The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors

Rating:
Summary: Captivating Sea Yarn
Review: This is a captivating account of the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October of 1944. In the tradition of Ambrose's D-Day and Skyboys, and other recent WWII accounts, Mr. Hornfischer has not only researched the historical documents, but interviewed (or read interviews) of many of the participants. It gives the extra personal account when a sailor gives his account of his personal experience and sights and sounds. Hornfischer includes hundreds, or thousands of such accounts.

The only short-coming of the book was that there were so many accounts of personal experiences that the larger picture often became obscured. After reading eight or ten accounts from the sailor of one boat, a reader would has to take pause and resurrect the battle in his mind when the accounts suddenly move to another vessel.

All in all a good and detailed account of the last surface to surface naval battle in history. Mr. Hornfischer aptly points out that this is the last such battle and he, as an obvious lover of ships, somewhat grudgingly gives credit to the aircraft that saved the ships. A conclusory analysis of the relative efectiveness of the planes to the ships would have been a bonus here.

A good read for any WWII or naval buff. Another feather in the cap of the WWII participants.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful book of courage and sacrifice
Review: This is a wonderful book that shows why the "greatest generation" deserves that title. The depiction of grossly outnumbered and outclassed American destroyers and even smaller destroyer escorts charging headlong into overwhelming formations of Japanese ships -- the smallest enemy ship being equal or more than their match, and the largest being the greatest battleship ever built -- is truely inspiring and amazing. "Inspiring" to think that common Americans would so willingly sacrifice themselves for something greater than themselves -- to give their countrymen a chance to escape certain destruction. "Amazing" because it really happened and actually worked against all odds -- though not without great suffering. Great job Mr. Hornfischer!

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful book of courage and sacrifice
Review: This is a wonderful book that shows why the "greatest generation" deserves that title. The depiction of grossly outnumbered and outclassed American destroyers and even smaller destroyer escorts charging headlong into overwhelming formations of Japanese ships -- the smallest enemy ship being equal or more than their match, and the largest being the greatest battleship ever built -- is truely inspiring and amazing. "Inspiring" to think that common Americans would so willingly sacrifice themselves for something greater than themselves -- to give their countrymen a chance to escape certain destruction. "Amazing" because it really happened and actually worked against all odds -- though not without great suffering. Great job Mr. Hornfischer!

Rating:
Summary: Heroic stand of tin can sailors
Review: This is an excellent illustration of leadership, courage and heroism. While the major forces of the American navy went after a diversion to the north, early on the morning of October 25, 1944 a powerful Japanese fleet surprised a much smaller American force protecting nascent American gains on Leyte. While historians will long argue the errors that led to this surprise, none can argue that the response from the American forces was dramatic, powerful, effective and almost suicidal. Yankee ingenuity, respect for their leaders, and old-fashioned stick-to-it-iveness made up in quality what the Americans lacked in quantity.

Three small destroyers dashed into harm's way and leveled mortal blows before they succumbed to withering, overpowering -- but often inaccurate -- Japanese fire. While some would flinch at calling these acts 'suicidal' against cruisers and battleships, the sense of purpose and patriotism, combined with the small chance that a good offense is the best defense seemed to drive these men to heights of fury and fight against the thunderstorm of Japanese ships.

Storms actually played a positive role in this fight, hiding both the smaller American ships, sometimes at lucky moments, as well as those pesky American fighter planes darting in and out of the clouds. But what really seems to have mattered was accurate firing, productive -- if incomplete -- intelligence, good leadership, and the absolute audacity of the crews aboard the American ships and planes. And timidity on the part of the Japanese admiral, believing he had stumbled upon a superior force of sull-sized carriers and cruisers, helped turn the onslaught into a full-fledged diaster for the Japanese, who lost perhaps 11,000 men to terrible but lesser casualties of fewer than 1,000 for the inspired Americans.

The research is thorough, with fascinating detail and first-hand reports from the battle and the men who fought it. Maps detailing the progress of this brief but spectacular battle help guide the reader. Read it and respect the men who made this happen.

Rating:
Summary: Valor immeasurable
Review: Trapped between a rock and a hard spot the sailors of under armed and under armored destroyers and destroyer escorts thwarted the attack of the combined Japanese fleet. Guarding lightly constructed, light duty aircraft carriers these sailors thrust themselves into harm's way for defense of the fragile craft. I gained a fresh appreciation of the sacrifices made for us all in WWII. To defiantly sail against a ship more than many times your size requires mettle few of us possess. To achieve what they achieved in those circumstances is breathtaking.

Hornfischer has collected original interviews, done an exhaustive research of all things published and created maps to help honor the heroes of Oct 25th, 1944. He pulls no punches in his recounting of the failings of Halsey as he left Taffy 3 unprotected and properly highlights Sprauge's aggressive heroism. The valor on the individual ships is recreated from firsthand accounts.

If something was missing, it was a clearer picture of what happened on the Japanese ships. The writings of a few are used to fill in the picture but there is only a little of this. There is a little conjecture based on the events as perceived from the US ships and this left me wanting more detail. I don't fault Hornfischer on this account and I lament the ready availability of an additional source to fill that gap.


Rating:
Summary: How the US Navy fights, when it is losing
Review: We are used to see the US Navy fighting from a superior position. In WW II, after the Pearl Harbor disaster, in all the well known battles, Coral Sea, Midway, Okinawa, the US Navy was the top dog. Even in the running battle of Guadalcanal, the US Navy was not inferior to the Imperial Japanese forces.
It may make us wonder: How would the US sailors do, if they did not have air superiority.? If their carrier forces were not nearby; Would the men of the Navy still be as brave? as resolute?
Here is the answer. Off Samar, in the Philipines, an inferior US Navy force of escort carriers, destroyers and destroyer escorts was surprised by a superior Japanese force of battleships, heavy and light cruisers, and destroyers.
The officers and sailors manning this ships were mostly recruits, citizen soldiers, not career navy types.
How the men and women of the US Navy reacted, fought and died is the subject of this book.
The narrative is smooth, rich in detail, placing you in the midst of the action. The men are real, you can identify with them. The action is hot, vividly described, you can almost see the shells landing and smell the fuel oil burning.
Their actions in the face of overwhelming odds should make any American proud of these gallant men, and their defiance in the face of impossible odds.
God bless them.

Rating:
Summary: The best historical account. of the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
Review: When I was a young adolescent, I wasn't like other kids. I actually read about WWII history. When I found out my 7th grade English teacher was a "Fireman" in the boiler rooms of the USS Pennsylvania facing the Southern force in Surigao Strait, I bombarded him with a host of questions, and my classmates had no idea what we were talking about. Suffice it to say, through my previous reading, I thought I was pretty knowledgable about this naval battle.



The author has blown that preconception out of the water. He brings the level of scholarship on this battle to a whole new plane. The meticulous research he has undertaken shines forth in this account, and it is simply an incomparable work. No matter if you have previous exposure to historical accounts of this battle (specifically for Taffy 3 and it's air groups facing Kurita's Central force, Southern and Northern aspects are not as in depth), or not, this book is the definitive work on the topic. Included is the deep and detailed bibliography. A true historical gem.

Rating:
Summary: Worthyof praise
Review: While I know Mr. Hornfischer personally, I am not writing as a friend. I just finished his book and am better for it. He writes clearly and forthrightly about the horrors experienced and sacrifices made by the men under the command of Admiral Sprague - serving in the highest traditions of our Armed Forces. We owe a debt larger than we can ever repay to that generation of Americans. Jim makes that case elegantly. This book should be required reading for us all.
Mark T. Brown

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Reading
Review: Without wrinting a book report, I must say this is one of my favorite WWII novels, the books starts out slowly as do all WWII novels I have read giving a brief synopsis of the main charecters up to joining and while serving in the US Navy. The battle scenes are vividly written and are still etched into my mind. I found myself obviously rooting for the good guys and nearly in tears towards the end.

If you have any interest in the history of WWII, or naval combat than this is the book for you. This is a fantastic read!!!