Posted on 01/13/2007 7:00:23 AM PST by VOA
This is a "headsup" for selected reviews/presentations about WWII
and the Cold War that will appear on BookTV (C-Span2) this
weekend of Jan. 13/14, 2007.
Links to the segments of specific reviews (and their broadcast times)
will be posted below.
The "Ship of Ghosts: The Story of the USS Houston..." might
be pretty good.
The author also produced "Last Stand of The Tin-Can Sailors" about
Taffy 3 (Battle of Samar).
The links below are for other WWII and Cold War topics that
might be interesting.
Read it. Not a bad book.
Links to summaries and broadcast times for selected BookTV (C-Span2) segments
for weekend of Jan 13/14, 2007.
Ship of Ghosts: The Story of the USS Houston, FDR's Legendary Lost
Cruiser, and the Epic Saga of her Survivors
by James Hornfischer
http://www.booktv.org/History/index.asp?segID=7684&schedID=471
FDR's 12 Apostles: The Spies Who Paved the Way for the Invasion of
North Africa
by Hal Vaughan
http://www.booktv.org/History/index.asp?segID=7661&schedID=471
Executive Secrets: Covert Action and the Presidency
by William Daugherty
http://www.booktv.org/General/index.asp?segID=7534&schedID=471
Khrushchev's Cold War: The Inside Story of an American Adversary
by Timothy Naftali, Co-author
http://www.booktv.org/History/index.asp?segID=7819&schedID=471
BookTV (C-Span2; weekends) Schedule for the January 13-14, 2007 weekend
http://www.booktv.org/schedule/
bookmarked
IMO, the most couragous naval battle in the history of the U.S. Navy.
As I've noted on a companion BookTV thread (linked below), this is one
of the weekends when BookTV loads up on some promising books (IMHO).
For links to summaries/broadcast times for some Civil War-era books
reviewed on BookTV this weekend, please click the link below.
(see lead post and post #2)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1767021/posts?page=1
"IMO, the most couragous naval battle in the history of the U.S. Navy."
In case you (and others) haven't seen it...
Taffy 3's actions are part of a "Dogfights" episode that is suppossed to
re-air in a couple of days. (I say "suppossed" because The History Channel
occassionally doesn't deliver on advertized episodes!)
From The History Channel:
Dogfights : 08 - Death of the Japanese Navy
Airs on Tuesday January 16 11:00 PM
Airs on Wednesday January 17 03:00 AM
http://www.history.com/shows.do?action=detail&episodeId=203424
In one of the most amazing yet lopsided naval battles in history, a
mighty Japanese fleet led by the Yamato, the biggest battleship in
the world, versus Taffy 3, a small U.S. task unit of tin can destroyers
and baby flat-tops. The U.S. fleet is made up of ships too weak to fight
and too slow to run. David battles Goliath in a fight for survival, with
the lives of thousands of American soldiers in the balance.
We will recreate this famous battle using state of the art computer graphics.
Viewers will feel like they're in the battle, facing the enemy.
(back to VOA's humble commentary)
I've seen Taffy 3 (Battle of Samar) covered in three documentaries
on The History Channel.
One documentary is just about Taffy 3, the other has a segment on
Taffy 3, and the third is a "Dogfights" episode that includes Taffy 3's
action.
The aerial part "Dogfight"'s "Death of The Japanese Navy" is great.
While the computer graphics of Taffy 3's actions are well done, they are
a bit souless as there are no sailors shown on the ships (IIRC).
Of course, an honest portrayal of the carnage (even if it was computer
graphics) would fall in the "R",
"NC-17" or "X" rating! (something outside The History Channel's sphere).
post 8 might be of interest
My dad was on the U.S.S. Marblehead during that battle, the Houston and Marblehead were mentioned during one of Roosevelt's fireside chats.
"From 1938 on, the Marblehead was stationed in the Far East, a hotbed of confrontation with the Japanese. She helped protect American lives and property in this war-torn region. While the Japanese overran much of China and the Southwestern Pacific, the U.S. fielded only two cruisers (Houston and Marblehead), 13 over-age destroyers and mine sweepers, and fleet auxiliaries, based at Cavite in the Philippines.
In November 1941, Admiral Hart ordered the Asiatic Fleet dispersed. Hence, none of the important U.S. units were caught in surprise air raids on Manila, synchronized with the Pearl Harbor attack. The Marblehead was at Tarakan, Dutch Borneo, when news came of hostilities between the United States and Japan. Stripped for action, she sailed at dawn on December 8, 1941. Later that morning a flying fish sailed through one of her open portholes -- an omen of disaster in Oriental superstition. Soon after, the ship received a radio bulletin reporting itself sunk!
Finally, in February, 1942, the Allies gathered all their warships in the East Indies for a sortie against Japanese shipping. The force -- including the Marblehead , the heavy cruiser Houston, two Dutch cruisers under Admiral Doorman, and seven destroyers -- sailed for the Makassar Straits on February 3, 1942.
The crew's exploits were well-known because President Franklin D. Roosevelt had singled them out as the subject of one of his fireside chats. In holding up the Marblehead's men and those of the Houston (now sunk) as an inspiration to their countrymen, F.D.R. chose well. In that dark hour their determination, courage, and self-sacrifice shone with extra luster, providing genuine heroes for America."
I don't think there is a thread on the Houston, but here is one on Taffy 3:
The FReeper Foxhole Remembers Task Unit Taffy 3 - (10/25/1944) - May 30th, 2003
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-vetscor/920191/posts
I found the thread on the Houston:
The FReeper Foxhole Remembers The BATTLE OF SUNDA STRAIT - 1942 - Jan 10th, 2003
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-vetscor/820223/posts
Pictures of the Houston here:
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-h/ca30.htm
Bio and picturese of Capt. Rooks here:
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-r/a-rooks.htm
In the remote chance you (and others) haven't seen it before...
Here's a link of interest:
USS Marblehead (CL-12), 1924-1946
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-m/cl12.htm
There are a dozen clickable photos of USS Marblehead.
Looks like the Japanese found a tough ship with a tough crew.
bump for publicity
That is one fine-looking ship.
And that www.history.navy.mil website is such a treasure trove of history
and photos!
ping
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