Down to the Sea: An Epic Story of Naval Disaster and Heroism in World War II

GOOD READ

"Down to the Sea" is an intensely dramatic World War II story of heroism and hubris on the high seas. Against the backdrop of the war in the Pacific, Bruce Henderson relates the tragic saga of three doomed destroyers of the Third Fleet. The enemy was not the Japanese navy but a monstrous typhoon. What makes the tragic fate of the destroyers Hull, Monaghan, and Spence so real is Henderson`s masterful telling of the personal tale of the officers and men whose lives and deaths were tied to the fate of their ships. Like the families of these men, one comes to care about their personal welfare.Henderson also carefully sets the stage for what could probably have been an avoidable tragedy by analyzing the decisions and compromises that were the result of command egos and the exigencies of war. When the catastrophe finally struck, Henderson's vivid portrayal made me feel as though I was alongside the brave sailors as they were fighting for their lives against the wind and the seas. I highly recommend Bruce Henderson's "Down to the Sea." The book is breathtaking and haunting and will stay with the reader long after the final page is read.

As a former "Tin can sailor", I can relate to almost every word written in this book, As a young engineering striker in '73, I reported aboard a Destroyer Escort in Japan, it was the first ship I had ever seen, and the following morning we were ordered to sea to out run a fast approaching Typhoon. Reading "Down to the Sea," I relived every moment I experienced aboard my ship and the terrifying sea's and wind we found our selves in. This book is so well written that it gives the reader the feeling he is part of the crews that are doomed by ego's, incompetence and the power of nature. There are hero's to cheer for, and a Commanding Officer you just want to punch out. And when the survivors recall up to 3 day's afloat, in a turbulent sea while sharks circle. Just try to have a restful sleep when you put the book down for the night. I am happy I found "Down to the Sea," it will be a book I revisit many time's in the years ahead.

This is a must read for anyone, but being a 'destroyer' crewmember in the 60's, I felt almost as if I were there. I have previously read "Halsey's Typhoon" (which I would recommend) but found this book in much more detail. This event was brought on by mistakes from Admiral Halsey, weather forcasters, poor judgement from ships' commanding officers, overactive ego's, and last but not least, fate. This account introduces you to crewmembers and their love for their ships as well as their families. It also delves into the mistakes made by designers of these fateful ships. You will feel that you are in the midst of this terrible typhoon, (later named 'Cobra).This just might be one of your favorites on history, heroism and the power of the sea.

I was in the Navy for 5 years served most of my time in the Far East.I experienced two typhoons one off Japan the other off the Philippines.The one off Japan was so bad we were reported lost. That was in October 1967...this book brought it all back to me. It was so real and vivid I was spitting seawater.A Terrific and Terrible read. If you want to know what it's like to be in Monster Storm and know Fear and God...this is the book.....Enjoy.

I have commanded two USNavy ships and sailed frequently in the waters sited in this book. The descriptions of actions needed to prepare for riding out a typhoon will make a believer out of any seaman. The well-researched descriptions of how 3 destroyers found themselves in dire trouble and how one other becomes heroic ring true and rivet ones attention. The telling of individual actions, from little known Pearl Harbor fighting to the throes of WWll in the Pacific, most by heros and others by cowards, and the subsequent lack of appropriate investigation by the Navy will both excite and revolt you.

My father was in the Navy in WWII and he talked about a the typhoon in June 1944 that almost "broke up" his ship, the USS Oceanus. This particular typhoon took place prior and just sounds horrific. Honestly, the bullish and obstinate nature of some of the upper echelon in the military is a huge problem to this day. Worth reading.

My husbands dad was one of the survivors of the USS Hull so this book was a must for our library. Excellent recount of what happened during Typhoon Cobra in WWW II and the brave men who survived Halsey’s Typhoon.