The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour | 
|  | | | Title: | The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour | | Author: | James D. Hornfischer | | Publisher: | Bantam | | Type: | Book / Paperback | | Publication Date: | 29 March, 2005 | | ISBN / ISBN-13: | 0553381482 / 9780553381481 | | List Price: | $16.00 | | You Save: | $5.12 | | Amazon Price: | $10.88 | |
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Product Description
“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.
From the Hardcover edition.
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Customer Reviews:
• Simply The Best 23 August, 2008
The accolades for this book you find here are extremely well deserved. I will add to the cheerleading only by saying that this book is without a doubt, the single best book I have ever read concerning any aspect of the war in the Pacific. And I've read a LOT of it. It is literally impossible to put this book down once the action starts. Too bad more of naval history isn't written by this author. I have read many books on the Battle of Leyte Gulf that left me scratching my head in frustration as the author utterly fails in his attempt to relate to the reader a complex and disjointed narrative of one of the most complicated battles in U.S. Naval history. Not so with this Last Stand. BTW, I have been trying to plow through Lundstrum's "First Team" for what seems like forever. Talk about a great story ruined by a guy who has no flair for writting. But back on topic and in conclusion I will say that this won't be the last time I read Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors. As far as Lundtrum's book, well, I'm really looking forward to finishing it and making a paper weight out of it.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A32UUY8PDTQMR8
• One Of My Favorite Books 29 November, 2008
I stumbled on this book and am glad I did as it now has to be one of my favorite books. Well written and researched it's a fun adventure be it a morbid one but and adventure just the same.
I must admit to knowing next to nothing about the Battle off Samar Island. What little I have read paints it more or less as a lucky loss in that the Americans avoided a true calamity.
In an effort to stem the American advance on the Philippines and hopefully catch the carrier fleet unaware; the Japanese Navy set in motion a plan to trick the carriers away from the invasion forces. Admiral Ozawa offered a decoy force in an attempt to draw off Halsey and Halsey true to form charged after him.
The attacking force lead by the behemoth Yamato heads in an stumbles on a small task force of 6 escort carriers and their escorts.
What should have been a full slaughter turns into a loss due to the efforts of the force commander "Ziggy" Sprague and the suicidal bravery of the Tin-Cans. The image of the Johnston charging a cruiser force with guns blazing and torpedoes launching is the stuff of legends. Surprisingly she disables the lead cruiser Kumano. That and the other sorties by the Samuel B. Roberts, the Hoel and the Heermann buy time for the force to make a run for it and send planes to try and blunt the attack. The attack goes on with the Hoel, Johnston and Samuel B. Roberts disabled or sinking. The Gambier Bay is hit and sinks and the for reasons only know to the force commander Admiral Kurita, he calls off the attack and heads home.
Hornfischer does a splendid job telling this story. It is well researched and very detailed as it tries to convey what the men went through. Especially when trying to survive in the water while waiting for rescue that was foolishly delayed and probably caused the death of over 100 men.
The minutia of detail gives harrowing imagery to the battle. The bravery and the odd things people do. Such as men carefully lining up their shoes on the deck as they abandon ship. The sacrifice and the sad end for many. The doctor who stays aboard to ease the passing of the dying and dies in an explosion. The dying man who keeps trying to load his destroyed gun. The dog who returns to the sinking ship.
One odd thing I have read about is the dementia of long term exposure in the ocean. A common theme involves the belief that fresh water is below the surface water. It happens in this story as well.
Another interesting thing is the Japanese viewpoint. Hornfischer put an effort describing the leadup to the battle and gave a couple examples of humanity. Such as the commander of the cruiser Tone who orders the gunners to avoid the men trying to leave the ship. The sailors who toss tins of food to the men in the water.
There are numerous photos and there is a list of men who died during and after the battle. I found myself looking at the list when names appeared in the reading to see if they survived.
It's interesting that this battle is often overlooked as the author points out it was a battle of firsts and lasts. Firsts were: The first time a US aircraft carrier was lost due to surface gunfire, the first time a ship was sunk by a Kamikaze, the first time the Yamato fired her guns in battle. The lasts were: the last massed ship action, the last time a battleship fired it's guns at other ships, the last time destroyers charged a line of ships.
Overall, this was a fun read and the details in the book make it a worthwhile addition to anyone's library.
- Reviewed by customer ID: AG42CYU5P8NVQ
• I Was A Tin Can Sailor Too. 06 January, 2009
I served in the Navy in the 50's on a destroyer escort like the ROBERTS. I am a history buff to say the least, but my favorite theatre is the Pacific during WWII. This book by Hornfischer is the #1 best book I've ever read on the Pacific Theatre, or at least one small part of it. The description of small ships maneuvering around to get close to the Japanese capital ships is astounding. He was right on the money. I could almost feel the wind on my face and smell the smoke. I could feel my own ship under my feet. It brought back numerous images of a great time in my life. The bravery of ordinary men in a time of need, in a time when bravery was commonplace makes the book a must-read. The term 'must-read' is thrown around too much because what does one say about this book that will set it apart? In modern times, this is the best book I've read.
- Reviewed by customer ID: AWOOIBTR0R3J
• The Last Stand Of The Tin Can Sailors 06 January, 2009
I have read many books on Leyte Gulf battles, but have never read one as riviting as this one. If you have any interest at all about naval battles, you must read this.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A3FUYTTVN64IUY
• Incredible World War Two Naval History... 04 December, 2008
Leave all your skepticism at the door. I doubted that this book would meet my expectations after reading the positive reviews here. I was fully satisfied as I turned the last page and reflected on this tale of sacrifice and courage in the madness of war.
The author writes with clarity and the events of the battle are easy to follow throughout the work. Several black and white photos and an excellent set of supplemental position maps augment the words on the page. I was never confused and never lost track of who was going where and what they were doing. I also kept referring to a ship diagram that was provided each time a new crew was introduced. It was amazing to compare the smaller American ships to the behemoth Japanese ships while reading about them squaring off, and more times than not with the Americans getting the better of the confrontation, at least at first.
Not lost in all this is the struggle of the individual sailors and officers. You are there as they charge into oblivion, blast away with awesome precision, watch their friends die in often horrible ways, yet they keep going until their beloved "Tin Cans" are blown out from underneath them. An awesome testimony to this breed of soldier during ww2.
A large group of resources is included for further study including other books and websites, but I can't imagine it getting any better treatment than this. The only way you don't enjoy this is if you aren't interested in military history or you don't care. On second thought, maybe that's exactly why you should read it - to see what it took back then.
In the end, a highly recommended and inspiring book. A MUST for ww2 fans.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A393IHHU219MZT
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