The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors

The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors
James D. Hornfischer
February 2004

The supposed audience in this book is Americans. Besides the fact that the Americans won the battle and the book is being published in America about the battle, there are many clues as to who the intended audience is.
As Hornfischer describes the battle that was fought at Leyte Gulf that eventful day, he is obviously showing more sympathy toward the Americans side. He vaguely describes how the Japan navy attacks and moves. Also, he does not go into extensive detail about what the Japan soldiers and commanders thought that day. On the other side of the battle, Hornfischer clearly shows an insightful interest into what the American naval commanders think. He shows what deep feelings the Americans on the ships and in the planes were going through. He describes the actions on the American ships as they flee or get hit with many enemy shells. He goes through the accounts of Americans thoughts as they see the ships that they have lived on sink down beneath the waves.
All this talk of the Americans opinion of the battle and the Americans feelings during the fight lead one to believe that this book was not directed to any foreign countries. These stories of American bravery in the face of peril lead one to think this book was meant for patrtiots of the American nation or citizens of the USA.