| I'd like to see a movie about Leyte and the saga of Taffy 3. US escort carriers and destroyers vs. Japanese battleships, heavy cruisers and more. The charge of the USS Roberts alone swells my heart with pride at the courage and selfsacrifice of those men. It was David against Goliath with the success and safety of the transports and the landing sites at stake.
Halsey's greatest mistake would pain me though. Leaving the invasion area to chase Japanese carriers he had no way of knowing were impotent drew heavy criticism for him. For my part, I love the man. Not because he was such a great war leader but because I wouldn't be here without him. Admiral Halsey made an inspection of the battle site where my father was gravely wounded (not at Leyte). He ordered that the three most seriously wounded Marines be loaded aboard his personal plane (all he could carry). My father was one of those three Marines. He wouldn't have made it otherwise.
__________________
"Do not forget your dogs of war, your big guns, which are the most-to-be respected arguments of the rights of kings."
- Frederick the Great, King of Prussia  |