The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors
The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour
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The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors
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Narrated by:
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Barrett Whitener
About this listen
“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 number-one New York Times best seller Flags of Our Fathers, James D. Hornfischer paints an unprecedented portrait of the Battle of Samar, a naval engagement unlike any other in US history - and captures with unforgettable intensity the men, the strategies, and the sacrifices that turned certain defeat into a legendary victory.
Praise for The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors
“One 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)
“Reads 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)
“Hornfischer is a powerful stylist whose explanations are clear as well as memorable.... A dire survival-at-sea saga.” (Denver Post)
“In 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 Herald)
©2004 James Hornfischer (P)2004 Books on Tape, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
"Readable from beginning to end, this popular history magnificently brings to life men and times that may seem almost as remote as Trafalgar to many in the early twenty-first century....One of the finest World War II volumes to appear in years." (Booklist)
What listeners say about The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Katerina
- 24-05-21
An epic tale of heroism and valor
There's little to be said about this book, it's written well, with hundreds of eye witness accounts, looking at all aspects of life at sea in war. The author has jobs justice to the men who fought, died, age survived this titanic David vs Goliath naval battle. A humbling and inspiring read.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Joshua MacCallum
- 25-04-21
Desperate, Haunting and awe-inspiring
Straight from the bowels of a Holywood movie, except it actually happened.
There have been few books from World War Two that capture the stark realities of war and the desperation of battle.
This book does it better than any other book on audible.
It masterfully puts you on the deck of the ship, right in the thick of battle and forces you feel the desperate struggle for survival.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Andrew
- 05-02-10
Excellent book slightly let down by the reader.
A real sailors eye view of the action off Samar. If you're interested in the war in the Pacific you should definitely buy this book. The only fly in the ointment for me was the voice of the reader, sounded very flat, almost robotic in his intonation.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 15-11-23
A interesting story
I loved the story and the way it was written and the sacrifice of the sailors
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Richard Blake
- 30-06-21
Simply fantastic.
I will sum this book up very briefly, I listed to it as an audiobook while walking my dog, one minute I was laughing my head off the next close to tears.
It is a wonderful book about an incredible story.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 13-12-22
A good history and human centred piece of work
This has been in the background for while I packed up and then started to unpack a house. It has been at times emotionally charged to hear what young men fought and died in the service of their comrades and their country, and a few times I had to pause and reflect (which I find I am doing more as I get older) to my time in the forces in a different time and a different war. Instead of dry statistics and facts, it gives you story of those who loved, worked and died on the ships. If gives you a connection to those boys and men which otherwise would be just a name and a few facts.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- N Bartle
- 05-09-22
computer generated audio?
this sounds awful - couldn’t get through it listening to the synthesised voice. ruins what is a great story
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