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Books for destroyermen

                                              Books of Interest to Destroyermen



"DESTROYER SQUADRON 23" by Ken Jones 283 pages, in hard cover.

This epic account of Arleigh Burke's legendary Destroyer Squadron 23 is a
story of men in action and how they lived and fought as a magnificent combat team.
Available through the Military Book Club for $19.95.
Military Book Club PO Box 6325. Indianapolis, IN 46206-63225.

Also available in paperback edition at $18.95 from U. S. Naval Institute Press
2062 Generals Highway, Annapolis, MD 21401 or call 1-800-233 8764.



"UNITED STATES DESTROYER OPERATIONS IN WW II"
by Theodore Roscoe 581 pages, in hard cover.
A detailed account of the operations of U. S. destroyers in World War II,
prepared from personal narratives and official records. 1953. Illustrated. $47.50.
Available from U. S. Naval Institute Press 2062 Generals Highway,
Annapolis, MD 21401 or call 1-800-233 8764.

"BLOOD ON THE SEA" by Robert Sinclair Parkin 360 pages, in hard cover.

American Destroyers Lost in World War II. Parkin has written a history of each
destroyer's actions prior to its doom, as well as a context of the battle in which it was
lost. Filled with eyewitness accounts, as well as the result of many years research.
1996. $29.95.
Available from Military Book Club PO Box 6325. Indianapolis, IN 46206-63225.


"THE SACRIFICIAL LAMBS" by Bill Sholin 248 pages, in hard cover.

U. S. Destroyers vs. Japanese Kamikazes. The untold story about the Japanese
Kamikaze attacks against the U. S. Fleet from beginning to end. A Destroyer book
written by a Destroyerman. 1989.
Available from Mountain View Books PO Box 7438, Bonney Lake, WA 98390.


"THE KAMIKAZE NIGHTMARE" by Bill Sholin 479 pages, in hard cover.

Addditional details and information not covered in the book listed above. Contains
numerous eyewitness personal accounts of the actions. 2000. $39.95.
Available from Mountain View Books PO Box 7438, Bonney Lake, WA 98390.


"UNITED STATES NAVY DESTROYERS OF WORLD WAR II"
by John C. Reilly Jr. 160 pages, in softcover.

This work is intended to provide a general idea of the third and fourth generation
destroyers with which the U. S. Navy fought its share of World War II, and of the
process by which each successive class of ships came to be. Illustrated. 1983.
This book may now be out of print. May be available from U. S. Naval Institute
Press 2062 Generals Highway, Annapolis, MD 21401 or call 1-800-233 8764.


"FLETCHER CLASS DESTROYERS" by Alan Raven 158 pages, in hard cover.

An informative description of individual destroyers and of the class as a whole. It
provides details on the Fletchers origins and gives complete information on its design
history and construction, wartime modifications and refits, ship combat evaluation, and
the differences between vessels within the class. Illustrated. 1986.
Available from U. S. Naval Institute Press 2062 Generals Highway,
Annapolis, MD 21401 or call 1-800-233 8764.


"DESTROYERS: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY"
by Antony Preston 224 pages, in hard cover.

In this illustrated volume, historian Preston relates the saga of the great
destroyers of all the maritime powers. Contains rare photos, cutaway drawings and
a text rich in technical detail. 1998.
Available from U. S. Naval Institute Press 2062 Generals Highway,
Annapolis, MD 21401 or call 1-800-233 8764.


"DESTROYERS OF WORLD WAR II" by M. J. Whitley 256 pages, hard cover.

Comprehensively details in one volume all the destroyers built between 1939 and
1945 by the navies of the world. Illustrated with hundreds of photographs and line
drawings. A reprint of the popular 1988 book. 2000. $39.96,
Available from U. S. Naval Institute Press 2062 Generals Highway,
Annapolis, MD 21401 or call 1-800-233 8764.

Also now available for $34.99,  Cat. No. 519280    from The Military Book Club, PO Box 6325, Indianapolis, IN 46206-63225.

"HISTORY OF THE USS KIDD DD661" and The Fletcher Class Destroyers.
by Turner Publishing Co. 168 pages, in hard cover.

Details the history of the USS KIDD and also a brief history of each of the
ships in the FLETCHER class. 1992.
Available from The gift shop at The Louisiana Naval War Memorial, 305 S.
River Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 (225) 342-1942.


"TYPHOON: THE OTHER ENEMY" by Capt. C. Raymond Calhoun
246 pages, in hard cover. 1981

Details the story of the Typhoon of December 1944 in which the USS SPENCE,
one of the "Little Beavers", was lost with nearly all hands. This storm is sometimes
referred to as "Halsey's Typhoon". 
Available from U. S. Naval Institute Press 2062 Generals Highway,
Annapolis, MD 21401 or call 1-800-233 8764.

"HALSEY'S TYPHOON"  by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin.  322 pages in hardcover. 2007.

The Story of the December 1944 Typhoon in which the USS Spence, a member of DESRON 23, was lost.
This typhoon was one of WW II's most unexpected disasters and a devastatingTragedy. A true tale of men
against the sea.

Available from Military Book Club,  PO Box 6325, Indianapolis, IN 46206-63225.

"THE DIVINE WIND" by Capt. Inoguchi and Cmdr. Nakajima with Roger Pineau.
228 pages.
Inoguchi and Nakajima relive the ten month history of this unique Suicide Force.
A carefully documented and accurate account of the suicide fliers, their lives and
thoughts. Both were survivors of the Kamikaze Special Attack Corps. 1958.
May still be available from Military Book Club,  PO Box 6325, Indianapolis, IN 46206-63225.

"THE BEST OF BURKE" Douglass Hubbard, editor. 44 pages, phamplet.

A collection of Wit, Wisdom and Advice from Adm. Arleigh "31 Knot" Burke.
1986. @1.50
Available from gift shop, Nimitz Museum, PO Box 777, Fredericksburg,, TX 78624.


"ADMIRAL ARLEIGH BURKE" by E. B. Potter 494pages, a biography.
in hard cover.

Arleigh Burke was the Navy's last great warrior chief. Superb military history of
this famous Destroyerman. 1990.

Available from U. S. Naval Institute Press 2062 Generals Highway,
Annapolis, MD 21401 or call 1-800-233 8764.

"THE LAST STAND OF THE TIN CAN SAILORS"         by James D. Hornfischer,
    499 pages, in hard cover.  May also be available in paper back.

The story of the heroic charge made by the "Little Boys" of "Taffy 3" during the Battle for Leyte Gulf
in Octobaer 1944.  They attacked the huge Japanese Center Force, facing tremendous odds, causing
them  to turn away.

Available from Barnes and Noble, book sellers.  www.bn.com

"THE BLUEJ ACKET'S MANUAL"   by Thomas J. Cutler.
  647 pages in hardcover. The sailorman's bible. This is contemporary and is published by
the U.S. Naval Institute. There is considerable more information in this edition than in the WW II
model we all remember.

Available from U. S. Naval Institute Press 2062 Generals Highway,
Annapolis, MD 21401 or call 1-800-233 8764.

"TIN CAN MAN"  by E. J. Jernigan

206 pages in hardcover. Emory Jernigan relates an interesting and fascinating glimpse of life as an enlisted man
in the "Old Navy", and a view of war often overlooked by historians.  A story of life aboard a Fletcher Class DD.

Available from Vandamere Press, PO Box 5243, Arlington VA, 22205.

"AT WAR WITH THE WIND" by David Sears

502 pages in hardcover. A story of the US NAVY'S ordeal with the Japanese Kamikazes. The USS CLAXTON
and some crewmen are mentioned in several places. This is a well written account of Destroyermen in action
and their trials and tribulations. It is based on numerous interviews with sailors that were there. He relates how
the DESRON 23 "Little Beaver" Logo originated on the CLAXTON.

Available thru David Sears web site: www.dlsearsbooks.com $24.95. Books ordered thru the web site will be personally
inscribed and autographed. Also available thru The Military Book Club.

"KAMIKAZES, CORSAIRS AND PICKET SHIPS"  by Robin L. Rielly

435 pages in hardcover. This is another fine account of the US NAVY'S ordeal with the Kamikazes on the Radar
Picket Stations around Okinawa. The USS CLAXTON is mentioned on several pages.

Available from the Military Book Club.

"HISTORY OF UNITED STATES NAVAL OPERATIONS IN WW II"   by Samuel E. Morison

This is the classic and definitive history of The U.S. NAVY in WW II in 15 volumes. The USS CLAXTON is mentioned
in several of the volumes. Most Librarys worthy of the name will have this excellent history in their collectiion. It is
now out of print and most booksellers are clearing it out of inventory. Some volumes can be had for as low as $5.95.
It is doubtful if a full set can be purchased. The more popular volumes are not listed now.
When it was in print, the volumes sold for $25.00 or more. It is probably approaching rare book status.

 

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Many of the books listed above may be found in the World War II history
section of larger libraries.

Page revised November 15, 2008










 

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