Dear Mr. Hornfischer,
My name is Betsy Holquist. My great uncle was Lt. Bill Sanders, the chief gunnery officer on the USS Hoel. I would like to tell you an amazing story of how we came to find your book and learn more about the final hours of my uncle's life than our family ever knew before. First, I should say that he was the youngest of seven children of an Irish immigrant mother and my grandmother's little brother. As I grew up my grammie always had his handsome photo in uniform on her dresser wherever she lived. I heard stories of how close they were as they were the two youngest of the family. We never knew the details of how his ship went down or maybe she just didn't want to tell us but we were always told that he was committed to the Navy, a lifer, and that he was a very brave man. He had no children of his own and I think it was because of this that my grandmother wanted us to know enough about him so that his memory could be passed on.
My grandmother was also a brave and devoted American. Doing her part, she joined the WAAC and became a Sergeant and was stationed in France during part of WW II. In fact when she was on a transport ship coming home she told of the story of "seeing" her brother (after the Hoel had gone down) and that he warned her of the rough seas that were coming and to stay below deck. My grandmother was a young grandmother herself, at about 38 , when she enlisted. Unfortunate all seven of the Sanders children have passed on, yet because of the stories we were told it was enough to investigate more about the ship that Bill Sanders was on and to learn more about the Battle off Samar.
To the present, I have a 17 year old son, who is in his second year of high school. This year is his US history class, the students had an assignment to research and present to the class the details of one of the battles of WW II. In discussing possibilities, I suggested picking one that had a family connection, either from my or my husbands family connections. I asked my parents in what battle Uncle Bill was killed. I am embarrassed to say that when I first started researching the whole Battle of Leyte Gulf I had no idea of its magnitude and importance to staging the final assault on Japan. I should also tell you that our son has cerebral palsy, only because to do a lot of his homework I have to help him, especially accessing via the Internet. Anyway we were thrilled to find out so much information from the Internet, including the ship's website. We were also amazed to find out about the memorial in San Diego and to see his name on the list of casualties was emotional even with a generation removed. My son was able to reenact from all the logs specific details about the Battle off Samar from the stand point of the Hoel and it made it so much more interesting with the personal connection. Then one day, his aide at school said they found your web site and told me about your book. Well, I went straight to our local neighborhood book store and was delighted that they had a copy. I told the woman helping me why this was so important to me and my family and we initially looked at it together. First, I saw his name listed in the casualty list and then I looked in the index and saw that his name was listed several times. I started shaking, it was so hard to believe that after 60 years a piece of our family history was being discovered that we were unaware of. I went to the pages where he was mentioned and was amazed; to hear his words, made that picture I had seen for so many years come alive and it was so like the way my grandmother spoke of him. Not only was I crying, but so was the sales woman. She even gave me a discount. I knew it would be emotional so I took the book home to read on. Of course we knew he went down with the ship, but I must say to read the specific details of how he died was difficult. However to know that over all these years other sailors remembered the confidence and admiration they had for him was so rewarding for us. Your book has given Bill Sanders a voice that can tell the story of his part in an incredible battle. We are all so proud of his sacrifice and for the part he played on that day. For generations to come he will be more than a photo of a handsome sailor.
My son, Clay Holquist, presented a really great account of the Battle off Samar through the eyes of the men aboard the USS Hoel and his great, great uncle Lt. Bill Sanders. We have you and those who told what they knew to thank for giving us this very special piece of our family's history. By the way, I am giving each of my four siblings a copy of your book, as well as my parents. My mother is the only one alive that still remembers him, she was the last family member to see him alive and holds that dear. One more thing, one of my brothers and two nephews were born on October 25. We didn't know the connection until studying this battle. One of these boys is just home from Iraq, Captain Dane Jensen USMC. Perhaps you might be able to tell me how I may be able to connect up with a survivor that may remember my uncle. Sorry this went on so long but I had to tell you about the gift of your words.
Respectfully Yours,
Betsy Holquist
April 22, 2004
Dear Ms. Holquist,
Thank you so much for writing. I really appreciate your kind note, and was very moved by it.
I was concerned that some of the details in the book would upset family. I felt a bit torn that as compelling as the particulars of battle are to readers, and as much as they ultimately honor everyone who was there and made sacrifices, that it might be too much. My editor and I tried hard to strike the right balance, and do handle the violence in a tasteful way. There is of course no way around the grim facts of war. It struck both Tracy and me that blurring them via "anonymizing" the details would be less than honest and forthright, and a disservice to readers and even family. I'm glad to know that you found the treatment of your great-uncle in the spirit in which it was meant.
Lt. Sanders fought to the end under impossible circumstances, but his fighting efforts helped turn around those circumstances, enabling the impossible actually to happen. One cannot meaningfully speculate how many others might have died but for the gallantry of those tin cans and their crews. I am proud to have been able to include his exploits in the book.
It was a written account by Willard Frenn (a gunner's mate first class) that provided the details of Lt. Sanders's end. It and the prose poem by Lt. John C. W. Dix, "Missing Off Samar," were useful sources regarding the Hoel. I will try to find the Frenn narrative and send you a copy of it.
Thanks again for taking the trouble to share that most rewarding e-mail.
Jim Hornfischer
April 23, 2004
The extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy’s Finest Hour
Available at Amazon.com
Mr. Hornfischer,
I purchased the book (The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors) because I was informed that there are sections in which my Uncle Bill (Lt. JG William Sanders) is mentioned. He went down with the Hoel in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. I first see his name on page 223. It touched me to read the recollections of Willard Frenn, who found my uncle tangled up in the rigging "with both of his legs shot off".
You have inserted several photographs within your book. I looked for my uncle but did not see him within these photos.
I thought perhaps you would be interested in having a picture of him, so I am attaching a favorite one of mine. (plus an additional photograph)
Thank you for your very thorough description of these heroic sailors who sacrificed their lives so bravely!
Sincerely,
Jo Ann Sanders
P.S. I have also attached a photo of my brother, Edward Thomas Sanders, Jr. who also fought in that war and who passed away in San Jose, California in 2005 at the age of 80. I think he was stationed on a destroyer but I cannot remember the name.
Dear Ms. Sanders,
I appreciate your note, and your kind words in spite of the fact that it must have been somewhat upsetting for you to learn some of these details about your uncle’s death.
My next book, NEPTUNE’S INFERNO, will be about the naval battles for Guadalcanal. It will be out in February of 2011.
Many thanks for writing, and for sending the photos of your uncle and brother. Lt. jg Sanders looks like a great spirit. I wish I had this shot for the book.
Jim Hornfischer
Your response to my email regarding my uncle, Bill Sanders, victim of the USS Hoel (Leyte Gulf), is greatly appreciated. I am glad you could see what a fine man he was. He died quite young and according to your book, bravely. Yes, it was sad to read the details of his death. This was something I did not know.
Bill was my father's younger brother. I have many photos of him with other family members. I was quite young when he died and have just a vague memory of his existence. However, I still have and cherish a little cloth "hula" doll that he brought back to me on one of his trips back home from the Hawaiian Islands. I also have possession of the flag given to my grandmother following his death. My grandmother did not ever recover from losing him.
My family started a page on FACEBOOK in the memory of my grandmother, Uncle Bill's mother (Nana Sanders Family Legacy). There is also a link being created that is a tribute to Uncle Bill.
I really regret that my curiosity of my family history was not realized until later in life. I wish that I had asked many questions about my family. I regret I do not even remember the name of the vessel my brother, Edward Sanders, was assigned to when he was a sailor fighting in the pacific.
I praise you for providing readers with a clear and detailed picture of the battles our sailors fought in the Pacific. Your next book should be very interesting indeed.
Sincerely (and thank you again),
Jo Ann Sanders