The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy’s Finest Hour

The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy’s Finest Hour

$5.00

Out of stock

Out of stock

Condition: Good
Format: Full Size Paperback
Categories:
Weight 25 oz
Book Authors

James D. Hornfischer

“This will be a fight against overwhelming odds from which survival cannot be expected. We will do what damage we can. ”With these words, Lieutenant Commander Robert W. Copeland addressed the crew of the destroyer escort USS Samuel B. Roberts on the morning of October 25, 1944, off the Philippine Island of Samar. On the horizon loomed the mightiest ships of the Japanese navy, a massive fleet that represented the last hope of a staggering empire. All that stood between it and Douglas MacArthur’s vulnerable invasion force were the Roberts and the other small ships of a tiny American flotilla poised to charge into history. In the tradition of the #1 New York Times bestseller Flags of Our Fathers, James D. Hornfischer paints an unprecedented portrait of the Battle of Samar, a naval engagement unlike any other in U. S. history—and captures with unforgettable intensity the men, the strategies, and the sacrifices that turned certain defeat into a legendary victory.

Publishers Weekly

One of the finest WWII naval action narratives in recent years, this book follows in the footsteps of Flags of Our Fathers, creating a microcosm of the war’s American Navy destroyers. Hornfischer, a writer and literary agent in Austin, Tex., covers the battle off Samar, the Philippines, in October 1944, in which a force of American escort carriers and destroyers fought off a Japanese force many times its strength, and the larger battle of Leyte Gulf, the opening of the American liberation of the Philippines, which might have suffered a major setback if the Japanese had attacked the transports. He presents the men who crewed the destroyer Taffy 3, most of whom had never seen salt water before the war but who fought, flew, kept the crippled ship afloat, and doomed ships fighting almost literally to the last shell. Finally, Hornfischer provides a perspective on the Japanese approach to the battle, somewhat (and justifiably) modifying the traditional view of the Japanese Admiral Kurita as a fumbler or even a coward-while exalting American sailors and pilots as they richly deserve. (American admirals don’t get off so easily.) Not entirely free of glitches in research, the book still reads like a very good action novel, indicated by its selection as a dual split main selection of the BOMC and History Book Club alternate. (Feb. 3) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Publish Date : 2005

Weight 25 oz
Book Authors

James D. Hornfischer

Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

Be the first to review “The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy’s Finest Hour”

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyReturn to Shop
      Calculate Shipping
      Apply Coupon
      Scroll to Top

      Search

      Featured

      On Sale

      •  (29783)

      Category

      • (16)
      • (567)
        • (65)
        • (4)
        • (41)
        • (126)
          • (1)
          • (70)
            • (2)
            • (2)
            • (6)
            • (5)
            • (4)
            • (5)
          • (4)
          • (6)
          • (16)
          • (3)
          • (1)
          • (7)
        • (4)
        • (5)
        • (13)
        • (30)
        • (8)
          • (1)
        • (42)
        • (31)
        • (6)
        • (7)
        • (6)
        • (52)
          • (10)
          • (20)
          • (2)
          • (8)
          • (1)
        • (9)
        • (37)
        • (4)
        • (22)
        • (6)
        • (4)
        • (4)
        • (5)
        • (13)
        • (9)
        • (8)
        • (6)
        • (10)
        • (13)
      • (29233)
        • (1238)
        • (333)
        • (1905)
          • (244)
          • (567)
          • (1057)
        • (3890)
          • (1519)
            • (46)
          • (466)
          • (1701)
            • (425)
            • (92)
            • (430)
        • (128)
        • (730)
        • (119)
        • (262)
        • (232)
        • (796)
          • (192)
          • (1)
          • (11)
          • (149)
          • (146)
          • (4)
          • (6)
          • (69)
        • (3721)
          • (534)
          • (810)
        • (66)
        • (1227)
        • (320)
          • (38)
        • (898)
        • (394)
        • (404)
        • (4453)
          • (319)
          • (1674)
          • (2557)
        • (397)
        • (15)
        • (2389)
        • (485)
          • (7)
          • (1)
          • (6)
          • (7)
          • (113)
          • (12)
          • (5)
          • (6)
          • (3)
          • (2)
          • (57)
          • (9)
        • (2740)
          • (1646)
          • (547)
          • (77)
          • (422)
        • (307)
        • (1406)
          • (1344)
          • (8)
          • (37)
          • (17)
        • (217)
        • (1576)
        • (258)
        • (141)
        • (354)
        • (700)
      • (6)