About the Book
On the morning of April 16, 1945, the crewmen of the USS Laffey saw what seemed to be the entire Japanese air force assembled directly above. They were about to become the targets of the largest single-ship kamikaze attack of World War II.
By the time the unprecedented assault was finished, thirty-two sailors were dead and more than seventy wounded. Although she lay shrouded in smoke and fire for hours, the Laffey somehow survived. The gutted American warship limped from Okinawa's shore for home, where the ship and crew would be feted as heroes.
Using personal interviews with survivors, the memoirs of crew members, and their wartime correspondence, John Wukovits breathes life into the story of this forgotten historic event.
About the Author :
John Wukovits is a military expert specializing in the Pacific Theater of World War II. He is the author of many books, including For Crew and Country, One Square Mile of Hell, and Pacific Alamo. He has also written numerous articles for such publications as WWII History, Naval History, and World War II. He lives in Trenton, Michigan.
Review :
Advance praise for Hell from the Heavens "John Wukovits is a master storyteller of battle at sea. With a fine eye for revealing detail, he re-creates, with sure and dramatic strokes, the almost unbelievable story of a destroyer, its dauntless captain, and its brave men under assault by a score of kamikazes in the climactic days of the Pacific War. A great read about one of the Navy's most stirring single-ship actions."--Evan Thomas, bestselling author of Sea of Thunder and John Paul Jones "Inspiring true story of a legendary World War II warship that famously refused to die and her intrepid crew of tin can soldiers who fought their way across the seas from Normandy to Okinawa. John Wukovits's Hell from the Heavens is naval history at its compelling best."--Bruce Henderson, coauthor of the New York Times bestseller And the Sea Will Tell "John Wukovits is one of those rare authors with the ability to capture the stink, the heat, and the fear of battle. In Hell from the Heavens, he almost without mercy thrusts the reader into the terrifying experience of being on the receiving end of Japanese suicide attacks. If your palms aren't sweating while reading this book, you need to have your vital signs checked!"--Flint Whitlock, editor of WWII Quarterly "Well researched and finely written, Hell from the Heavens brings vividly to life the story of USS Laffey's life-or-death struggle against kamikazes determined to send her to the bottom. The story of 'The Ship That Wouldn't Die' is a nail-biter, and John Wukovits tells it with panache."--Stephen Harding, author of the New York Times bestseller The Last Battle Kirkus Reviews, 2/15/15 "The incredible story of the 'destroyer with a heart that couldn't be broken'... For WWII buffs, surely, but also for general readers looking to understand the damage inflicted and the terror inspired by the Japanese suicide squadrons." Roanoke Times, 4/5/15 "A stirring account of the ordeal of the USS Laffey." Bookreporter.com, April 2015 "Wukovits breathes life into the story of this nearly forgotten historic event." New York Journal of Books, 4/6/15 "Well-researched...For a well-written story of a truly epic World War II fight, one should not hesitate with this volume. It is highly recommended." Notre Dame Magazine, Spring issue "Through interviews with survivors and the memoirs of crew members, the author re-creates the events of that 80-minute firefight and the return of the crippled American warship from Okinawa to Seattle, where the surviving shipmates were welcomed as heroes." WWII History, August 2015 "Well researched and pulls the reader into the story of the ship and her crew...An interesting look at a harrowing 80-minute period when a group of sailors faced the worst their enemies could throw at them, paid a fearful toll, but emerged victorious." Proceedings (magazine of the U.S. Naval Institute), August 2015 "Wukovits does an admirable job balancing the crew's experiences with historic events, strategic and tactical considerations, and enemy perspectives, which are too often absent in our World War II libraries."
"This detailed account...gives a clear and interesting picture of what actually took place...The author offers a well-constructed and clearly written narrative...An absorbing, fast-paced recounting of a significant incident in WWII PTO history. Any naval enthusiast with an interest in destroyers in general or operations off Okinawa in particular would do well to consider this book...The lively writing style would also make it a good first reading experience for anyone who is showing an interest in naval history."
?Warship International, September 2016
"Well researched and finely written, Hell from the Heavens brings vividly to life the story of USS Laffey's life-or-death struggle against kamikazes determined to send her to the bottom. The story of 'The Ship That Wouldn't Die' is a nail-biter, and John Wukovits tells it with panache."Stephen Harding, author of the New York Times bestseller The Last Battle
"A stirring account"Roanoke Times
"Vivid detail"San Francisco Book Review
"Well-researched and pulls the reader into the story"World War II
"Thoroughly recommended"Naval History
"An admirable job"Proceedings, US Naval Institute
Kirkus Reviews, 2/15/15
The incredible story of the destroyer with a heart that couldn't be broken'.... For WWII buffs, surely, but also for general readers looking to understand the damage inflicted and the terror inspired by the Japanese suicide squadrons.”
Praise for Hell from the Heavens
"John Wukovits is a master storyteller of battle at sea. With a fine eye for revealing detail, he re-creates, with sure and dramatic strokes, the almost unbelievable story of a destroyer, its dauntless captain, and its brave men under assault by a score of kamikazes in the climactic days of the Pacific War. A great read about one of the Navy's most stirring single-ship actions."Evan Thomas, bestselling author of Sea of Thunder and John Paul Jones
"Inspiring true story of a legendary World War II warship that famously refused to die and her intrepid crew of tin can soldiers who fought their way across the seas from Normandy to Okinawa. John Wukovits's Hell from the Heavens is naval history at its compelling best."Bruce Henderson, coauthor of the New York Times bestseller And the Sea Will Tell
"John Wukovits is one of those rare authors with the ability to capture the stink, the heat, and the fear of battle. In Hell from the Heavens, he almost without mercy thrusts the reader into the terrifying experience of being on the receiving end of Japanese suicide attacks. If your palms aren't sweating while reading this book, you need to have your vital signs checked!"Flint Whitlock, editor of WWII Quarterly
