I am just about through reading this book, written by James D Hornfischer, and I can't recommend it highly enough. The old saying, "it reads like a novel", certainly applies here. In fact it reads as much like a C.S. Forrester novel as any recent history book I've read. The one thing that really stands out is how little the type of wounds, and deaths, have changed in the 140 years or so between Hornblower and Taffy 3.

For those at all unfamiliar with this book it tells the story of the Battle of Leyte gulf, especially concerning Taffy 3. Although the book mentions "Tin Can Sailors" it does nearly equal justice to the men of the carriers, and especially the air groups.

They say that at Iwo Jima uncommon valor was common. That same thing can be said about the men of Taffy 3. Some examples. USS Johnston is seen heading to interdict Japanese heavy cruisers following Admiral Sprague's order for "Small boys on my starboard quarter, intercept enemy cruiser coming in on my port quarter." As the battered destroyer moved to follow the order it was seen to signal the following message. "Only one engine X No gyro X No Radars." Even so she moved to keep the pursuing enemy off the carriers back. On board the destroyer escort Samuel B Roberts, Paul Henry Carr is fighting his 5 inch 38 of mount 52. Even after the gun's gas ejection system failed, which prevented shells from "cooking off" in the extreme heat, the gun continued to fire seven or eight shells until the last exploded. Carr struggled to get the last shell loaded, even though the gun was unable to be fired. Torn from his neck to his groin, and mortally wounded, Carr had to have the final shell taken from his hands, not once but twice, in order to lay him on the deck to die. On board one of the carriers, armed with nothing stronger than a 5 inch gun, one officer calls out, "we're suckering them into 40mm range." In the air pilots make run after run, even opening their bomb bay doors and making fake torpedo runs, long after having expired all their ammunition.

My only regret about the book is it didn't mention the honors bestowed on Paul Henry Carr. While the book mentions how the skipper of the Johnston, Ernest E Evans, rightly received the Medal of Honor, nothing is mentioned about Carr receiving the Silver Star, and having the USS Carr, FFG 52, being named after him.

Once again I highly recommend this book. To anybody interested in naval history, heroic actions, or just a good read, this is a great book.

If Hollywood ever wanted to make a movie of this totally ignored action, ignored in movies anyway, there could do FAR worse than optioning this book.

Agreed, an excellent book about an episode that should not receive such short-shrift in history.

This book & those about "the fleet that came to stay" off Okinawa provide an outstanding look at the USN & its sailors in WW2.

John