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Down to the Sea: An Epic Story of Naval Disaster and Heroism in World War II
by Henderson, Bruce
- Used
- Fine
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- fine/near fine
- ISBN 10
- 0061173169
- ISBN 13
- 9780061173165
- Seller
-
Batavia, Illinois, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Smithsonian, 2007-10-29. First edition, complete line of . hardcover. fine/near fine. 6x1x9. NOT an ex library book. 568 pages including the index. Dust jacket has no chips or tears, price is not clipped.
Synopsis
This epic story opens at the hour the Greatest Generation went to war on December 7, 1941, and follows four U.S. Navy ships and their crews in the Pacific until their day of reckoning three years later with a far different enemy: a deadly typhoon. In December 1944, while supporting General MacArthur's invasion of the Philippines, Admiral William "Bull" Halsey neglected the Law of Storms—the unofficial bible of all seamen since the days of sail—placing the mighty U.S. Third Fleet in harm's way. One of the most powerful fighting fleets ever assembled under any flag, the Third Fleet sailed directly into the largest storm the U.S. Navy had ever encountered—a maelstrom of 90-foot seas and 160-mph winds. More men were lost and ships sunk and damaged than in most combat engagements in the Pacific. The final toll: 3 ships sunk, 28 ships damaged, 146 aircraft destroyed, and 756 men lost at sea.In all, 92 survivors from the three sunken ships (each carrying a crew of about 300) were rescued, some after spending up to 80 hours in the water. Scores more had made it off their sinking ships only to perish in the monstrous seas; some from injuries and exhaustion, others snatched away by circling sharks before their horrified shipmates. In the far-flung rescue operations Bruce Henderson finds some of the story's truest heroes, exhibiting selflessness, courage, and even defiance. One badly damaged ship, whose Naval Reserve skipper disobeyed an admiral's orders to abandon the search, single-handedly saved 55 lives.Drawing on extensive interviews with nearly every living survivor and rescuer, many families of lost sailors, transcripts and other records from two naval courts of inquiry, ships' logs and action reports, personal letters, and diaries, Bruce Henderson offers the most thorough and riveting account to date of one of the greatest naval dramas of World War II.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Dorothy Meyer - Bookseller
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 341218
- Title
- Down to the Sea: An Epic Story of Naval Disaster and Heroism in World War II
- Author
- Henderson, Bruce
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- Used - fine
- Jacket Condition
- near fine
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First edition, complete line of
- ISBN 10
- 0061173169
- ISBN 13
- 9780061173165
- Publisher
- Smithsonian
- Place of Publication
- New York
- Date Published
- 2007-10-29
- Size
- 6x1x9
- X weight
- 23 oz
Terms of Sale
Dorothy Meyer - Bookseller
Payment may be made by Visa, Mastercard, Money order or check. Books will be held seven days pending arrival of payment. All orders are carefully packaged and shipped promptly upon receipt of payment. Shipping is by U.S. Post Office media rate unless otherwise requested by the buyer. Postage for the first book is $3.95, and $1.25 for each additional book. Rates for Priority mail and International Delivery are based on destination. Heavier books and book sets may require additional postage. Returns are accepted within fourteen days of delivery.
About the Seller
Dorothy Meyer - Bookseller
Biblio member since 2005
Batavia, Illinois
About Dorothy Meyer - Bookseller
Dorothy Meyer - Bookseller was established in 1987 offering collectible and out of print books. We offer a full line of general stock with an emphasis on Americana, Children & Juvenile, Juvenile Series and Military. We are careful in describing the condition of the book and the dust jacket. All dust jackets are protected with mylar covers. All books are subject to prior sale. Member of Midwest Book Hunters.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Jacket
- Sometimes used as another term for dust jacket, a protective and often decorative wrapper, usually made of paper which wraps...
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