U.S.S. Houston{CA-30} New Book!

I hadn't heard of Hornfischer before, but I do remember reading that The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors was an excellent book, so I think I'll check out his book on the Houston.  The Houston has always been a favorite subject of mine.  As far as other books are concerned, I have The Fleet the Gods Forgot, and I thought I had read it before.  But about a month ago I picked it up to reread it and found it very hard going - it doesn't flow like the Schultz book does - it reads more like an official report to me.  So I doubt I was able to get through it the first time.  I'll persevere, though, since I can't stand not finishing a book.

As far as other references are concerned, I have read A Different Kind of Victory - a biography of Admiral Thomas Hart, by James Leutze (USNIP).  It provides an almost painfully-detailed account of the ABDA fiasco, from start to finish.  Yangtze Patrol by Kemp Tolley (also USNIP) gives a history of the Asiatic fleet based in China, and also covers the move to Manila before the war and the first few months of the war.  I don't recall if it goes as far as Sunda Strait - I doubt it - but it does provide information on the fleet at the beginning of the war.

alumni72 wrote:

Steve,  I'm curious - have you actually read the book?  From your post it sounds like you were told about the book - it's not clear if you have actually read it.  I read a review of Hornfischer's book quite similar to your post, and I'm curious how the new book compares to Duane Schultz's The Last Battle Station.  Schultz's book does an excellent job of covering the Houston's history from 1940 through her sinking, and provides considerable detail concerning the survivors' fate in Burma and Japan, as well as their eventual liberation. I guess I'm a skeptic, but I always cast a wary eye on any book that claims to be the single most authoritative source on something.  Especially when I've already read other quite excellent accounts in the past.

I have read BOTH books.  Both are well done works.  What "The Last Battle Station" does not give is a picture on the ABDA command that was doomed to screw things up from the start.  That book only touches the pre-war history; though "Ghost Ship" didn't give as much as I would have liked.  Both books gave a pretty good 'order of battle' (considering most records were lost with the ship), and the final sinking (Japan claimed it sunk 5 or 6 times prior).  The author does not claim that it is the most authoritative on the ship, a reviewer said that.  What the author does say is that "History is the telling of an actual story".  In my option, Hornfischer is a master as a history teller; if someone wishes to disagree with me, well this is still America. 

What I have found of many reviewers is that they have 'short memories'.  If they haven't seen the book in their stack of books in the past 8 - 12 months, then the book is "old" and must be 'out-of-date'  As far as other excellent accounts of the past; "The Last Battle Station" is the only other book that I know of croniclling the USS Houston.  I personally look forward to Hornfisher's next work; I am sure it will be on a topic that would be filled under "forgotten by needs to be remembered".

I started 'Ship of Ghosts' a couple of weeks ago but unfortunately due to the Christmas holiday I haven't had much time to get back to it.  I must say so far it has been an excellent read.  I do remember reading another book on the Asiatic fleet about 25 years or so ago but for the life of me I can't remember the title.  I remember it was a Bantam paperback, but thats about it.

Hi

I forgot I read "the Fleet the Gods Forgot", I had that one from the local library a couple years ago. I'm going to do a diarama of the Houston next summer, and these books will help in portrayng her near the end of the battle. This "street fight" at point blank range where even the ships 50 caliber machine guns were used to hit search lights and spray enemy ships decks with gunfire. The holed hull will be the hard part to make it look right.

SteveH 

The last book I read on the Asiactic Fleet was 'The Fleet the Gods Forgot', I think this was the title. This book (I'm half way through) goes into detail about what happen to the men of the Houston and other solders captured during this dark time. I also got the 'Shattered Sword' for Christmas. A cool book of the Battle of Midway. Mike  

Hi

The last book I read about the Sunda Strait was written back in the late 50's, or 60's. Aside from Morrisons books on WWII, I've not found anything but different short articles in various naval magazines. I find "Ship of Ghosts" a very interesting work of GREAT detail. Little things like when the ABDA fleet left for the Java Sea battle, men on the Houston heard the Exeters pa playing "A Hunting We Will Go". Rather typical of British humor, I've been long hoping for new books on what happened to the men who survived the battles and more details on her damage. Both ships {Perth and Houston} were dangerously low on ammo, about 20 rounds per main guns on Perth, to about 30 rounds on main guns for Houston. At the end of "live" ammo they both started using "practice shells{i.e. non-explosive shells for target practice} and 8", 6", and 5" starshells. Look at my damage report pages outlined in another post this week. This book also explains why the Japanese treated their pow's the way they did, they used "rifflebutt" discipline on their own troops,why not their  pow's too{Japanese reasoning}?

Thanks for the input on the other books.

SteveH

I received Ship of Ghosts for Christmas but have not started reading it.  I have, however, read Hornfischers's The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors which covers the action off Samar during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.  He keys the book on the DD Johnston taking on the Yamato.  It is a darn good read so if he does as well with Ghosts it will be very good.  I had not heard about The Last Battle Station so I'll be looking if it.  Thanks for the tip.  I live in Houston.  The Captain of the Johnston in its losing battle with the Yamato was killed and a new destroyer was named for him, the Ernest E. Evans.  She was part of my old tincan's division almost 50 years ago and was later sunk as result of a collision with the Australian carrier Melbourne. 

Hi

I have not seen the book "The Last Battle Station" but thanks for telling me about it, I will look for that one. See my new post about the battle damage incured when her aft gunhouse was hit by an aerial bomb, and as the Sunda Strait battle progressed and to it's finish. Also the Naval History Dec. 2006 issue has a condensed story from Honfischer book entitled "Street Fight in the Sunda Strait.", about the Houstons last fight.

Thanks again

SteveH

Steve,

 I'm curious - have you actually read the book?  From your post it sounds like you were told about the book - it's not clear if you have actually read it.  I read a review of Hornfischer's book quite similar to your post, and I'm curious how the new book compares to Duane Schultz's The Last Battle Station.  Schultz's book does an excellent job of covering the Houston's history from 1940 through her sinking, and provides considerable detail concerning the survivors' fate in Burma and Japan, as well as their eventual liberation.

I guess I'm a skeptic, but I always cast a wary eye on any book that claims to be the single most authoritative source on something.  Especially when I've already read other quite excellent accounts in the past.