The Ship That Would Not Die

The Ship That Would Not Die chronicles the World War II service of the USS Laffey, a destroyer that faced combat in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. Captain F. Julian Becton, who commanded the Laffey, provides his firsthand account of the vessel's missions and crew. The narrative follows the Laffey from its commissioning through its participation in D-Day operations and subsequent deployment to the Pacific. Becton details the ship's operations, daily routines, and the experiences of the men who served aboard during this critical period of WWII. The book centers on a specific combat engagement off Okinawa in 1945, documenting the actions and decisions made during an intense battle. The author reconstructs the events through his own memories and accounts from crew members who were present. This memoir stands as both a naval history and a testament to leadership under extreme circumstances. Through Becton's straightforward prose, the book examines themes of duty, survival, and the bonds formed between sailors in wartime.

Readers appreciate the firsthand account of USS Laffey's battle against kamikaze attacks in WWII. The personal narrative from Captain Becton provides details of crew experiences and decision-making during combat. Likes: - Clear descriptions of naval operations and tactics - Focus on individual crew member stories - Straightforward writing style without embellishment - Inclusion of photos and maps Dislikes: - Some sections get technical with naval terminology - A few readers note repetitive passages - Limited coverage of events before and after the main battle Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (102 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (158 ratings) Review quotes: "Puts you right on the deck during the attack" - Amazon reviewer "The matter-of-fact tone makes the heroism more impactful" - Goodreads user "Could have used more context about the Pacific campaign" - Military History forum member

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🚢 USS Laffey (DD-724), the subject of the book, survived one of the most intense kamikaze attacks of WWII - enduring hits from 6 kamikaze planes and 4 bombs in an 80-minute period on April 16, 1945. 👨‍✈️ Author F. Julian Becton was not just writing about the ship - he was her commanding officer during the attack and helped guide her to survival despite severe damage and casualties. 🏅 The USS Laffey earned the nickname "The Ship That Would Not Die" after surviving the attack with 32 dead and 71 wounded, yet remained afloat and operational. ⚓ The ship was named after Bartlett Laffey, a Civil War Navy Seaman who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Yazoo City in 1864. 🏛️ USS Laffey is now preserved as a museum ship at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, and is a National Historic Landmark.