United States forces under James F. Schenck went to southern Vietnam to search for missing American citizens but were met with cannon fire upon arriving.

A boat filled with sailors from the American merchant ship Myrtle was reported missing so Flag Officer Frederick K. Engle ordered Schenck to search the area.

When the Saginaw was entering the harbor of Qui Nhơn on July 31, the nearby fort to the north, mounting a few guns, opened fire at a range of 600 yards.

A secondary explosion was observed and it was suspected that either the powder magazine of the fort, or one of the guns, blew up and killed their operators.

American forces suffered no damage or casualties and after the action, communicating with the Vietnamese proved fruitless so the Saginaw steamed back to Hong Kong.