The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors
The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour
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The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors
Narrated by:
Barrett Whitener
Buy Now for $31.99
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Narrated by:
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Barrett Whitener
About this listen
“A critically acclaimed, blow-by-blow look at a small American force counterattacking into the teeth of hopeless odds.”—Miami Herald
“The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors will take its place amidst the great literature of World War II.”—Ron Powers, co-author of Flags of Our Fathers
Desperately fought on the morning of October 25, 1944, the Battle off Samar is one of the most celebrated engagements in United States naval lore. Facing overwhelming firepower, with no prospect of reinforcement, thirteen American warships began a fight they couldn’t win—and fought it to the death.
Weaving together extensive interviews with veterans, unpublished eyewitness accounts, declassified documents, and rare Japanese sources, James D. Hornfischer has created an unprecedented account of a naval engagement unlike any other in American history. A resonant portrait of the Navy man’s indomitable spirit and a stirring tale of heroism in the face of hopeless odds, The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors unforgettably captures the men, the strategies, and the sacrifices that turned certain defeat into a legendary victory.
WINNER OF THE SAMUEL ELIOT MORISON AWARD FOR NAVAL LITERATURE©2004 James Hornfischer; (P)2004 Books on Tape, Inc.
A Story of True Heroism
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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.
Incredible true story excellently told
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In Depth Look At Taffy 3
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