TCin:

Just a thought, do you think those "dumb" enlisted sailors arbitrarily opened up on the "flying fish?" Perhaps, they were ordered to do so? To your point on the "flying fish:

Night of August 4: "The Maddox and Turner Joy moved out to sea, but both reported that they were tracking multiple unidentified vessels approaching their positions. The vessels appeared to be coming from several different directions, and they were impossible to lock onto. Both ships began firing at what they thought were torpedo boats, and again they sought air support. A plane piloted by Commander James Stockdale joined the action, flying at low altitude to see the enemy ships. Stockdale reported seeing no torpedo boats."

I always liked working with officers as a Marine Sergeant as we could have some pretty good conversations as long as I respected the boundaries. I wasn't a sea-going bellhop.

Things are not always as they seem and change after the actuals are no longer around to dispute the facts. Nice story.