And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Whenever I see that book I always think about the sailors seen alive in the water after losing their ship but never seen again, 92 from the USS Johnston alone.
"Last Stand.." is a great book, but the late James Hornfischer really topped himself with "Neptune's Inferno," about the naval battles around Guadalcanal in 1942-1943. It is simply superb...
I've read it once. My Dad was a Destroyer Crewman. MM3 in the Boiler Rooms. The book shows what they were like. The story of Gunner's Mate Third Class Paul H. Carr is the one I won't forget. His bravery is outstanding.
This is a GREAT BOOK! The one thing that stood out for me is the amount of time it took to go from cruising on the ship to swimming. Most naval contests in WWII were over in an hour. Also see the dinner scene in Jaws about the Indianapolis. Chilling! Those men had stones.
Hornfischers other books "Neptunes Inferno" about the Battles around Guadalcanal, "The Fleet at Flood Tide" about the Marianas campaign are equally as good. But nothing beats the story of Taffy 3 and the Hoel, Johnston, and Samuel B Roberts!!!!
Indeed. Too bad the movie is in development hell...
ReplyDeleteGreat book. That battle should go down with Thermopylae and the Alamo, although the outcome was better than both of those.
ReplyDeleteSailors: The bravest bunch of non-swimmers alive.
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Read it, then read it again. USN’s finest hour.
ReplyDeleteExcellent work about true heroism.
ReplyDeleteEach one of the late Mr. Hornfischer's books is a solid history and a superb, page-turner read. One of his best is Ship of Ghosts.
ReplyDeleteBought Ship of Ghosts on your recommendation. THX
Deleteordered.
ReplyDeleteI read his "Neptune's Inferno" some time ago and recommend it.
Neptune's inferno describes the true costs of the Solomon Islands Campaign. Must reading...
DeleteWhenever I see that book I always think about the sailors seen alive in the water after losing their ship but never seen again, 92 from the USS Johnston alone.
ReplyDeleteGreat book. Not sure I would have chosen the surface Navy had I read about the brutality of that battle beforehand.
ReplyDeleteTremendous book. Read it years ago now.
ReplyDeleteThank you for another recommendation. My list is longer than I'll get through but I keep adding to it.
ReplyDelete"Last Stand.." is a great book, but the late James Hornfischer really topped himself with "Neptune's Inferno," about the naval battles around Guadalcanal in 1942-1943. It is simply superb...
ReplyDeleteI've read it once. My Dad was a Destroyer Crewman. MM3 in the Boiler Rooms. The book shows what they were like. The story of Gunner's Mate Third Class Paul H. Carr is the one I won't forget. His bravery is outstanding.
ReplyDeleteThis is a GREAT BOOK! The one thing that stood out for me is the amount of time it took to go from cruising on the ship to swimming. Most naval contests in WWII were over in an hour. Also see the dinner scene in Jaws about the Indianapolis. Chilling! Those men had stones.
ReplyDeleteSpin
ReplyDeleteThose guys saved my dad's butt (and by extension mine and my children's and my children's children) on the White Plains. Bless 'em all.
Hornfischers other books "Neptunes Inferno" about the Battles around Guadalcanal, "The Fleet at Flood Tide" about the Marianas campaign are equally as good. But nothing beats the story of Taffy 3 and the Hoel, Johnston, and Samuel B Roberts!!!!
ReplyDelete