new book Halsey's Typhoon (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter GREG
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I plan on reading both those books. I just started "Ship Of Ghosts" about the sinking of the U.S.S. Houston and the crews ordeals in Japanese POW camps.
Did you guys ever hear of the book "Last Of The Tin Can Sailors"? It's about the battle of Leyte Gulf.
Did you guys ever hear of the book "Last Of The Tin Can Sailors"? It's about the battle of Leyte Gulf.
Jrsteel,
I have read both of these books and they are terrific! In fact, I would use the term "spellbinding" to describe them. The author is a master at writing naval combat descriptions. You will see what I mean when you read The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors.
Enjoy the books. They are great!
Warmest personal regards,
Pat
Njja
1st Lieutenant
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Interesting, I just ordered a book on the Yamato by Janusz Skulski which
looks great. I was always interested in the caves of Iwo Jima. They were
basicly dug out of the rock by hand, but very few images were available.
I have been saving the Iwo Jima book, and enjoy sneaking a look between
other books I'm reading.
Njja
looks great. I was always interested in the caves of Iwo Jima. They were
basicly dug out of the rock by hand, but very few images were available.
I have been saving the Iwo Jima book, and enjoy sneaking a look between
other books I'm reading.
Njja
Combat
Brigadier General
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2005
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- 10,276
I was thinking about reading this one but was put off a bit by this review on B&N:
When I read that 'Halseys Typhoon' was 'an untold rescue,' I blanched. Havng read 'Halsey's Typhoons' by Hans Christan Adamsom, Co., USAF (Ret) and George Francois Kosco, Capt. USN (Ret), published i 1967, I was astonished at this claim. 'Halsey's Typhoons' (Yes, there were two of them) is a true first hand account of the rescue. Kosco was an eyewitness. Moreover, the original book contains dramatic photographs of the typhoons and their impact on the ships. Drury and Clavin in 'Halsey's Typhoon' deals with the first of the typhoons, Cobra, and not with the second, Viper. Their map of the the path of Cobra is virtualy the same as the map in the original, only slightly modified. That they have used virtually the same title is unconscionable. Moreover the hero of the rescue, Henry L. Plage is quoted at length in the orginal, so this is not an 'untold rescue' by any means. I do not think that the mere listing of 'Halsy's Typhoon' in the middle of the selected biograpy along with numerous other books, exonerates Drury and Calvin from their responsibility to disclose the extent of their reliance, including paraphrasing, on 'Halsey's Typhoon.' Their publishers should be made aware of this, if they were not aware of it from the outset. What the authors have done is irresponsible.
When I read that 'Halseys Typhoon' was 'an untold rescue,' I blanched. Havng read 'Halsey's Typhoons' by Hans Christan Adamsom, Co., USAF (Ret) and George Francois Kosco, Capt. USN (Ret), published i 1967, I was astonished at this claim. 'Halsey's Typhoons' (Yes, there were two of them) is a true first hand account of the rescue. Kosco was an eyewitness. Moreover, the original book contains dramatic photographs of the typhoons and their impact on the ships. Drury and Clavin in 'Halsey's Typhoon' deals with the first of the typhoons, Cobra, and not with the second, Viper. Their map of the the path of Cobra is virtualy the same as the map in the original, only slightly modified. That they have used virtually the same title is unconscionable. Moreover the hero of the rescue, Henry L. Plage is quoted at length in the orginal, so this is not an 'untold rescue' by any means. I do not think that the mere listing of 'Halsy's Typhoon' in the middle of the selected biograpy along with numerous other books, exonerates Drury and Calvin from their responsibility to disclose the extent of their reliance, including paraphrasing, on 'Halsey's Typhoon.' Their publishers should be made aware of this, if they were not aware of it from the outset. What the authors have done is irresponsible.
Hi Greg,
Yes, I have read Flyboys. I agree with you, it is an incredible story!
Warmest personal regards,
Pat
Pat, I loved James Bradley's Flags Of Our Fathers. But I steerd clear of this book because I read that it had revisionist history in it, saying the U.S. was just as guilty of atrocities as the Japanese. Is that the impression you got?
Hi Jrsteel,
I read Flags of our Fathers almost two years ago. The book does describe some atrocities committed by the Japanese. I recall a vivid description of the discovery of the mutilated body of a missing Marine. This incident was even contained in the movie, Letters from Iwo Jima. The book also described the terror experienced by the Marines as they attempted to conquer the island.
Having said the above, the book really focuses on the six military figures that raised the Flag, only three of whom survived the action on Iwo Jima. The book goes into great detail regarding the lives of the three survivors after they return to the United States. More specifically, the author examines how each of these three men coped/did not cope with the stress that accompanied their lives for the remainder of their days. I thought it was an excellent read and I was not aware of much in the way of revisionist history. I still highly recommend the book. I thought it was great!
Warmest personal regards,
Pat
Pat, I meant revisionist history in Flyboys. I didn't think there was any in Flags Of Our fathers.
Jrsteel,
Sorry. My mistake.
Hmmmmmmm. Now let me try to switch gears to Flyboys.
As I recall, there were many vivid descriptions of Japanese atrocities in Flyboys. However, I never considered that the book should also contain descriptions of atrocities committed by the U.S. There is no doubt that the U.S. committed atrocities, but the absence of such descriptions does not automatically make me think that revisionist history is involved. If revisionist history was involved in the storytelling, then: 1) I do not know my history well enough (this is entirely possible) or 2) I was too caught up in the storytelling to be very objective. I suggest you read the book in order to determine a clear view.
Again, it has been quite some time since I read this book. If you decide to read it, let me know what you think.
Warmest personal regards,
Pat
Sorry. My mistake.
Hmmmmmmm. Now let me try to switch gears to Flyboys.
As I recall, there were many vivid descriptions of Japanese atrocities in Flyboys. However, I never considered that the book should also contain descriptions of atrocities committed by the U.S. There is no doubt that the U.S. committed atrocities, but the absence of such descriptions does not automatically make me think that revisionist history is involved. If revisionist history was involved in the storytelling, then: 1) I do not know my history well enough (this is entirely possible) or 2) I was too caught up in the storytelling to be very objective. I suggest you read the book in order to determine a clear view.
Again, it has been quite some time since I read this book. If you decide to read it, let me know what you think.
Warmest personal regards,
Pat
Jrsteel,
In the book "Flyboys" it talks about the actrocities the U.S. committed
against the Native Americans in the 1800s and in the Philippines in the early 1900s.I havent read the book in about 2 years but I think it was trying to show how we committed actrocities early in our wars and then changed our way of thinking. The Japanese on the other hand treated prisoners well like the Russians in the early 1900s and then adopted the bushido code and the rest was history. I went out and bought "Ship of Ghosts' today and so far it is an excellent read.
Greg
In the book "Flyboys" it talks about the actrocities the U.S. committed
against the Native Americans in the 1800s and in the Philippines in the early 1900s.I havent read the book in about 2 years but I think it was trying to show how we committed actrocities early in our wars and then changed our way of thinking. The Japanese on the other hand treated prisoners well like the Russians in the early 1900s and then adopted the bushido code and the rest was history. I went out and bought "Ship of Ghosts' today and so far it is an excellent read.
Greg
S
sceic2
Guest
In 1969, when I went through Navy Boot Camp in San Diego, They used examples of how men survived the sinkings of the Tin Cans in the WWII hurricanes and the sinking of the cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA-35) as teaching tools for what I remember during week 4.
We boots would march with our pieces (M-14's) to the pool and they would throw us in the water. Oh yeah, we had classroom sessions first, saw some films on survival techniques (how to tie off your pants legs and form a life vest, how to use your "Dixie Cup" to form an air bubble and float on it, how to swim in water that has burning oil on the surface, etc.), had some so called "safety" lectures and then went swimming.
If you did not willingly jump in the pool to wade, for I think 30 minutes, the instructors would motivate you by shoving you in and extending the time you had to float. After the rest and relaxation event (floating for 30 minutes) we then had to swim three or four lengths of the pool using the "dog paddle." And of course, to jump or to be shoved into the pool was not from the side near the water's edge, it was from a 30-foot platform. You had to show the "instructors" how to protect your crotch by cupping yourself, holding your nose, and jumping in at attention so that you entered the water perpendicular to the horizon. Great stuff for those of us that could swim; not everyone could.
If you could not swim, they let you go to the bottom of the pool, inhale some water and then be pulled out of the water. They would be held back for an extra week of swimming instruction. You had to pass or you were discharged. For some reason sailors should swim?
We boots would march with our pieces (M-14's) to the pool and they would throw us in the water. Oh yeah, we had classroom sessions first, saw some films on survival techniques (how to tie off your pants legs and form a life vest, how to use your "Dixie Cup" to form an air bubble and float on it, how to swim in water that has burning oil on the surface, etc.), had some so called "safety" lectures and then went swimming.
If you did not willingly jump in the pool to wade, for I think 30 minutes, the instructors would motivate you by shoving you in and extending the time you had to float. After the rest and relaxation event (floating for 30 minutes) we then had to swim three or four lengths of the pool using the "dog paddle." And of course, to jump or to be shoved into the pool was not from the side near the water's edge, it was from a 30-foot platform. You had to show the "instructors" how to protect your crotch by cupping yourself, holding your nose, and jumping in at attention so that you entered the water perpendicular to the horizon. Great stuff for those of us that could swim; not everyone could.
If you could not swim, they let you go to the bottom of the pool, inhale some water and then be pulled out of the water. They would be held back for an extra week of swimming instruction. You had to pass or you were discharged. For some reason sailors should swim?