Devotion to duty

Vice Adm. Clifton "Ziggy" Sprague was one of the unsung heroes of World War II. His leadership at Leyte Gulf turned an almost inevitable American defeat into a dramatic and important victory that shortened the war. The book offers a groundbreaking examination of the battle off Samar Island in October 1944, one of the four primary engagements at Leyte Gulf, where Sprague's escort carrier group won special distinction for bravely staving off a fierce Japanese attack. Wukovits allows the reader to view the fighting through the eyes of the sailors and airmen who fought there so courageously. In addition to providing thorough coverage of these events, their consequences, and Sprague's vital role in the battle, the author emphasizes the admiral's overall contributions to naval aviation and his methods of command. Sprague's leadership led to that success (under very trying circumstances) at Samar and earlier at Pearl Harbor, when his seaplane tender Tangier fired the first shots against the attacking Japanese dive-bombers. As captain of the carrier Wasp at the Philippine Sea he also exhibited great composure and boosted his crew's morale, strengths that Wukovits underscores throughout this book. Admiral Sprague's manner of handling people offers lessons for the civilian business community as well as Navy personnel.