The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors by James D. Hornfischer

The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors

The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.s. Navy's Finest Hour

James D. Hornfischer

Random House Publishing Group · Print & ebook · March 29, 2005

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The exhilarating true story of the U.S. Navy’s improbable victory at the Battle of Samar—“a dire survival-at-sea saga” (Denver Post) from the acclaimed author of Neptune’s Inferno “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.

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Who it’s for
A tightly focused World War II naval account with a strong sense of operational detail.
Genres
WWII Pacific Theater, Naval History, World War II History
Published
Random House Publishing Group, March 29, 2005

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For younger readers: Flags of Our Fathers, In Harm's Way, Left for Dead

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About this book

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The exhilarating true story of the U.S. Navy’s improbable victory at the Battle of Samar—“a dire survival-at-sea saga” (Denver Post) from the acclaimed author of Neptune’s Inferno “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.

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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 Weaving together extensive interviews with veterans, unpublished eyewitness accounts, declassified documents, and rare Japanese sources, James D. Hornfischer has created an unprecedented account of a naval engagement unlike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

Naval Intensity

A tightly focused World War II naval account with a strong sense of operational detail.

Come here for

  • Naval combat detail
  • U.S. Navy wartime service

Expect

  • Pacific theater scope
  • Ships, tactics, and command pressure

Where it sits

Naval History92%
WWII Pacific Theater83%
World War II History19%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • World War II History
  • Naval History
  • 20th-Century History
Authors
James D. Hornfischer
Publisher
Random House Publishing Group
Published
March 29, 2005
Format
Print & ebook
Reading lane
World War II History