Today in U.S Naval History: August 4

Today in U.S Naval History - August 4

1846 - Sailors and Marines from USS Congress capture Santa Barbara

1858 - First trans-Atlantic cable completed by USS Niagara and British ship Agamemnon

1944 - Fifth Fleet carrier task forces begin air attack against Iwo Jima and the Bonin Islands

1947 - Birthdate of the Medical Service Corps

1964 - The Navy and national intelligence sources report a North Venamese PT boat attack on USS Turner Joy and USS Maddox in the Tokin Gulf prompting Congress to pass the Tonkin Gulf Resolution on August 7, 1964. The attack was later disproven.

For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.