The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors

Have you ever wondered what true courage looks like under impossible odds? Discover the gripping story of a small U.S. Navy task force, outgunned and outnumbered, that charged directly at the most powerful battleships ever built to save an entire invasion fleet. You’ll learn how the sailors of the “Tin Cans”—lightly armored destroyers and escort carriers—used sheer audacity and brilliant tactics to turn the tide in the Battle off Samar. This is the incredible true story of how ordinary men became heroes in the U.S. Navy’s finest hour.

James D. Hornfischer was a brilliant naval historian and literary agent whose gripping narratives of the U.S. Navy in World War II earned him widespread acclaim. A former editor and the son of a naval officer, Hornfischer combined meticulous research with a profound respect for the sailors whose stories he told. His passion was born from a desire to preserve the legacies of ordinary men who performed extraordinary deeds, ensuring their valor would never be forgotten.