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John Grider Miller
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The Battle to Save the Houston: October 1944 to March 1945 (Bluejacket Books) Paperback – January 15, 2013

by John Grider Miller (Author)
4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 25 ratings
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A World War II adventure story of epic proportions, this book tells the heroic tale of a dedicated band of men who refused to let their crippled ship sink to the bottom of the Pacific in late 1944. Based on over seventy eyewitness accounts and hundreds of official documents and personal papers, it records in rich detail the USS Houston's 14,000-mile perilous journey home to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Part of Bull Halsey's famous Pacific Task Force 38, the Houston's had been supporting air strikes as a prelude to the Battle of Leyte Gulf, when she took an aerial torpedo hit that caused serious flooding. Nearly two-thirds of the crew abandoned ship before the damage-control officer convinced the captain she might be saved. Another torpedo hit two days later complicated the crew's desperate fight. Surrounded by death, floodwaters, and fire, stalked by enemy subs, threatened by air attack, and running from a typhoon, the men of the Houston's remained towers of strength while knowing their ship was never more than minutes away from breaking apart. John Miller's action-packed account gives insights into the nature of heroism and leadership that remain valuable today. Exceptional photographic documentation accompanies the text.
Previous page
  1. Part of series
    Bluejacket Books
  2. Print length
    226 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Naval Institute Press
  5. Publication date
    January 15, 2013
  6. Dimensions
    6 x 0.5 x 8.75 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    1557505403
  8. ISBN-13
    978-1557505408
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Miller, a retired Marine colonel, is the author of The Bridge at Dong Ha and The CoVans: U.S. Marine Advisors in Vietnam. Following his 1985 retirement from the Marine Corps, he became Managing Editor of Proceedings and Naval History, a post he held until 2000.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Naval Institute Press (January 15, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 226 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1557505403
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1557505408
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.5 x 8.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 25 ratings

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John Grider Miller

John Grider Miller

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Customer reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
4.9 out of 5
25 global ratings
My father Julius Steuckert passed away Sept 15 2014
5 Stars
My father Julius Steuckert passed away Sept 15 2014
My father Julius Steuckert was on that ship. He passed away last September 2014 at the age of 98. Like most of the greatest generation as it has been said he never talked about what happened to him in WWII or rarely did. He was a Pearl Harbor survivor and after that incident he eventually transferred to the newly built light cruiser Houston CL 81. My fathers battle station was as antiaircraft radar fire control officer. His station was in the bottom hold in one of the compartments next to the engine room compartment. When the torpedo hit it killed all of the men in the engine room and the ship lost power. Not knowing completely what had happened, In the dark, he and his crew waited for the power to return or orders what to do. They called up using air phone tube communication and an officer replied "What the Hell are you doing down there" ? "Get up here immediately." my father said he never got to topside so fast in his life. Then my fathers duties changed to damage control officer and was instrumental in saving the Houston for which he got the bronze star. This is all I know as was related to me by my father only a few years before he passed away. I beg you to read this book. James Steuckert
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Top reviews from the United States

Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars My father Julius Steuckert passed away Sept 15 2014
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2015
Verified Purchase
My father Julius Steuckert was on that ship. He passed away last September 2014 at the age of 98. Like most of the greatest generation as it has been said he never talked about what happened to him in WWII or rarely did. He was a Pearl Harbor survivor and after that incident he eventually transferred to the newly built light cruiser Houston CL 81. My fathers battle station was as antiaircraft radar fire control officer. His station was in the bottom hold in one of the compartments next to the engine room compartment. When the torpedo hit it killed all of the men in the engine room and the ship lost power. Not knowing completely what had happened, In the dark, he and his crew waited for the power to return or orders what to do. They called up using air phone tube communication and an officer replied "What the Hell are you doing down there" ? "Get up here immediately." my father said he never got to topside so fast in his life. Then my fathers duties changed to damage control officer and was instrumental in saving the Houston for which he got the bronze star. This is all I know as was related to me by my father only a few years before he passed away. I beg you to read this book. James Steuckert
Customer image
Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars My father Julius Steuckert passed away Sept 15 2014
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2015
My father Julius Steuckert was on that ship. He passed away last September 2014 at the age of 98. Like most of the greatest generation as it has been said he never talked about what happened to him in WWII or rarely did. He was a Pearl Harbor survivor and after that incident he eventually transferred to the newly built light cruiser Houston CL 81. My fathers battle station was as antiaircraft radar fire control officer. His station was in the bottom hold in one of the compartments next to the engine room compartment. When the torpedo hit it killed all of the men in the engine room and the ship lost power. Not knowing completely what had happened, In the dark, he and his crew waited for the power to return or orders what to do. They called up using air phone tube communication and an officer replied "What the Hell are you doing down there" ? "Get up here immediately." my father said he never got to topside so fast in his life. Then my fathers duties changed to damage control officer and was instrumental in saving the Houston for which he got the bronze star. This is all I know as was related to me by my father only a few years before he passed away. I beg you to read this book. James Steuckert
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Jonathan
5.0 out of 5 stars Great depiction of what the men went through
Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2018
Verified Purchase
My dad was on the USS Houston (CL-81) and was ejected from below deck when the second torpedo hit. He spent a few days floating around in the Pacific before being picked up.
2 people found this helpful
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Mills Bason
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Story!
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2013
Verified Purchase
I loved this book. it combines the technical side with the humanity in such an interesting way to make it hard to put down. I actually read it in one evening. When I have a bad day, I think of this story and what the men of the Houston went through and it helps me put things in perspective. It is a must read!!
One person found this helpful
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rdujarric@aol.com
4.0 out of 5 stars very good book
Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2014
Verified Purchase
Very good and well researched account of the torpedoing and repair of the USS Houston. Robert Dujarric, Temple University Japan, a Tokyo.
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Richard A cowan
5.0 out of 5 stars What a great tale of naval history!
Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2016
Verified Purchase
Excellent account of a heroic group of men. This book shows how dedicated our enlisted men were to their fellow sailors , officers and ship. A great page turner that grips the reader and makes him almost feel as if he were on board the Houston.
One person found this helpful
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Lanny M.
5.0 out of 5 stars see who are the brave men are.
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2017
Verified Purchase
great read. told more about what Dad had to deal with when he served. also how the navy learned to cross train men to better deal with the events like what happened to the USS Houston.
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Ray F
5.0 out of 5 stars A page turner.
Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2016
Verified Purchase
This is a great read.
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Martha
5.0 out of 5 stars MY BROTHER IN LAW WAS ON THIS BOAT
Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2012
Verified Purchase
I only found out that my late brother in law was on this boat. Very informative. I now have a piece of family history.
One person found this helpful
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