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  • The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors

  • The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour
  • By: James D. Hornfischer
  • Narrated by: Barrett Whitener
  • Length: 16 hrs and 31 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (19 ratings)

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The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors

By: James D. Hornfischer
Narrated by: Barrett Whitener
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Publisher's Summary

“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 number-one New York Times best seller Flags of Our Fathers, James D. Hornfischer paints an unprecedented portrait of the Battle of Samar, a naval engagement unlike any other in US history - and captures with unforgettable intensity the men, the strategies, and the sacrifices that turned certain defeat into a legendary victory.   

Praise for The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors

“One of the finest WWII naval action narratives in recent years, this book follows in the footsteps of Flags of Our Fathers.... Exalting American sailors and pilots as they richly deserve.... Reads like a very good action novel.” (Publishers Weekly)

“Reads as fresh as tomorrow's headlines.... Hornfischer's captivating narrative uses previously classified documents to reconstruct the epic battle and eyewitness accounts to bring the officers and sailors to life.” (Texas Monthly)

“Hornfischer is a powerful stylist whose explanations are clear as well as memorable.... A dire survival-at-sea saga.” (Denver Post)

“In The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors, James Hornfischer drops you right into the middle of this raging battle, with 5-inch guns blazing, torpedoes detonating and Navy fliers dive-bombing.... The overall story of the battle is one of American guts, glory and heroic sacrifice.” (Omaha World Herald)

©2004 James Hornfischer (P)2004 Books on Tape, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic Reviews

"Readable from beginning to end, this popular history magnificently brings to life men and times that may seem almost as remote as Trafalgar to many in the early twenty-first century....One of the finest World War II volumes to appear in years." (Booklist)

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A Story of True Heroism

The personal accounts of brave men in the face of unimaginable horror will live with me forever

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Incredible true story excellently told

I happened across a random news article about the discovery of the remains of the USS Johnston (DD-557), the deepest wreck ever located at 6,468.6 metres (21,222 feet). A Second World War history buff, I read with interest the story of how she came to her final resting place. Comments on the story pointed me to this book.

The Battle of Samar, part of the much larger Battle of Leyte Gulf, is not as famous as other Second World War naval engagements but its story deserves to be shared and remembered. A small force ("Taffy 3") of escort carriers (smaller, thinner-skinned ships who's aircraft were mostly used to support land-based forces) and its guardians, a handful of destroyers and destroyer-escorts, faced off against one of the mightiest Imperial Japanese fleets ever assembled that included the largest warship in existence at the time, the battleship Yamato. And while they were ably supported by nearby small fleets of similar composition, it was the tenacity of the ships of "Taffy 3" that delayed, distracted and bloodied the Japanese fleet in an effort to keep them from sailing on to destroy the landing grounds of Leyte Gulf in the Phillipines.

This is a fascinating, amazing story of battle, heroism, stoicism and loss excellently told by the narrator. The writing is grand when it needs to be, sharp when it wants to be, witty when appropriate, and respectful of both sides. The narrator makes listening easy, and puts appropriate spin on his words to differentiate quotations.

I am so glad I had this book recommended to me, and if you are at all interested in history, this is a book to which you should listen.

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