The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors

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

De: James D. Hornfischer

Narrado por: Grover Gardner

“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.©2004 James Hornfischer; (P)2004 Random House, Inc., Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Greatest Navel Battle

This is an excellent account of a little know battle. The Sailors and Commanders do an impossible task with next to nothing. They really are the greatest heros ever born. The reader is great.

Disappointed by the Audio Book

This is an outstanding book that tells a very compelling story. I was disappointed to learn the audio version is abridged. It felt off while listening to it and checking the description confirmed my suspicions. While it is absolutely worth listening to, like a movie, it just doesn't compare with the book.

Detailed but Lacking

Although well-researched and compelling, this reads more like a list of events or after-action report rather than a narrative. The story behind the story is missing. I'm still glad I took the time to read it.

Missing paragraphs

Loved it overall, but I was reading along and noticed seemingly random paragraphs were missing.

An amazing narrative

The mind-boggling heroism displayed by the sailors in this battle is amazing. The story is very well-told and is very hard to put down (or to stop listening to). Almost as interesting is how the magnitude of the loss of life may have been totally avoidable, and the aftermath of this realization among senior Navy staff.