Your description of the battle was spot on - but it was the Battle of Samar, and it was the anchorage at Leyte that was saved - and MacArthur’s landing in Luzon that was saved.
Yes indeed...
When you are 88 years old, things can get fuzzy sometimes...🙄
My focus is always on Guadalcanal and the naval battles of Savo 1 & 2 and Cape Esperance... My Dad was there with the 1st Marine Division...