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

Desperately fought on the morning of October 25, 1944, the Battle of Samar was an upset victory won by American warships fighting a battle they were never supposed to fight. Filled with riveting details, this is war at sea as it has seldom been presented before. nThis will be a fight against overwhelming odds from which survival cannot be expected. We will do what damage we can. n 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. n n 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. n nPraise for The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors n nOne 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 n nReads 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 n nHornfischer is a powerful stylist whose explanations are clear as well as memorable. . . . A dire survival-at-sea saga.--Denver Post n nIn 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 Heraldn