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Left to Die: The Tragedy of the USS Juneau Mass Market Paperback – May 1, 1995

by Dan Kurzman (Author)

63 customer reviews

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Recounts the tragic story of the USS Juneau and the unneccessary sacrifice of its one hundred forty survivors, including the five Sullivan brothers, to military indecision. Reprint. NYT.

Left to Die: The Tragedy of the USS Juneau

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

On November 13, 1942, during the naval battle of Guadalcanal, a Japanese submarine torpedoed the cruiser U.S.S. Juneau , killing most of its 700-plus crew. Some 150 survivors watched in dismay as the rest of the task force sailed over the horizon, its commander, Captain Gilbert C. Hoover, having decided that it was too dangerous to pick them up. Due to communications foul-ups combined with gross negligence, rescuers did not arrive until eight days later, by which time only 10 Juneau crewmen remained alive. Kurzman's skillful recounting of the nightmarish events in the water, reconstructed from interviews with five of the survivors and with relatives of the other five will not be soon forgotten by readers--especially the horrifying shark frenzies. The book reveals details of the Navy's investigation and its decision to quietly bury the tragic story with this official statement: "Let the Juneau be remembered simply as the ill-fated ship on which the celebrated Sullivan brothers courageously died fighting when it went down, bringing new glory on the U.S. Navy." The author of the acclaimed Fatal Voyage: The Sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis has re-created another memorable disaster story.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

In 1942 the U.S. cruiser Juneau was sunk near Guadalcanal. Because of a mistaken belief that there were no survivors and several other successive errors, the 180 men who survived the sinking were reduced by thirst, wounds, and shark attack during the course of a week to only 10. Among those lost were the five Sullivan brothers, who became the best-known casualties of an otherwise little-known episode of World War II. Kurzman has pulled together just about all the material one could reasonably expect into what will likely stand as the definitive recounting of the tragedy, because most of the survivors and their next of kin are now departing the scene. Sometimes clumsily told but generally powerful, his effort deserves its place in at least larger naval and World War II collections. Roland Green --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product details

Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Pocket Books; Reissue edition (May 1, 1995)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0671748742
ISBN-13: 978-0671748746
Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 1.2 x 4.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
Average Customer Review: 63 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,295,166 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2954 in Books > History > Military > Naval
- #11646 in Books > History > Military > World War II
- #13473 in Books > History > Military > United States

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The realities of War

ByMichael A. Nelsonon September 5, 2016

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Left to Die is connected to multiple events. Most of the World War II public who lived through that time probably remembers the movie The Sullivans (renamed, The Fighting Sullivans) ; the story of five brothers who were sailors serving on the cruiser USS Juneau all of whom were killed in action November of 1942; however, the movie emphasizes the early life of the brothers and their family, not the incident of their deaths. Left to Die deals with the sinking of the Juneau. This account is reminiscent of Paul Harvey's radio program "The Rest of the Story". This book speaks to many similar tragedies throughout history; the tragedies are complex and although the renditions are often focused, the complexity, or connections, are important too. This book provides a look at the human element of the story of the USS Juneau. This story gives a portrait of crew members including the five Sullivan brothers, the four Rodgers brothers and Captain Lyman Swenson. I recommend this book; it gives the reader not only the rest of the story but also gives a realistic commentary about war and its reality. I would also recommend accounts of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis and the movie Saving Private Ryan.

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True WWII Naval History

ByRaymond H. MullenVINE VOICEon December 18, 2012

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Dan Kurzman hit another one out of the park in this story of the U.S.S. Juneau. It will give all of you 'armchair quarterbacks' a chance to think on how you would have handled the aftermath of the sinking of the Juneau and the plight of its' survivors.
It explains the tragedy caused by errors of Navy officers and other personel. The battle itself is brought to you in a manner that almost makes you feel saltwater on your face.
It is a story of heroism at its' best and war at its' worst. The book wonderfully covers the five Sullivan brothers and their lives before they entered the Navy as well as the family after the tragic event. It also covers the four Rogers brothers that served together on the doomed ship.
Not only is this book an exciting account of a great sea battle, it is a story of human love, tragedy and the costs of many families directly involved with the crew of the Juneau.
It belongs on the shelf of anyone that reads history as well as anyone that wishes to read about the human spirit, its tragedies and triumphs.

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I'm in my 80's and for some reason I didn't ...

ByLittle Grandmaon August 3, 2016

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I'm in my 80's and for some reason I didn't know this book existed. My uncle Bob was in the engine room. His ornery older brothers would run to the piano and play the Star Spangled Banner when he was bathing in a tub in the kitchen where he was compelled to stand as any patriotic young man would in those days.

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You will definitely FINISH this book.

ByEnglish Foxhoundon July 10, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This book was not one you could put down easily. You absolutely had to stick with it find out what happened to these men. A very good book.

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A compelling story of survival

ByJohn V. Sewardon May 16, 2001

Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase

"Left To Die" is one of the most compelling stories to come out of WWII. The story of the USS Juneau, her skipper, and crew is another of the great mysteries of the war. Why no search and rescue mission was initiated until all but 10 of the crew were dead, draws comparison to the later disaster following the sinking of the USS Indianapolis in 1945. The bittersweet tale of Capt. Lyman K. Swenson adds more poigniancy to the story of a gallant crew that was left to the fates. The book also details the lives of the Juneau survivors after their rescue. It also brings to light the bungling of numerous sightings of survivors, which bordered on criminal negligence.

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great read; a real page turner

ByColleenroseon September 16, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This book is so well written I had difficulty putting it down. I made the mistake of starting it at night. I had to read the whole book in one session. The author gives a lot of background on the people in the book. They come alive to the reader. He obviously researched the subject and diligently sought to tell the truth about an episode that I had never read an account. I highly recommend this book.

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Three Stars

ByV. Koloon May 19, 2017

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

A lot of info but tends towards sensationalism.

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Coverup

ByMarilyn Lindellon May 30, 2014

Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase

Wow...I do not know how to describe my feelings after reading this book. I picked it because I had an uncle who was one of the men lost aboard this ship. I was curious as was never really told much about this tragedy except the ship was lost along with the 5 Sullivan brothers. Now I know why....I can not believe this actually was allowed to happen and then buried so quickly. Again, does not speak well for our government.....I don't know if I feel the way I do is because, now I wonder was my uncle one of those who dies instantly or was he one left floating in the shark infested waters to die.