In commemoration of October's 65th anniversary of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, a bestselling author defines what true valor meant for both sides.
Shortly after dawn on the morning of 25 October 1944, the crew of the USS Johnston (DD-557), a Fletcher-class destroyer convoying Task Unit 77.4.3 (Taffy Three)-six small escort carriers, popularly known as jeep carriers-supporting the American invasion of the Philippines at Leyte Gulf, went to general quarters. The officers and sailors of the Johnston could see, just peeking over the horizon, the distinctive pagoda-shape superstructures of Imperial Japanese Navy ships.
