The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors

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

By: James D. Hornfischer

Narrated by: Barrett Whitener

Length: 16 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

“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.

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)

Little Guys fight BIG!

Amazing story, even more so because it is history! The self-sacrifice of these men serving on the smallest surface combatants for their fellow sailors and shipmates was incredible.

The behind the scenes dealings of some of the leaders was also eye-opening.

Overall another great book by Hornfischer.

Incredible story of survival

One of the greatest little told battles of WWII. This story is one heck of a story. Such heroes.

History you never knew.

This is, for those that love military history, one of the greatest battles you probably never heard of or never knew the details. I think this far exceeds the great battle at Midway. A must 'read'. Narration kept me engaged. And a surprise, to me, about one of the Navy's admirals revealed at the end.

Great book!

One of the best books I’ve listened to in a long time. Great storytelling and well narrated. This one is a great book to get!

Good story

But far too many people and boats to keep track of. I suggest keeping a log while listening to this book

The horror of a navel gun battle is like. The loss of life in such short amount of time

I love the story from beginning to end. My father served in the Navy then. This story made me feel closer to him and what he went through.

Gripping Tale with Sailors That Seem Like Friends

This book is an unusual blend of nail-biting excitement and well-developed characters that seem normal like your friend or next-door neighbor. Most of the heros here are rather typical sailors until they find it within themselves to rise to a level of bravery that few of them could have probably believed themselves capable.
Other reviewers have complained about the detail into the participants' backgrounds. I, on the other hand, feel that these sketches make the characters seem real and that the sailors almost become friends.
The reader does an excellent job. He is always easy to listen to and has a natural voice for this type story.
Great book!

highly recommend

Very glad I read this book and very glad it was written. I had little idea this sea battle was one of the greatest in US Naval history. First heard about it on the History Channel. I liked the narrator too. Excellent prose save the story from the recitation of simple cold hard facts. The technical details are informative yet not belaboring. Thank you James Hornfischer and Barrett Whitener

A compelling story of an amazing event

If you ask most people about the biggest events in the Pacific during WWII you will most likely hear the same familiar names... Pearl Harbor, Midway, Coral Sea, Guadalcanal. You may never hear anyone mention the Battle of Leyte Gulf even though it might very well have been the largest battle in the history of naval warfare.

But The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors is not a book about the Battle of Leyte Gulf. It is, instead, a book telling the personal stories of the extraordinary men who fought in it. You begin to get a sense of the horrific and instant violence of a naval battle and its aftermath in a way that isn't often told. But you also become awestruck by the bravery and dedication of the sailors aboard the ships of Taffy 3 as they attempt to slow down a Japanese task force that dwarfed them in size and firepower.

The Japanese battleship Yamato, the largest of the 23 IJN warships in the task force, displaced more than the 13 ships of Taffy 3... combined... Just one of the Yamato's main turrets weighed more than any of the destroyers that stood in its path and fired a shell that was 65 times heavier than the largest being fired in return... It is an amazing story and recounted expertly in this book.

Great Book

Narrator was good, story was great, makes me wonder how I would have handled being in that situation.