Destroyers at War

"Dr. Winkler has skillfully crafted this memoir/biography of two four-star admirals whose active naval service totaled 81 years. Both father and son recorded their memoirs. Winkler has shaped their recollections and additional research into a narrative that makes for compelling, page-turning reading. The heart of the story lies in the son’s first-person accounts of his destroyer service in World War II. The action is so vivid that the reader is figuratively right beside the young officer as his ships face one grim wartime challenge after another." —Paul Stillwell, author of Battleship Commander: the Life of Vice Admiral Willis A. Lee Jr.

"Destroyers at War is an excellent, engaging, informative, and often spell-binding account of destroyer service and destroyer combat in the Pacific War by one of the Navy's most important flag officers of the 20th century. Skillfully edited by Dr. David David Winkler, Admiral James L. Holloway II's memoir is a very valuable addition to the Navy's history."—Thomas Hone, author and former senior executive in the Office of the Secretary of Defense

"Destroyers at War, the recollections of Admiral James L. Holloway III, expertly edited by Dr. David F. Winkler, details Holloway’s early life, education at the U.S. Naval Academy, and service on board Fletcher-class destroyers during World War II. While known to many as a champion of the U.S. Navy’s aviation arm during the Cold War, Holloway describes in detail his experiences as a junior gunnery officer during the pivotal Battle of Leyte Gulf and other actions of the Pacific Campaign. We learn how this wartime service in 'tin can' destroyers helped mold the character and professionalism of a later Chief of Naval Operations and iconic naval leader of the late 20th century." —Edward J. Marolda, author of Admirals Under Fire: The US Navy and the Vietnam War