The Last Stand Of The Tin Can Sailors

On the morning of October 25, 1944, a pivotal moment in the history of the Pacific Theater during World War II began: the Battle off Samar. At stake was General Douglas MacArthur’s return to the Philippines and the destruction of the Japanese supply lines; in order for this to happen, the Navy would have to clear the way for the landing of American troops. The bulk of the American naval forces, however, had been decoyed to the north of Leyte Gulf by a clever Japanese plan. As a result, the remaining U.S. ships had to stand their ground against the most fearsome ships of the Japanese navy. How could this small flotilla repel the mighty Nipponese and their dread pagoda-topped warships? A miracle happened here.