Customer Reviews

Tin Can Sailor: Life Aboard the Uss Sterett, 1939-1945

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have read many books on destroyers during WWII. This is the first book that put me on the deck during a night surface battle, and I could SEE what was going on. There is no hype, no "I was a hero" type of comments, just the facts. You can feel the pain he felt when he saw a fellow sailor dead on the deck. It almost brought me to tears.
If you want to SEE what life on a destroyer was like in WWII, this is a MUST READ book!

The book had special meaning for me in that my father was aboard the Sterett from October 1941 to October 1943. Although he had often explained many of the events aboard ship, the connection for me between the war and it's lasting affect on the men who served, was not realized until I read the gripping tales recounted by Captain Calhoun. In a well researched history enhanced with the credibility of first hand knowledge, Captain Calhoun related the Sterett's experience. Every child, grandchild, and great grandchild of every sailor who ever served during WW II on any ship of any kind should read this book and well-up with the pride of having known, or have in their lineage the brave men who stood in harms way to preserve our freedom. My regret is that I had not read it prior to my father's passing on December 10, 1999 and let him know how proud of him I am. Thank you Cal wherever you are.

I picked up this book because my grandfather was a WWII destroyer sailor (DD-727 USS DeHaven II, not the Sterret), and I wanted to get a sense of what the war must have been like for him. I think this book does an excellent job of this and "Cal" Calhoun has to be commended for pulling together the story of this destroyer.

Of course the book follows one particular destroyer but it focuses on the daily life of the sailors and officers, giving you a good concept of what their working lives and their missions were. The Sterret also had a particularly distinguished career, especially during the Third Battle of Savo in which the author took part. The Sterret engaged a Japanese cruiser, battleship, and sunk a destroyer at point blank range at night while receiving 14-inch shells, and makes for some of the best combat writing I've ever read.

The book takes you from the Sterret's comissioning, training in the pacific before the war (including adventurous attempts to try to capture turtles by steering the ship), early duty with the British home fleet in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, and then on to its amazing career in the Pacific from Guadalcanal to Okinawa, and, last, its return to New York for decomissioning and scrapping.

The author had to leave the ship shortly after the action in around Savo and so about two-thirds through the book the style of storytelling necessarily changes. Despite this the book is still an excellent read throughout. At only 160 pages or so of text it's also an easy read yet still does justice to the ship, her crew, and all who served on destroyers in WWII. Definitely recommended.

The only problem with this book is that the author didn't stay on the Sterett past 1943 so the book could have been longer. Very good reading. Hard to put down.

Like a previous reviewer, my father also served on a WWII Pacific destroyer. This book helps to capture what life on a destroyer must have been like. Interestingly, it follows the life and action of this ship from it's beginning in the shipyard; through its exciting sea battles, and then to her decommissioning. Thankyou Capt. Calhoun for a book well done.

I had previously bought a book about our fast battleships and became interested in the sea battles that took place around Guadalcanal, when "the outcome was still in doubt." This book is great! Written by someone who was there with inputs from some of the other people involved, this is a great account of some of the most vicious ship-to-ship battles the American Navy fought in World War Two. A great book for you if you are interested in a picture from right down in the trenches.

Get this book, I just heard Captain Calhoun speak today at a meeting. He is 97 and sharp as a tack with details of his experiences. I enjoyed listening to him, and now want to get the book!!!!:) :)

While I did enjoy reading this book, I must say I was slightly disapointed. I was looking forward to learning more about the technical aspects of these important ships and the duties they performed during WWII. While some insight was gained in this area, I felt it could have been more. I was also hoping for a keel to foretop tour of the USS Sterett. Some maps would also not have gone amiss. Calhoun focus is more on the human aspects of life at sea and in particular, at war.

If that is what you are looking for, or for day to day life aboard a destroyer, this book is for you. The best part of the book by far is Calhoun's description of the November 12-13th 1942 night surface action vs the Imperial Japanese Navy. This decisive battle thwarted attempts for Japan to retake Guadalcanal leading to U.S. victory. You actually feel that you are there amoungst the carnage of the battle and get a real appreciation of what it must have been like to serve onboard one of these unprotected "tin cans"- with 1" steel, that is exactly what they were!

A great inside view of life and service aboard a WWII destroyer in the Pacific campaign, well worth the read.