as a health resort. >> throughout the weekend, american history to the is featuring colorado springs, colorado. our cities to her staff recently visited there. learn more about colorado other stocks at c-span.org/localcontent. >> in october, 1944, the us and australian forces face the japanese navy in the philippine sea. battle of leyte gulf is considered one of the largest complex of world war ii. author james hornfischer the roles of f commander ernest evans. he was posthumously awarded the medal of honor by congress.

is an author of history books. recorded at the us naval academy, this is about an hour.

a special extend midshipman welcome for all the mids here. if you look at the history, you help but be impressed with the fact that this place have gone before us have been the true of important naval history. welcome the rotc students who are here today from george washington university consortium. thank you for joining us. and the students from the joined school who have

us here today. each year, the naval institute works with a department or division of the academy, and this year, we are pleased to work with the leadership, education, and development of captain west his two action officers. have done an outstanding job and i think you'll agree we have an outstanding program. to a conversation with metal honorary recipients from ii, vietnam, and afghanistan, to a luncheon by former navy pilot and prisoner of war captain charlie plum. finally to a conversation with warriors from the racing conflicts-- from the recent conflicts.

now my pleasure is to introduce our superintendent. he was designated navy flight officer in 1982. in 1985, he attended the navy weapons school, top gun. ahead of goose and maverick. he has flown missions in kosovo, kuwait, and afghanistan. than s accumulated more 6000 flight hours in the f-14 19 f-18, landing on different aircraft carriers. grabs my next at my ention -- stat grabs attention, he has carrier arrested landings. as far as i know, that is a record. as the commanding

officer and commanded, most recently, the enterprise carrier strike group in 2012. at the also very proud naval institute that he is a member and a contributor. most recently, admiral carter -- let's welcome admiral carter. [applause] >> good morning, everyone. you guys are going to have to do better than that. good morning, everybody. today, a cool fall day out there and what a great chance us to be here to start out the 20 14th naval history symposium.

to be up here to talk about what we're going to experience throughout the day. peter daly just gave you a wonderful rundown. our students it of and all the wonderful folks here in the audience, i feel like i would be a little remiss why did not talk about history was important and the significance of what we are doing right here at the us naval academy. in 10 short days, the us naval will celebrate its 169th anniversary. as i have come to know through expense in the fleet and the naval war college and enjoying the naval history magazine, those of us are not willing participants in wanting to history are certainly destined to repeat the failures of the past. there is wonderful

connections. there is so much to be learned. as i came here to the naval academy, of course, i wanted to do my own research to remember days here from y 1977, but what is it that academy to naval here in annapolis. and it goes all the way back to where he built the first frigates at the turn-of-the-century. in 1865 first ent declared that there is a need for scholarly interest to develop naval officers. the e had a statement from president back then and it wasn't until 20 years later that it was actually recognized. bad had to eally occur together going. midshipmen bback in the 1800's at ships at mostly

sea. but around that time, most teenage boys wanted to become the issioned officers in united states navy, they did it at sea. us ship, a brig named summers, was deployed out of the navy yard. his name was philip spencer. his grandfather was a politician, and his father was serving as the secretary of war for president tyler. midshipmen spencer was a very handsome, 19-year-old young man. he had a physical element of a wandering eye. the wandering eye was describing exactly what he was.

he was known to get into brawls. he actually escape the island getting on a by ship. because of who his father was, continued on the path of this commission as a naval officer. on this particular deployment they left in 1842, after port visit in algiers, the ship, n of this was captain

mackenzie -- that summers was cavorting with the enlisting men. midshipmen spencer had a way of getting his hands on alcohol and tobacco and was quite popular. and he enlisted the help of a seaman named smoltz and cromwell. and they were actually thinking about how to take over the ships of the could go out and do piracy. they found out about this and put them in shackles. they the captain was tried and they were, of course, exonerated it wasn't until five years we actually had institution this on the banks from which we took this institution from an army base. that interesting story today brings us to understanding some of the great stories you will hear today. more than just toys,

they are based in fact. my first task is to introduce our first speaker. jim hornfischer, for those of you who are students and students who love history who he is -- he has written three major works. the two previous -- ship of ghosts. the epic saga of her survivors. his writing career has grown in of a lifelong interest the pacific war, much of which will here today. he has appeared on many television shows from fox news fox he history channel -- news war stories and c-span's book tv. speaker on the t war in the pacific.

he is a native of a graduate of colgate, and also got his higher education degree at the university of texas school of law. he is a member of the naval states, the united navy league, and he was appointed by texas governor rick perry as an admiral in the texas navy. so i am hoping he will tell us a little bit about those duties and responsibilities are. he is a former new york book of the president literary agency located in austin, texas, where he lives with his wife and three children. welcome to a warm james d hornfischer. [applause] >> i did not realize we were talking about the

threat and my capacity as an admiral in the navy. it's really just about cocktail parties in austin. truly, it is a great honor to be here. to tell a story that never gets old in the telling. to tell it here in your company is a privilege, an opportunity, and in honor. thank you, admiral carter. thank you, to the naval academy. later today on the stage come will be a there panel. a panel of men who have served this country with two distinction. as one who has never won the like rm, i kind of feel the bad boy who was asked to lead off the 1927 yankees. these are historic figures. combat veteran to stories and lessons will resonate with you in ways that i can i guess.

i think ichi will respond to different in their experiences. i do not know how to do the kind of things that these men did. as of this morning, the navy yet to stand up the combat hero pack. there is no way to know in what any of us might be capable of doing in a situation such as these men faced. all we can do is hear their reckon with them -- in private moments, perhaps -- and appreciate the willpower and fortitude that they used to find their way through an and situation, to save lives, perhaps, and serve the country. start the day today

with a story from world war ii a humble destroyer captain, charged e philippines, oblivion had on. captain ernest evans played a be the biggest y surface action and naval history. 23 japanese warships, including 12 battleships and cruisers, squared off against a utility carriers of escort and destroyers. all that stood against this powerful japanese force was the unit known as task unit. of the gle largest japanese ships with as much as all 13 american ships combined. she was a monster.

day of battle -- we are here talking about commander evans, the uss johnston -- on the day of battle, he was 36 years old. he hails from oklahoma and his heritage as turkey and creek indian. he enlisted in 1926. spent a year in the navy and then took a commission here -- arriving here in annapolis, earning his commission in june 1931. this unfamiliar rotation -- the of surface ships -- the day of the pearl harbor ship sees him on board the uss alden. commanded that ship -- he

would command that ship for year before reporting to seattle-tacoma to of the new uss johnston. morning t breaks on the of october 25, evans takes his crew to the daily routine. the jeep carriers launch the controls. and at 0643, one of these phone by bill brooks, reports a large permission of enemy ships. the first thought is it is hostile. closing at 30 knots, range 30 miles. men are duly surprised to see the horizon flashing with gunfire. the japanese gunships opened fire at long-range. darren at standard cruising --

antiaircraft cruising position. admiral sprague orders to turn immediately -- and the calculate that they might have 15 minutes to go before they swim in the philippine sea. commander evans and his destroyer -- as we'll see in in the de -- are trailing part of the circular disposition, fleeing east. down from se bearing 315 true. product of s is a many things. he is a product of the naval academy where he learned the

pride of sea service, but perhaps the most important thing he has been influenced by is his recent combat. he never forgot how the four engines were not powerful enough to hold that ship and head of the at the formation, as admiral doorman to get into battle against japanese cruisers. she was too slow to make an effective torpedo run. they tried, they fired, they ran low on fuel, and they were forced to withdraw. of he remember the sting having to retreat as a loser. and that experience stayed with him. the sixpence back stateside and when the uss in nston was commissioned may 1943 -- i'm sorry, october 1943 -- he told his crew that

be a fighting ship and he would not back down from the enemy. he further invited anyone who no part of this to leave. if this is ow from rplate, it is said time to time -- the distinction was that evans meant it. with his d overwhelming force, captain evans damages the meaning of a promise. cabin es out of his include the issues a series of commands. all hands to general quarters, prepare to attack a major of the japanese fleet. make smoke, standby for torpedo attack and the killer left full rudder. left full rudder puts them directly on course with the japanese. destroyer against the

perl. entirely on his own, and in the reunions i attended, i heard a range of opinions about this decision -- this life or death decision. were not so guys happy to be cruising towards enemy like this, but that is thing about the navy, it is not like an infantry platoon. get about 25 rs minutes to get the plants aloft before they have to turn out of of the escape vor course. the pilot to get airborne are armed for troop support. they have fragmentation bombs, loadout at 50 caliber ammunition, and no heavy ordinance. with no time to form up, they can and us as best they set out after the fleet.

within minutes, they are on top of their target. evans has brought it out from the circular position. across everal miles shell torn ocean, the entire works -- before he can do anything with his own 5 inch battery. the range of that battery is but his ,000 yards, gunnery officer mutters to himself, please, captain, let's not go down without firing torpedoes. to do that, he will have to get within 10,000 yards. against time race and distance. has the ship zigzagging, counting on the japanese to aim to his previous position. hoping they continue this predictable doctrine.

the johnston comes within range. lieutenant hagan opens fire. a letter of shells a stretch of sea, when hagan sues the flashes indicating hits. the ladder to 100 yards. the range closes. 15, 12, 10. last, can rpedoes, at be fired. out, 10 fish leap and the water, countdown begins. rendezvous ttempt to with the carriers who are fleeing to the south. is about 7:30 am when the

takes her first hit. lieutenant hagan records it seemed to lurch sideways. off their feet -- this comes from a battleship, probably the congo. it was like a puppy being smacked by a truck. in a ripping arc and tears through the main deck and exploding against the reduction years. failed to do lls instantly, releasing high-pressure -- not a man in the fire room survived to this. one engine is head, is cut t and her speed in half to about 17 or 18 knots. load of s like a whole

into metal dropping off the ocean floor, and they grab cruiser, six inch the port striking bridge wing. the blast of the bridge all but undresses captain evans. and lows the from his head tears the shirt -- blows the cap from his head enters the shirt from his chest. the medical officer comes to assessing and evan says do not bother with me now. help some of those guys who are heard. in charge, till coolly so, not bothered with the fact that two fingers from his hand are gone. it is defiled by ghastly human wreckage.

during the site of carnage, he orders the officers to start tossing things overboard. and then he orders everybody off the bridge. the johnston learns instantly that chapel comes in many sizes. able to cut limbs. they learn that the shells generate noxious gases. this is what captain evans had promised his men at seattle-tacoma. this is where going in harms way entailed. bob hagan is checking his guns. the crew, all stations testing. that comes the reports. gun one, aye. gun two, aye.

gun number after four -- finally calls from a different station to ask. he has n lost power and asked permission to fire under local control. hagan approves the request. it seems, meanwhile, that is torpedoes cruising north -- at or two of them -- find their mark. and the bright flash long form of an elegant out of the ip he's water. it links along at half speed. the johnston scored. the way, admiral sprague has ordered to spring into attack. b roberts pulls out of

his aircraft position enhanced was the japanese. the johnson h, south, returning to rendezvous. and they are stunned at how badly she is hit. and buckled and torn. by any measures, the ship is call it a day, but evans is under a different understanding of his duty. other crews watch dumbstruck. evans takes his limping ship, falls into the stern, and goes in to lend gunfire support. having a second run at the japanese. into e about 45 minutes this fight now and enable high command, you might say, is in a stir. of the seventh

fleet calls on the radio, asking for assistance. in time, admiral nimitz will these at some of pearl harbor and ask about the whereabouts of the battleships. cap to s his baseball the deck of the flagship, the battleship new jersey. up to the north, starting of japanese carriers. he find the orders his to make course south, but it will be far too late. the ships will be the sole owners of their fight for survival. fleet will play no part.

the battle is devolved into a street fight. the hobbled johnston is caught between a japanese heavy cruiser: and a squadron of off to its west. captaincy is that there destroys are actually to sing, he changes course actually engage them. keep up a guns rapidfire, and hagan is pleased to see hits on the leading a light cruiser. he watches in astonishment as the ship turns away. his will is his gun to the neck ship and line, a destroyer, and open fires. that ship turns away, and so on down the column, the destroyers turn away. name lor from texas by the of clint carter screams down to more shells! room

more shells! is johnston's guns continue dumbstruck as the enemy changes course. hagan, who can scarcely speak, stretch across the bridge he has seen everything. but the johnston has no way out of this now. she is surrounded by enemy ships and has earned their full attention. vicious ers 52 taking a gun directed, and everybody is either killed or wounded. the bridge is all but untenable. flows up m these fires and engulfs bob hagan. our eyes were streaming and we were coughing and choking as we

carried out her duties, he says. position where the guts in the world cannot save us. be on the help must way and every minute delay might count. our lives don't matter, ships may die, but they will not capture our carriers whose protection is our duty. he is relinquished changes done the steering engine room and some of the ships survivors will ask a credit the fact that they live as the still tries to chase engine, a n one is wegian steam as the crew throwing their shoulders.

but the japanese are close now, they are about 6000 yards away. and two other ships are giving the last full measure. many as 40 as shells, more than 80% of her 325 man crew are killed in action. of shells has guarded the samuel b roberts. japanese get the range on the carriers, as well. one chip takes a hit, loses an falls out of formation and is enveloped, surrounded, in some. the midst of this, there sort of moment -- rare sort of moment.

by the johnston passes wounded samuel b roberts, his heartbroken to see what has become of evan ship. limping ston went by, along its low-speed. by sarcastic, he was a big man with coal black hair. his name was evidence. i can see him now, he is stripped to the waist and covered with blood. his left hand is wrapped in a as he went by, d he was not over 100 feet from us as he passes on her starboard side. he turned a little and waved his hand at me. captain copeland would never see him again. hours now, the waged a futile

effort from keeping the from overtaking their carriers, but now it seems that nothing remains to be done. two japanese cruisers are the verge of pinching off the southward flight. but something extraordinary is about to happen. the admiral is in the midst of deep fatigue. he has been in combat for almost 72 hours straight. as time goes on, the air attacks intensify. they lay themselves into these two cruisers. as 9 o'clock approaches, to the water and n sinking. victims of air attack and surface gunfire, it seems. they stress, circle back around, make dummy runs, more

dummy runs. the dummy runs force the captains to change course. the japanese commanders are constantly exaggerating the of the american fleet. the johnston is dead in the water. admiral issued -- rrendezvous, my course north. speed 20. the japanese are going on. the signalman seeing this -- is becoming ello smaller -- explains, dammit boys, they are getting away. ernest evans' ship, the first and the battle, will be the last to die. in impact so ow

severe that the crew thinks she has had a marine obstruction. they were listed and shaken violently, and the electrical switchboard is not dead. the ship, powerless, begins coasting to its final resting place. pacific currents take over the work of the engines. evans gives the order to abandon ship. she was a vehicle only suitable on the main deck -- a pile of people. laying them out in the open in might get they medical assistance. captain evans leads the fanfare to the board ward room, where they are still attending to wounded. evans tries to persuade him to go over the side, but he will not hear it. wanted on the l

ship and there are lysing in the balance. do that or feels he can work better on the ship's own decks. he will use what time he has left productively. bob hagan was slow to get word to abandon ship. very a man in a dream, carefully and leisurely, he goes over his shoes, the rail, and swims. looks back and e lieutenant brown carrying somebody from the outside deck back into the boardroom. is a whistling rush and an explosion. hitting right ll lieutenant brown went in. at this point k

-- thus far, they had only gotten to the next day. five little jeeps had lumbered probably still afloat. and carried -- hits and carried on at full speed, defiance is ston's not event. captain evans and his decision-making had insured that she would not. fall the would captain himself is among disagreement and conjecture by the survivors. last to see him -- the modern machinist returned forward to fight fires. as he walked towards the bow, there is a terrible blinding flash. unconscious,

regained to senses, finds himself covered in blood, and realizes that the abandoned order has been given. in the water -- you can jump in and the back a easier -- he wrote, i went after his captain evans went forward. a word, we r saying passed staring blankly. some claim to see the johnston skipper climbing over the rail into about. if you did, it is likely he did not go far with the damage to that craft. it has been written that so much of life is preparation. and so much tine retrospect that one contracts their life to a precious few hours. that opened by circumstance on the genius and bravery by captain evans on the 1/2 hours this morning was

once again closed. they called him the chief of annapolis. lost to the whirlwind, to a private oblivion which deepens the legends of his ship and his crew. the battle is over, the japanese are withdrawing. kamikazes are arriving. a three-day long ordeal, as all waits the survivors of this, tend dehydration and sickness. five ships are down. this fiasco ty for will never quite be delivered at the flag level. this was one of the greatest in our naval es history, and also one of its most embarrassing moments. taken hough no action was

against admiral holstein, his historic reputation was never same after this episode. leaving escort carrier task to defend the beachhead of the the main body japanese fleet. within the close confines of pentagon, admiral nimitz knew -- he kept the lid on the laundry. there are so many superlatives but an attach this battle, first and foremost, it was the a us aircraft carrier was sunk by enemy fire. the battle mark japan's first use of suicide planes and was the first and last time heavy yers engaged cruisers and battleships -- 30 -- in broad ze

daylight at close range and got the better of them. the real story and all the superlatives remain as people. what iling humility -- they did was no different than any other destroyer crew in the fleet would have done. and they are very serious about this point. they are absolutely ordinary and unremarkable. they say they did what any sailor would have done. they will tell you this. what i realized talking to them is that there are two types of greatness. there is revealed greatness and then there is the unrevealed kind. we can call a potential greatness. herosim opens to us that it may lie within each

of us, waiting for circumstance. these midshipmen and those who for all them are feeds of us-- feats -- of us have to figure out what we will do it this thing. burden is to wonder what we do with his example for history, as we will soon see later today. history is what you did yesterday. you have become an historic moment, a historic figure, the moment churches can be talked about in the past tense. history is how people tell that are y tomorrow, just as we telling ernest evans' story today. navy finally stands up -- will be left to ponder quietly and alone -- what are two capabilities might be. evans stands as a

inspiration. i would rather think that he entertained by those things, along with becoming the navy's greatest fighting captain. may his story never be forgotten. take in his example and please try to make it the history of you. thank you very much. [applause] >> we might have time -- >> we have time -- happy to do it. is happy to ischer take a question or two. i didn't mention earlier, but in the microphones upper level. there are three microphones if you have a question. please bring it.

a question of there? you for your wonderful lecture on commander evans. he is a man that is not often about in history books, so it is a wonderful opportunity to hear from you. i understand that he has a son in the s a colonel marine corps. are you in touch with him? he is doing now? >> yes, i have been to a lot of reunions. i understand he came to a few of them. our paths have never crossed.

my understanding is he is not a public figure and i think his father was the same way. he was in his business, he knew he knew his ship, but i have not had the opportunity to speak with him. san diego this october -- -- on the site h anniversary of the battle, all the ship groups will be meeting. they say for a last time -- they always say this -- there are getting together and i really hope for the opportunity to meet these guys. not one in 10 of them is still around. so i think these groups are bound to pass along leadership of the groups to the next generation. so many of them do it well. i have the opportunity to continue to meet the heirs of this incredible legacy.

>> jim -- write the last stand of -- what motivated you to do that? >> what motivated me to read this book? in brief, i have been a lifelong student of the pacific chapter, since i was 10 years old, the ships names have been burned into my brain. so in that sense, these names roberts, johnston, ernest evans -- have been

inspirations to me through my whole life. once i got into my book a blishing career, it was matter of reconnecting with a childhood interest and exploring it in greater depth. and covering that the book not been done and thinking, who can i get to do this. i kept thinking maybe i would give it a shot. was an amateur's inspiration turned by a child's interest. the time to the game. there are at least three other major writers that got in touch me about my sk progress because they had been in discussions with their publishers about writing the same book. i call it -- the reasons that this episode was so controversial, he predicted battle would not get its day in the public eye until after he was gone. the book was published almost exactly 50 years after he had passed. i was part of that.

i was fortuitous to have the to come out -- maybe, a have f other books might been better, but -- >> jim, we have all heard parts of our most of that story, but i don't we thank you and we are honored that you are here today. we want to present new with our latest book -- present you with our latest book. we are honored to have you here and thank you very much. [applause] to take a small break until 10:00. panel with our recipients. thank you.

>> the berlin wall fell 25 years ago on november 9, 1989. we will revisit that historic day next sunday at 8:00 p.m. eastern. video of george bush from the oval office, reaction from senate leaders and speeches from president kennedy in 1953 and --sident reagan in 1957 1987. >> 200 years ago this summer during the war of 1812, british soldiers invaded washington dc august 24,0 or -- 1814. next, alan taylor