BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from James D. Hornfischer’s Neptune’s Inferno. “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 … 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.
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More detail than I needed
Excellent book on the last major battle in WWII, Pacific Theatre where destroyers played an overwhelming part. It is truly inspirational. They were heroes.
I have been interested in as much as I can about the various wars our country has fought, including, the Civil War. This book opened my eyes to several areas, including WWII navel battles, ships and their functions, and what individual sailors thought. I found it very informative in these areas and was impressed with the behind the scenes thoughts …
Too full of names and facts. Hard to read. a disappointed and quit reading after one chapter. No story line just historical facts.
Even if military history isn’t your thing, this is still a stunning story, even more so because it’s true, of how American servicemen overcame insurmountable odds. I’ve read it twice and I still find it mesmerizing. Starts a little slow with a lot of information building, but hang in there; when the battles begin…
Wow!