Tin Can Titans

The Heroic Men and Ships of World War II's Most Decorated Navy Destroyer Squadron

By: John Wukovits

Narrated by: Robertson Dean

When Admiral William Halsey selected Destroyer Squadron 21 to lead his victorious ships into Tokyo Bay to accept the Japanese surrender, it was the most battle-hardened US naval squadron of the war.

But it was not the squadron of ships that had accumulated such an inspiring résumé; it was the people serving aboard them. Sailors, not metallic superstructures and hulls, had won the battles and become the stuff of legend. Men like Commander Donald MacDonald, skipper of the USS O'Bannon, who became the most decorated naval officer of the Pacific war; Lieutenant Hugh Barr Miller, who survived his ship's sinking and waged a one-man battle against the enemy while stranded on a Japanese-occupied island; and Doctor Dow "Doc" Ransom, the beloved physician of the USS La Vallette, who combined a mixture of humor and medical expertise to treat his patients at sea epitomize the sacrifices made by all the men and women of World War II.

Through diaries, personal interviews with survivors, and letters written to and by the crews during the war, preeminent historian of the Pacific theater John Wukovits brings to life the human story of the squadron and its men, who bested the Japanese in the Pacific and helped take the war to Tokyo.

©2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc. (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

This is a great book! I really enjoyed this story! Narrator did a wonderful job!

very detailed account

I feel like I gained a view of the naval struggle that I hadn't seen previously. I enjoy military history and military thriller fiction. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The impossible triumph of the US Navy in WW2 is nothing short of amazing. The truth is bolder than fiction in this story.

My first non fiction audiobook - enjoyed it

I saw a few reviews of this book and hadn't heard of this story from this point of view and thought I would give it a try. It was entertaining and kept me interested in the book. Being that this was my first time for non-fiction audio, I got a little confused with some of the pacing of the book.

Several times we would be at a certain time and then progress through and all of sudden we are back again at the same time, same crew but a different view from another "character". I understand it had to be done that way at times, but I found myself wanting to move on to the next time frame just a little sooner.

Overall, I would recommend the book for anyone wanting to know more about the most decorated Destroyer Squadron of WWII.

One of the best books on WWII naval action

Excellently researched and powerfully written. It moved me to tears. I cheered when crew were saved and my heart was heavy for the ones that didn't come home. If you like naval history, you won't be able to put this book down (or, more appropriately, put on pause).

Riveting @ outstanding

This was an excellent book about the war in the Pacific and destroyer squadron. That was the best in the navy daughter did an outstanding job, and it was well written by Robert Cindy how much Street