The Bravest Man
The Story of Richard O'Kane & U.S. Submariners in the Pacific War
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Narrated by:
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E.H. Jones
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By:
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William Tuohy
About this listen
“There’s no margin for mistakes in submarines. You’re either alive or dead.” (Richard O’Kane)
Hailed as the ace of aces, captain Richard O’Kane, winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor for his consummate skill and heroism as a submarine skipper, sank more enemy ships and saved more downed fliers than anyone else.
Now Pulitzer Prize-winning author William Tuohy captures all the danger, the terror, and the pulse-pounding action of undersea combat as he chronicles O’Kane’s wartime career - from his valiant service as executive officer under Wahoo skipper Dudley “Mush” Morton to his electrifying patrols as commander of the USS Tang and his incredible escape, with eight other survivors, after Tang was sunk by its own defective torpedo.
Above all, The Bravest Man is the dramatic story of mavericks who broke the rules and set the pace to become a new breed of hunter/killer submariners who waged a unique brand of warfare. These undersea warriors would blaze their own path to victory - and transform the “Silent Service” into the deadliest fighting force in the Pacific.
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Story
The incredible true story of nine Hellcat submarines assigned to penetrate the dense minefields protecting the sea of Japan. In 1945-with no knowledge of the development of the atomic bomb- American submarine commanders, desperate to avoid an invasion of the home islands, believed that if the Japanese merchant fleet was sunk, the enemy would be forced to surrender.
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great telling of technology advancements in Ww2
- By Brian on 05-20-18
By: Peter Sasgen
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Thunder Below!
- The USS Barb Revolutionizes Submarine Warfare in World War II
- By: Eugene B. Fluckey
- Narrated by: Corey Snow
- Length: 15 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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Under the leadership of her fearless skipper, Captain Gene Fluckey, the Barb sank the greatest tonnage of any American sub in World War II. At the same time, the Barb did far more than merely sink ships-she changed forever the way submarines stalk and kill their prey.
This is a gripping adventure chock-full of "you-are-there" moments. Fluckey has drawn on logs, reports, letters, interviews, and a recently discovered illegal diary kept by one of his torpedomen.
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Action, Excitement, & History. A great read!
- By Boone on 09-28-13
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Grey Wolves
- The U-Boat War 1939–1945
- By: Philip Kaplan
- Narrated by: A. T. Chandler
- Length: 8 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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In the early years of the Second World War, the elite force of German submariners known as the Ubootwaffe came perilously close to perfecting underwater battle tactics and successfully cutting Britain's transatlantic lifeline. To the Allies, these enemy sailors were embarking on a mission of unequivocal evil. Each member of the Ubootwaffe understood that he must take pride in being part of a unique brotherhood. He had to do so because he was setting out on a journey that would test his mental and physical endurance to the very limits, and which he had little chance of surviving.
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Like a Jr High Book Report, Performance Bad Too
- By Bill Sayer on 12-03-15
By: Philip Kaplan
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Neptune's Inferno
- The U.S. Navy at Guadalcanal
- By: James D. Hornfischer
- Narrated by: Robertson Dean
- Length: 18 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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With The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors and Ship of Ghosts, James D. Hornfischer created essential and enduring narratives about America’s World War II Navy, works of unique immediacy distinguished by rich portraits of ordinary men in extremis and exclusive new information. Now he does the same for the deadliest, most pivotal naval campaign of the Pacific war: Guadalcanal. Neptune’s Inferno is at once the most epic and the most intimate account ever written of the contest for control of the seaways of the Solomon Islands.
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The WWII Pacific Theater Explodes In My Lazy Chair
- By Rum Runner on 03-01-11
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Tin Can Titans
- The Heroic Men and Ships of World War II's Most Decorated Navy Destroyer Squadron
- By: John Wukovits
- Narrated by: Robertson Dean
- Length: 10 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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When Admiral William Halsey selected Destroyer Squadron 21 to lead his victorious ships into Tokyo Bay to accept the Japanese surrender, it was the most battle-hardened US naval squadron of the war. But it was not the squadron of ships that had accumulated such an inspiring résumé; it was the people serving aboard them. Through diaries, personal interviews with survivors, and letters written to and by the crews during the war, preeminent historian of the Pacific theater John Wukovits brings to life the human story of the squadron and its men.
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Captivating
- By Jean on 09-23-17
By: John Wukovits
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At All Costs
- By: Sam Moses
- Narrated by: Michael Prichard
- Length: 11 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1942, the island of Malta was the most heavily bombed place on earth. Its submarine and air attacks on Axis supply convoys were all that kept Rommel from marching across North Africa. But Malta was out of fuel. Operation Pedestal was Malta's last hope, a giant convoy with more that 50 warships escorting 13 freighters and one life-or-death oil tanker, the SS Ohio. It was bombed, torpedoed, and abandoned, but two American Merchant Mariners boarded the ship and repaired the guns.
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A spellbinding story
- By James F. Geary on 04-08-07
By: Sam Moses
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The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors
- The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour
- By: James D. Hornfischer
- Narrated by: Barrett Whitener
- Length: 16 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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Told from the point of view of the men who waged this steel-shattering battle, The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors captures Navy pilots attacking enemy battleships with makeshift weapons and sacrificial valor, a veteran commander improvising tactics never taught in Annapolis, and young crews from across America rising to an impossible challenge.
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Outstanding
- By John on 04-17-04
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Hell from the Heavens
- The Epic Story of the USS Laffey and World War II's Greatest Kamikaze Attack
- By: John Wukovits
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
- Length: 9 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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On the morning of April 16, 1945, the crewmen of the USS Laffey saw what seemed to be the entire Japanese air force assembled directly above. They were about to become the targets of the largest single-ship kamikaze attack of World War II.
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Compelling story worth the effort
- By David Traill on 08-10-16
By: John Wukovits
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Killing the Bismarck
- Destroying the Pride of Hitler's Fleet
- By: Iain Ballantyne
- Narrated by: Traber Burns
- Length: 11 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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In May 1941 the German battleship Bismarck, accompanied by heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, broke out into the Atlantic to attack Allied shipping. The Royal Navy's pursuit and subsequent destruction of the Bismarck was an epic of naval warfare. In this new account of those dramatic events at the height of the Second World War, Iain Ballantyne draws extensively on the graphic eyewitness testimony of veterans to construct a thrilling story, mainly from the point of view of the British battleships, cruisers, and destroyers involved.
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1960 a young boy became awed
- By torpedo alley on 10-02-19
By: Iain Ballantyne
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Turning the Tide
- How a Small Band of Allied Sailors Defeated the U-Boats and Won the Battle of the Atlantic
- By: Ed Offley
- Narrated by: James Adams
- Length: 17 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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The U.S. experienced its most harrowing military disaster of World War II not in 1941 at Pearl Harbor, but rather in the period from 1942 to 1943, in the frigid North Atlantic and American coastal waters from Newfoundland to the Caribbean. Nearly seven decades after the event, the Battle of the Atlantic still stands as the longest-running and most lethal clash of arms in naval history.
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Just The Facts
- By PismoPat on 05-15-11
By: Ed Offley
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Miracle at Midway
- By: Gordon W. Prange, Donald M. Goldstein
- Narrated by: Qarie Marshall
- Length: 17 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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Six months after Pearl Harbor, the seemingly invincible Imperial Japanese Navy prepared a decisive blow against the United States. After sweeping through Asia and the South Pacific, Japan's military targeted the tiny atoll of Midway, an ideal launching pad for the invasion of Hawaii and beyond. But the United States Navy was waiting for them. Thanks to cutting-edge code-breaking technology, tactical daring, and a huge stroke of luck, the Americans under Admiral Chester W. Nimitz dealt the Japanese navy its first major defeat of the war.
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Greatest Book on Midway Battle
- By WISDOC on 04-12-21
By: Gordon W. Prange, and others
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October Fury
- By: Peter A. Huchthausen
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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It was the most spectacular display of brinkmanship in the Cold War era. In October 1962, President Kennedy risked inciting a nuclear war to prevent the Soviet Union from establishing missile bases in Cuba. The risk, however, was far greater than Kennedy realized.
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Not quite what I expected
- By royphotog on 10-01-14
What listeners say about The Bravest Man
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Luis
- 09-15-07
Great book
Good story about what goes on in submarines.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Jim
- 03-09-13
I would have liked to have served under CDR O'Kane
Absolutely intriguing account of the war patrols and subsequent loss of the submarine from a defective torpedo guidance system and CDR O'Kane's leadership.
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- John
- 03-19-13
Informative
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes. Informative without being too detailed
What did you like best about this story?
History brought to life.
What does E.H. Jones bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
His narration is excellent. Easy to listen to, good pace. Perfect diction. Subtle accents bring characters to life.
Any additional comments?
Very balanced dealing with some very controversial aspects of the conflict
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- Monty
- 10-05-23
Loved it
From start to finish, I couldn’t put the book down. It gives you enough information on every man to keep you glued to it.
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- Amazon Customer
- 08-27-06
Great book
For WW II students, this is an realistic account of a WW II vet. I couldn't have enjoyed it more.
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1 person found this helpful
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- R. Denton
- 12-11-14
Very well written and detailed, and it's true
Would you consider the audio edition of The Bravest Man to be better than the print version?
Cannot say, as I have not read the print version.
What other book might you compare The Bravest Man to and why?
Thunder Below by Adm. Eugene B. Fluckey or October Fury by Peter A. Huchthausen.
What does E.H. Jones bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Not a lot. Would have been better by someone with a little deeper voice for such a long book. Got tired of Jones' voice after a while, but it was okay.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Not really. It is a lengthy, detailed history, but still full of action and drama. Nonetheless, it would have required a long sitting and the whole point of audio books for me is that I enjoy them without having to be "seated" or otherwise stuck in one place.
Any additional comments?
If you read this book, it will pretty much ruin any future books, especially fiction, about WWII submarine warfare except perhaps Fluckey's or Ned Beach's, because you will realize that they all come from these same patrol reports and experiences with little new added.
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- Andrew Glasgow
- 07-08-17
Excellent history
I found this to be a most entertaining and inspiring story of the US submarine service. fighting the Japanese was ony only part of the challenge. As is too often the case in US military history, the sailors of the submarine service were ill served by the pig headed stupidity and self serving actions of their own superiors.
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- Shoe
- 05-11-22
Stunning
I had no idea of the heroism and sacrifices the crews of these some 288 submarines made. I know now, am humbled, and feel a deep, profound debt to them. I tell nearly everyone I meet about Tuohy's excellent book and the stories of the real men within its pages.
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- Kenny Loy
- 07-16-23
This is Enjoyment all the way!!!
GREAT BOOK Learned much out the Submarine War against Japan plus These Special Warriors SUPER
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- Kevin
- 05-09-05
The Bravest Man- fine example of leadership.
What this story showed me was the values and skills that we often inherit or develop in others. Often the people that have seen a remarkable leader try to emulate good leadership skills - very much a trickle effect.
Certainly this story is in a dangerous environment. How would you like to expose your career, life, and other peoples lives on an unproven theory or weapon? There are so many sides to this story you find yourself listening to this story again and again.
Well written and read extremely well.
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8 people found this helpful