Today, as a floating memorial, the Turner Joy stands as a testament to naval engineering and warfare—but also as a reminder of the human consequences of the decisions made in the summer of 1964.
The story of how the United States became mired in the swampy killing fields of Vietnam is as murky as the jungle itself. But it all goes back to a harrowing incident in the Gulf of Tonkin, involving a pair of destroyers belonging to the United States Navy.
The two destroyers were the USS Maddox (DD-731) and the USS Turner Joy (DD-951). While the Maddox gets much of the press today for the actions on August 4, 1964 that precipitated the war, the Turner Joy’s role on that fateful day cannot be overlooked.
About the USS Turner Joy
The USS Turner Joy (DD-951) was a Forrest Sherman-class destroyer. Named after U.S. Navy Admiral Charles Turner Joy, a distinguished naval officer who served in both world wars and the Korean War, the ship was commissioned on August 3, 1959, at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington.
Built by the Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company, the Turner Joy was designed as a versatile warship. It was equipped with an array of weaponry, including five-inch guns, torpedoes, and anti-submarine weapons. Throughout its service life, the destroyer operated predominantly in the Pacific Ocean.
Beginning in March 1964, the Turner Joy began its third deployment to the Pacific area of operation. By late July of that year, the Turner Joy was attached to a carrier task force group centered around the USS Ticonderoga, conducting “Desoto” (intelligence-gathering) patrols off the coast of Vietnam.
At that time, Vietnam was split into North Vietnam, the communist one-party state led by Ho Chi Minh, and South Vietnam, a Western-backed capitalist nation in the midst of extreme political turmoil. The crisis in South Vietnam was multifaceted, but it was driven significantly by the presence of a communist guerrilla movement—the infamous “Viet Cong”—organized and supported by Hanoi. As South Vietnam’s ally and primary foreign backer, the United States conducted intelligence-gathering patrols along the North Vietnamese coast aimed at intercepting North Vietnamese communications and relaying them to South Vietnamese forces. This task necessarily placed American warships in close proximity to a volatile region already embroiled in a grueling insurgency.
In the Gulf of Tonkin, the Turner Joy Fought Its Own Shadow
On August 2, 1964, the USS Maddox (DD-731), another warship operating in the Desoto patrols, was attacked by three North Vietnamese torpedo boats in the Gulf of Tonkin (around 28 miles off the Vietnamese coast). The Maddox returned fire, damaging its attackers with assistance from warplanes launched from the nearby USS Ticonderoga, while the Turner Joy steamed to reinforce its sister destroyer.
That initial clash, though relatively brief and resulting in no significant American casualties, heightened tensions in the region.
Two days later, on August 4, the Turner Joy and Maddox reported a second attack under much more confusing circumstances.
Amid rough seas and poor visibility, both ships detected what they assumed was multiple high-speed craft approaching on radar and sonar. The Turner Joy reported sighting multiple torpedo wakes in the water. That report prompted both the command crews of the Turner Joy and the Maddox to take evasive action and open fire with their five-inch guns.
Over the next few hours, they expended hundreds of rounds, supported by aircraft from the Ticonderoga, claiming to have sunk or damaged several enemy vessels.
For years thereafter, these events were covered up. Captain John J. Herrick of the USS Maddox later expressed doubts that the two vessels were ever attacked. He believed that radar and sonar contacts the warships had detected had been false echoes caused by the inclement weather. Subsequent investigations, including declassified documents and North Vietnamese reports, mostly support the captain’s view. If there were North Vietnamese boats anywhere near the two American destroyers on that day, Hanoi has no record of it.
Nevertheless, in the wake of the incident, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, granting President Lyndon B. Johnson broad authority to use military force in Southeast Asia without a formal declaration of war. That resolution marked a turning point, transforming the U.S. role in Vietnam from advisory support to direct combat involvement—and setting the stage for a conflict that would last over a decade.
The Turner Joy’s Impressive Service History
Beyond its vital role in the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, though, the destroyer would go on to earn an astonishing nine battle stars for its stellar performance during its multiple tours in the Vietnam War. It conducted shore bombardments to support American and South Vietnamese troops, targeted enemy supply lines during “Sea Dragon” patrols, and served as an escort and radar picket ship for aircraft carriers. Throughout its Vietnam deployments, the ship was in constant danger, including an accidental shell detonation in 1965 that killed three crewmembers. Enemy fire in 1967 caused minor damage to the boat, too.
One notable moment came on January 28, 1973, when, just before the ceasefire ending U.S. involvement in the war was implemented, the Turner Joy fired what is reported as the last naval round of the war—fittingly closing the war that it had unintentionally began.
After the Vietnam War, Turner Joy went on to the Arabian Sea in the mid-1970s, before finally being decommissioned on November 22, 1982, as part of a wider Navy decision to retire the old Forrest Sherman-class destroyers.
The Warship Has Been Preserved for Generations to Come
Stricken from the naval register in 1990, the ship found new life as a museum vessel in Bremerton, Washington, where it was opened to the public in 1991 under the stewardship of the Bremerton Historic Ships Association.
After going on display, the Turner Joy was restored to its Vietnam-era configuration, and it now serves as an essential link to a dark moment in America’s history. The ship’s involvement in the Gulf of Tonkin Incident symbolizes both the power and the pitfalls of military intelligence in shaping policy. The event it helped to set the stage for—the Vietnam War—cost millions of lives and left deep scars on both the United States and Vietnam. Yet the ship’s broader service, along with its resilience in combat, its support of U.S. ground forces, and its endurance through years of tough deployments reflects the dedication of its crew and the Navy’s role in a contentious era.
Today, as a floating memorial, the Turner Joy stands as a testament to naval engineering and warfare—but also as a reminder of the human consequences of the decisions made in the summer of 1964. Its story challenges us to critically examine the narratives that drive conflict and to honor the sacrifices of those who served aboard it.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / vewfinder.
