Battle 360 Episode 9 -”Battle of Leyte Gulf” is an exceptionally good History Channel piece.
When my father was alive, he told me he participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf Off Samar. I also knew he was on USS Heermann. I did not know until I watched this Battle 360 episode a half dozen years ago, how much he’d been through.
See the Wikipedia article about the battle and the role of the USS HEERMANN
“ In no engagement of its entire history has the United States Navy shown more gallantry, guts and gumption than in those two morning hours between 0730 and 0930 off Samar ”
Samuel Eliot Morison, History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Volume XII, Leyte
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_off_Samar
Be sure to visit a library with a copy of Morrison’s Volume XII and read about your father’s ship and the larger battle.
Bill Klein WWII Vet & Battle Of Leyte Gulf Aboard USS Heermann
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU0CeueTYcQ