Word: sonarman
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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...four seamen aboard Turner Joy and one man aboard Maddox did report seeing silhouettes of a ship, and sailors said they saw a searchlight stab momentarily through the darkness. There were also sonar reports of as many as 22 torpedoes, though critics of the Pentagon pointed out that a sonarman may have mistaken the sound made by the engine of his vessel for torpedoes...
...response to these questions represents the weakest point in the Administration's case. "Review of action makes many reported contacts and torpedoes fired appear doubtful," wired Captain John Herrick, commander of the patrol. "Freak weather effects and overeager sonarman may have accounted for many reports. No actual visual sightings by Maddox, suggest complete evaluation before any further action." With access to classified information, Herrick has since changed his mind. McNamara says that he has "unimpeachable" intelligence, probably intercepted North Vietnamese radio messages, to verify independently not only that Hanoi planned an attack on the U.S. destroyers but also that...