Office of the Historian

261. Telegram From the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of-Staff (Wheeler) to the Commander in Chief, Pacific (Sharp)1

Washington, August 2, 1964—6:49 p.m.

7681. This is a DeSoto Patrol Message. Reference: JCS 7680 DTG 021725Z Aug 642 In event US vessels are attacked in international waters (11 miles offshore or more), you will seek to destroy the attacking forces, however, pursuit into hostile waters or air space is not authorized.

  1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Vietnam Country File, Maddox Incident. Secret; Flash. Repeated to Saigon, MACV, the White House, the Department of State, CIA, and the Department of Defense, among others.↩
  2. Document 259.↩