Hell from the Heavens: The Epic Story of the USS Laffey and World War II's Greatest Kamikaze Attack

On April 16, 1945, the crewmen of the USS Laffey heroically withstood twenty-two kamikaze attacks at Okinawa in what the US Navy called "one of the great sea epics of the war." Using scores of personal interviews with survivors, the memoirs of crew members, and the sailors' wartime correspondence, historian John Wukovits breathes life into this nearly forgotten event and makes the ordeal of the Laffey and her crew a story for the ages.

About the Author :
John Wukovits is a military expert specializing in the Pacific theatre 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 Michigan.

Review :
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 "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." Collected Miscellany, 6/27/16 "An excellent history of a famous ship from World War II. Wukovits uses many primary sources, including personal interviews and crew members' memoirs, to tell the riveting story of the USS Laffey...He writes the story in a very compelling manner...Wukovits' writing brings the attack and the responses of the crew to life...A captivating story and wonderful memorial to the men of the USS Laffey."