On August 4, 1964, the Gulf of Tonkin incident occurred when the U.S. Navy reported an attack on its vessels by North Vietnamese forces. The incident led to the U.S. Congress passing the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which significantly escalated U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. Later investigations revealed that the attack had been exaggerated, and the incident became a symbol of misinformation used to justify military intervention. The escalation of the war resulted in over a decade of conflict and significant loss of life. The event is often cited as a turning point in the wars dynamics.