dda~ ca.n veo va` kho^ng co`n gi` nu+~a thi` ngu+o+`i My~ se~ ra ddi va` bo? la.i ta^'t ca?. Ho. se~ bo? la.i he^'t vu~ khi', dda.n du+o+.c, tie^`n ba.c, va` luo^n ca? ddo^`ng minh. Mo^.t khi ngu+o+`i My~ dda~ quay lu+ng thi` ho. se~ cha(?ng luye^'n tie^'c mo^.t vie^.c gi`. Khi cuo^.c chie^'n ga^`n ta`n, ngu+o+`i My~ ddu+a ca'n dao cho Ba('c Vie^.t na('m, Nam Vie^.t Nam ddu+o+.c ca^`m pha^`n lu+o+~i dao. Co`n ngu+o+`i My~ thi` tuye^n bo^' "ho`a bi`nh trong danh du+.".

Nhu+ the^', da^~u cho tra^.n ha?i chie^'n trong Vi.nh Ba('c Vie^.t co' la` do Hoa Ky` hoa(.c Ba('c Vie^.t la` ke? ga^y ha^'n thi` cu~ng cha(?ng quan tro.ng gi`. Vie^.c quan tro.ng o+? dda^y la` ngu+o+`i My~ thu+.c su+. cu~ng cha(?ng hie^?u ro~ mi`nh ddang la`m gi`. Ho. muo^'n dda'nh? Ho. muo^'n dda`m? Hay la` ho. muo^'n ru't bo? tu+` lu'c dda^`u va` dde^? ma(.c cho DDo^ng Du+o+ng ro+i va`o tay Co^.ng Sa?n? Vo+'i ly' do na`o ddi cha(ng nu+~a thi` Hoa Ky` cu~ng se~ cha(?ng bao gio+` o+? la.i chie^'n dda^'u vo+'i ngu+o+`i ddo^`ng minh VNCH cho dde^'n ho+i tho+? cuo^'i cu`ng. Vie^.c na`y dda~ ddu+o+.c tho+`i gian va` li.ch su+? tha(?ng tha('ng chu+'ng minh va`o na(m 1973, va` dda~ tro+? tha`nh mo^.t su+. hie^?n nhie^n khi mie^`n Nam Vie^.t Nam tha^'t thu? 2 na(m sau ddo'.

Mo^.t Nghi`n Chi'n Tra(m Sa'u Mu+o+i Bo^'n (1964) la` mo^.t na(m co' ra^'t nhie^`u bie^'n chuye^?n lo+'n lao. Tu+` dda^`u na(m cho dde^'n ga^`n cuo^'i na(m, cha'nh phu? Nam Vie^.t Nam dda~ tra~i qua nhie^`u cuo^.c chi?nh ly'. Mo^~i la^`n nhu+ the^' dde^`u ga^y xa'o tro^.n trong co+ quan ha`nh cha'nh va` xa~ ho^.i cu?a ngu+o+`i da^n. No^.i ca'c cha'nh phu? bi. thay ddo^?i hoa`i hoa`i. Tre^n bie^?n ca?, ta`u chie^'n cu?a Hoa Ky` va` Ba('c Vie^.t ddo^'i cho.i la^~n nhau. My~ do^.i bom Ba('c Vie^.t dde^? tra~ ddu?a. Ba('c Vie^.t tra? mie^'ng ba(`ng ca'ch cho dda(.c co^ng xa^m nha^.p ga^y ro^'i loa.n ta.i Saigon. Mu+'c ddo^. chie^'n tranh tro+? tha`nh kho^'c lie^.t vo+'i nhu+~ng tra^.n dda'nh ta.i A^'p Ba('c, Ta^y Ninh, Kontum, Nam DDo^`ng, va` Bi`nh gia?. Va` na(m 1964 la` mo^.t na(m dda'nh dda^'u su+. kho+?i dda^`u cu?a mo^.t cuo^.c chie^'n ddie^u linh kho^'c lie^.t.

30 tha'ng 1	Thie^'u Tu+o+'ng Nguye^~n Kha'nh ta.o cuo^.c binh bie^'n la^.t ddo^? Trung Tu+o+'ng Du+o+ng Va(n Minh.
3 tha'ng 2	Vie^.t Co^.ng ta^'n co^ng ca(n cu+' qua^n su+. cu?a Hoa Ky` ta.i Kontum la`m mo^.t si~ quan My~ thie^.t ma.ng.
25 tha'ng 2	Vie^.t Co^.ng dda(.t mi`n pha' hoa.i mo^.t chuye^'n xe lu+?a tu+` Saigon ddi DDa` Na(~ng la`m tu+? thu+o+ng 11 thu+o+`ng da^n.
29 tha'ng 3	Bo^. Tru+o+?ng Quo^'c Pho`ng, o^ng Robert McNamara, tuye^n bo^' Hoa Ky` se~ vie^.n tro+. cho Nam Vie^.t Nam 50 trie^.u ddo^ la dde^? giu'p gia ta(ng qua^n so^'.
11-15 tha'ng 4	DDu.ng ddo^. na(.ng ta.i Kie^'n Long ca'ch Saigon 135 miles ve^` hu+o+'ng Nam. Qua^n ddo^.i cha'nh phu? ha. 175 VC, thie^.t ma^'t 55 binh si~.
2 tha'ng 5	DDa(.c co^ng VC dda(.t cha^'t no^? dda'nh chi`m chie^'c USS Card, ta`u va^.n chuye^?n phi co+ va` tru+.c tha(ng, cu?a Hoa Ky` dda^.u ta.i Ca?ng Saigon.
9 tha'ng 5	DDa(.c co^ng VC Nguye^~n Va(n Tro^~i bi. ba('t vi` ddi.nh dda(.t bom du+o+'i ga^`m ca^`u dde^? a'm sa't o^ng Robert McNamara.
12-13 tha'ng 5	Bo^. Tru+o+?ng Quo^'c Pho`ng Robert McNamara va` DDa.i Tu+o+'ng Maxwell Taylor vie^'ng tha(m Nam Vie^.t Nam. Sau chuye^'n co^ng du, o^ng McNamara tro+? ve^` My~ va` xin the^m vie^.n tro+. cho VNCH.
12 tha'ng 6	Qua^n DDo^.i VNCH cha^.n dda'nh mo^.t ddoa`n xe va^.n ta?i cu?a CSBV tu+` La`o cha.y sang Vie^.t Nam. Ca'c binh si~ VNCH ha. 27 ca'n binh CS. Trong nga`y na`y, Thu? Tu+o+'ng Ta^y DDu+'c la` o^ng Ludwig Erhard tuye^n bo^' se~ vie^.n tro+. the^m cho Nam Vie^.t Nam.
20 tha'ng 6	Tu+o+'ng William Westmoreland thay the^' Tu+o+'ng Paul harkins trong chu+'c vu. chi? huy tru+o+?ng cu?a co+ quan MACV, tu+'c Military Assistance Command in Vietnam (Bo^. Tu+ Le^.nh Qua^n Su+. Hoa Ky` ta.i Vie^.t Nam).
29 tha'ng 6	Ta^n Ta^y Lan (New Zealand) gu+?i 24 chuye^n vie^n ky~ thua^.t qua^n su+. sang Nam Vie^.t Nam dde^? giu'p ddo+~.
6 tha'ng 7	Khoa?ng 500 VC ta^'n co^ng tra.i Lu+.c Lu+o+.ng DDa(.c Bie^.t (LLDDB) o+? Nam DDo^`ng la`m thie^.t ma.ng 57 qua^n nha^n Vie^.t Nam, 2 Hoa Ky`, va` 1 U'c DDa.i Lo+.i. Sau 5 tie^'ng ddo^`ng ho^`, qua^n VC ru't lui bo? la.i 40 xa'c che^'t tre^n tra^.n ddi.a.
7 tha'ng 7	O^ng Maxwell Taylor dde^'n Saigon dde^? thay the^' o^ng Henry Cabot Lodge trong chu+'c vu. DDa.i Su+' Hoa Ky` ta.i Nam Vie^.t Nam.
30-31 tha'ng 7	Nga`y 30/7, ca'c chie^'n ddi~nh PTF-2, 3, 5 va` 6 ro+`i DDa` Na(~ng ddi dda'nh pha' ca'c dda?o Ho`n Me^ va` Ho`n Nie^'u. Ho^`i 2315H, bo^'n chie^'n ddi~nh dde^'n mu.c tie^u ta.i vi. tri' vi~ ddo^. 19 Ba('c, kinh ddo^. 106.16 DDo^ng phi'a DDo^ng Nam Ho`n Me^. Ta.i dda^y, ca'c chie^'n ddi~nh chia la`m hai toa'n. Ca'c PTF-3 va` 6 dda?m nha^.n mu.c tie^u Ho`n Me^, trong lu'c PTF-5 va` 2 hu+o+'ng ve^` Ho`n Nie^'u. Hai chie^'n ddi~nh du+. tru` ddo^? toa'n Bie^.t Ha?i le^n Ho`n Me^ bi. ddi.ch pha't hie^.n va` no^? su'ng khie^'n 4 ngu+o+`i tre^n PTF-6 bi. thu+o+ng. Toa'n Ho`n Nie^'u cu~ng kho^ng ddo^? ddu+o+.c qua^n. Khoa?ng sau nu+?a dde^m, ca'c chie^'n ddi~nh ba('n pha' mu.c tie^u ddu+o+.c chi? ddi.nh ba(`ng dda.i ba'c 57 ly, 40 ly va` 20 ly ga^y nhie^`u tie^'ng no^? phu.. Khoa?ng 1 gio+` sa'ng nga`y 31/7, hai toa'n chie^'n ddi~nh ro+`i mu.c tie^u tro+? ve^` to+'i DDa` Na(~ng va`o khoa?ng 11 gio+` tru+a nga`y 31/7 (Tra^`n DDo^~ Ca^?m: Bie^'n Co^' Vi.nh Ba('c Vie^.t, pha^`n 1).
2 tha'ng 8	Ba (3) ngu+ lo^i ddi?nh Ba('c Vie^.t ta^'n co^ng chie^'c USS Maddox cu?a Hoa Ky`. Sau khi bi. pha?n pha'o, ca? 3 ta`u Ba('c Vie^.t dde^`u bi. thie^.t ha.i na(.ng.
4 tha'ng 8	Tho+`i tie^'t xa^'u trong Vi.nh Ba('c Vie^.t ta.o ne^n nhie^`u ho^`i ba gia? (false radar echo) tre^n ma`nh a?nh radar cu?a khu tru.c ha.m Maddox va` Turner Joy. Tu+o+?ng la^`m bi. ngu+ lo^i ddi?nh cu?a Ba('c Vie^.t ta^'n co^ng, hai chie^'n ha.m cu?a Hoa Ky` dda~ khai ho?a dde^? tu+. ve^..
7 tha'ng 8	Quo^'c Ho^.i Hoa Ky` tho^ng qua dda.o lua^.t "Gulf of Tonkin Resolution", cho phe'p to^?ng tho^'ng ddu+o+.c toa`n quye^`n xu+? du.ng qua^n ddo^.i dde^? ba?o ve^. quye^`n lo+.i cu?a Hoa Ky` o+? ba^'t cu+' no+i dda^u tre^n the^' gio+'i.
24 tha'ng 12	DDa(.c co^ng VC du`ng cha^'t no^? pha' hoa.i kha'ch sa.n Brinks ta.i Saigon. Hai (2) nha^n vie^n Hoa Ky` bi. thie^.t ma.ng, 65 ngu+o+`i kha'c bi. thu+o+ng.
28-30 tha'ng 12	Mo^.t tie^?u ddoa`n Vie^.t Co^.ng (VC) dda'nh chie^'m la`ng Bi`nh Gia? thuo^.c ti?nh Phu+o+'c Tuy, ca'ch Saigon 60 km ve^` hu+o+'ng DDo^ng. Bi`nh Gia? tha^'t thu? vi` lu+.c lu+o+.ng pho`ng thu? chi? go^`m 2 trung ddo^.i Ba?o An. Sau khi chie^'m la`ng, VC di chuye^?n Su+ DDoa`n 9 dde^'n khu vu+.c na`y. Tie^?u DDoa`n 30 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n dde^'n gia?i va^y bi. VC phu.c ki'ch ga^y to^?n tha^'t kha' na(.ng. Nga`y 29, Tie^?u DDoa`n (TDD) 38 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n (BDDQ) ddu+o+.c gu+?i dde^'n ta(ng vie^.n, nhu+ng a'p lu+.c ddi.ch chu+a ddu+o+.c gia?i to?a. Nga`y 30, TDD4 Thu?y Qua^n Lu.c Chie^'n (TQLC) gia nha^.p tra^.n chie^'n. Qua^n ddo^.i cha'nh phu? ta'i chie^'m Bi`nh Gia?.
---	La^`n dda^`u tie^n qua^n chu? lu+.c VC ta.i mie^`n Nam ddu+o+.c trang bi. su'ng AK-47 (Type 56) cu?a Trung Co^.ng, ho?a tie^?n pha'o ki'ch 90 ly, su'ng pho'ng lu+.u RPG-2, cu`ng dda.i ba'c kho^ng gia^.t 57 ly va` 75 ly (Phillip Davison: Vietnam at War, tr.312).
Tha'ng 12	Su+ DDoa`n 325 CSBV xa^m nha^.p cao nguye^n trung pha^`n Nam Vie^.t Nam (Phillip Davison: Vietnam at War, tr.324-25).
---	Ti'n dde^'n cuo^'i na(m, Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a co' 265,000 binh si~. Hoa Ky` co' 23,000 co^' va^'n va` chuye^n vie^n ky~ thua^.t ta.i Vie^.t Nam.
---	Lu+.c lu+o+.ng VC o+? mie^`n Nam co' 34,000 chu? lu+.c qua^n va` 80,000 phu. lu+.c qua^n (John Bowman: The Vietnam War Almanac, tr.102).