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Stay the Rising Sun: The True Story of USS Lexington, Her Valiant Crew, and Changing the Course of World War II
2016 Military Writers Society of America Bronze Medal Winner!
Her crew called her the "Lady Lex" - see how her fierce battle turned the tide in the Allies' favor. In May 1942, the United States' first naval victory against the Japanese in the Coral Sea was marred by the loss of the aircraft carrier USS Lexington . Another carrier was nearly ready for launch when the news arrived, so the navy changed her name to Lexington , confusing the Japanese. The men of the original "Lady Lex" loved their ship and fought hard to protect her. They were also seeking revenge for the losses sustained at Pearl Harbor. Crippling attacks by the Japanese left her on fire and dead in the water. A remarkable 90 percent of the crew made it off the burning decks before Lexington had to be abandoned. In all the annals of the Second World War, there is hardly a battle story more compelling. Lexington 's legacy did not end with her demise, however. Although the battle was deemed a tactical success for the Japanese, it turned out to be a strategic For the first time in the war, a Japanese invasion force was forced to retreat. The lessons learned by losing the Lexington at Coral Sea impacted tactics, air wing operations, damage control, and ship construction. Altogether, they forged a critical, positive turning point in the war. The ship that ushered in and gave birth to a new era in naval warfare might be gone, but fate decreed that her important legacy would live on.
Her crew called her the "Lady Lex" - see how her fierce battle turned the tide in the Allies' favor. In May 1942, the United States' first naval victory against the Japanese in the Coral Sea was marred by the loss of the aircraft carrier USS Lexington . Another carrier was nearly ready for launch when the news arrived, so the navy changed her name to Lexington , confusing the Japanese. The men of the original "Lady Lex" loved their ship and fought hard to protect her. They were also seeking revenge for the losses sustained at Pearl Harbor. Crippling attacks by the Japanese left her on fire and dead in the water. A remarkable 90 percent of the crew made it off the burning decks before Lexington had to be abandoned. In all the annals of the Second World War, there is hardly a battle story more compelling. Lexington 's legacy did not end with her demise, however. Although the battle was deemed a tactical success for the Japanese, it turned out to be a strategic For the first time in the war, a Japanese invasion force was forced to retreat. The lessons learned by losing the Lexington at Coral Sea impacted tactics, air wing operations, damage control, and ship construction. Altogether, they forged a critical, positive turning point in the war. The ship that ushered in and gave birth to a new era in naval warfare might be gone, but fate decreed that her important legacy would live on.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 13, 2017
Great trivia item for Pacific Northwesterners: Did you know in the 1930's during a dry summer and reduced hydropower to supply the region, the Lexington was called to Tacoma in order to be hooked up to their electrical grid and then supplied the city with about 25% of its power for 30 days?
I'm not prone to giving a lot of 5 star reviews to history books on specific topics like this, but this one is so well-researched using journals, diaries, military ships logs, etc. and provides such an excellent overview of the origins of the US carrier fleet, including the international political factors as far back into the early 1920's, that it is really an indispensable resource for understanding how the US Pacific Fleet evolved into it's winning ways in WWII after a disastrous start. There are a lot of technical, military and personal stories that are woven together with care to create a really thorough picture of our history with carriers.
Those looking for a hard-core military history complete with mind-numbing specificity to weapons and armaments details, etc. might be disappointed. This book, fortunately, is for everyone else.
I'm not prone to giving a lot of 5 star reviews to history books on specific topics like this, but this one is so well-researched using journals, diaries, military ships logs, etc. and provides such an excellent overview of the origins of the US carrier fleet, including the international political factors as far back into the early 1920's, that it is really an indispensable resource for understanding how the US Pacific Fleet evolved into it's winning ways in WWII after a disastrous start. There are a lot of technical, military and personal stories that are woven together with care to create a really thorough picture of our history with carriers.
Those looking for a hard-core military history complete with mind-numbing specificity to weapons and armaments details, etc. might be disappointed. This book, fortunately, is for everyone else.
January 7, 2023
Pacific Naval Aviation is a topic that has always interested me. Especially, carrier action in the first couple years of the war as the “underdogs” we’re figuring things out and fighting up against a wall. Since Coral Sea often gets less page time than Midway this was a book I’ve been interested in reading for awhile. This served as a good first deeper dive into a topic that I know much less than when compared to Midway or Pearl. In comparison though this book still doesn’t dive as deep as I hoped. I can’t see I didn’t learn more than I already knew but I was hoping for a bit more. Plus, the writing style, breaking everything down into 2 or 3 paragraph fragments per location and time didn’t always help with the overall flow as I felt like I was only getting bullet points. However, since Coral Sea and Lexington are topics I’ve been wanting to read about and since there’s a lack of good material out there about them this was a good taste of what I’ve been craving. Maybe not a glamorous abundant meal I’ll always think back on, but I’d still recommend it to someone seeking out a start on the topic.
November 1, 2020
This was a side-read; while reading Ian Toll's Pacific War Trilogy, I wanted to find something more about the CV-2 Lexington, one of the most beautiful ships in U.S. Navy history, and given it's key role in the Battle of the Coral Sea, one of the most consequential. Considered a particularly happy ship, this book captures some of the shipboard culture that made her so, and tells the story of her triumph and demise in tight, novelistic detail. I would love to read a future book which looks even more closely at shipboard culture, and dives into even greater technical, as well as human, details of her loss.
June 13, 2023
excellent read
I highly recommend this book for any naval history enthusiast. I am on my quest to read a book of every US Navy fleet carrier. This is a perfect example of tech writing mixed with human stories. I’d like to see this same writing team do a similar job with the CV16. Thank you
I highly recommend this book for any naval history enthusiast. I am on my quest to read a book of every US Navy fleet carrier. This is a perfect example of tech writing mixed with human stories. I’d like to see this same writing team do a similar job with the CV16. Thank you
June 17, 2024
A great book about a great ship.
This book is very well written and researched. It is written in a style that is pleasant to read and a lot of personal stories about those who served on her. The author also puts in perspective the Lexington's role in the events in the Pacific before and during WWII.
This book is very well written and researched. It is written in a style that is pleasant to read and a lot of personal stories about those who served on her. The author also puts in perspective the Lexington's role in the events in the Pacific before and during WWII.
August 13, 2024
Outstanding Addition to the story of WW2
Insightful and engaging, well worth the read, telling the story of one of the most legendary ships in the USN. For the serious reader of WW2 history, there are some tantalizing tidbits of history and first person accounts. Well worth the read.
Insightful and engaging, well worth the read, telling the story of one of the most legendary ships in the USN. For the serious reader of WW2 history, there are some tantalizing tidbits of history and first person accounts. Well worth the read.
January 10, 2020
Terrific telling of the history of the Aircraft Carrier USS Lexington CV2 and the Battle of the Coral Sea.
This book should stand on your bookshelf right along side Walter Lords Incredible Victory and Tully & Parshall’s magnificent book Shattered Sword about the Battle of Midway.
This book should stand on your bookshelf right along side Walter Lords Incredible Victory and Tully & Parshall’s magnificent book Shattered Sword about the Battle of Midway.
September 12, 2020
This was a fascinating book to read. Easy to read. I will admit to getting lost at times with the jargon. Living in Lexington, MA we have one of the ships bells and at Veterans Day, Patriots' Day and Memorial Day it is part of the ceremonies.
November 20, 2023
A historic review of an early carrier.
Not a bad historic reviewed a TV 2. I'm very genuine World War thowever there is some question about dedication of the metal. The book is a good academic write up complete. Will foot notes not necessarily much of a novel.
Not a bad historic reviewed a TV 2. I'm very genuine World War thowever there is some question about dedication of the metal. The book is a good academic write up complete. Will foot notes not necessarily much of a novel.
December 12, 2018
Wonderful in-depth life story of Lady Lex and her crew. Learned a lot of facts that I didn't know about her and her history before.
March 2, 2019
My father was proud to have served on Lady Lex, though he rarely spoke of the day she went down in the Coral Sea. My thanks to Phil Keith and Zenith for the rest of the story.
November 2, 2015
Stay the Rising Sun is an interesting history of the USS Lexington, CV2, one of the first aircraft carriers in the USN. (The first was CV1 Langley.)Devotees of WW2 history should enjoy the book. It is not overly technical,naval jargon is kept to a minimum, so it is accessible to the average history buff. According to other reviewers, there are some errors in the book relating to naval armament and aircraft weapons, but if so, they take little away from the reader's enjoyment of a thrilling story of the skill and heroism of American Marines and Sailors in the early, bleak days of the war.Incidentally, Japanese combat skill and daring are acknowledged .
I read the book in Kindle format. There are no maps that I recall, and some would have been helpful; there are photos at the end of the book, as well as an appendix of the the careers of some of the notable characters. Each chapter has footnotes, which appear at the end of the chapter.
Now to the story: Lexington was one of four USN carriers in the Pacific after December 7th. It, and the other carriers, were vital to protecting the US and in carrying the war to Japan. Lexington and its planes, along with Saratoga, its sister carrier, took part in early combat with the Japanese fleet, earning some victories, but at the Battle of the Coral Sea, the two fleets met, or at least their
aircraft did as the USN, in conjunction with Australian allies, sought to interdict a Japanese fleet on its way to attack New Guinea,which Japan would use as a base to invade, or at least, attack Australia
The resulting battle in which the enemy ships never saw each other was a first. All the combat damage was dealt by aircraft.
The Lexington and its men fought well and the ship was badly damaged. But even as the airmen fought heroically in the sky over the Japanese fleet, there was back on the ship heroism as the men of the Lexington fought to keep the stricken ship from sinking.It is quite a story.
The early part of the book is of the early days of the ship and its commanders.It is useful in that it relates the growth, training and growing influence of carriers in naval thinking. It also describes the fatal flaws in the construction of this ship in particular, and in the aircraft tactics. The last section is of the career of the new Lexington, CV16 in the Pacific war.But the Coral Sea combat is the heart of the book and it beats strongly, filled with emotion and greatness.
Recommended to WW2 amateur historians.
I would have given it four stars if it included maps (if I am wrong about the absence of maps, I apologize, but I did not find them in the Kindle edition.)
I read the book in Kindle format. There are no maps that I recall, and some would have been helpful; there are photos at the end of the book, as well as an appendix of the the careers of some of the notable characters. Each chapter has footnotes, which appear at the end of the chapter.
Now to the story: Lexington was one of four USN carriers in the Pacific after December 7th. It, and the other carriers, were vital to protecting the US and in carrying the war to Japan. Lexington and its planes, along with Saratoga, its sister carrier, took part in early combat with the Japanese fleet, earning some victories, but at the Battle of the Coral Sea, the two fleets met, or at least their
aircraft did as the USN, in conjunction with Australian allies, sought to interdict a Japanese fleet on its way to attack New Guinea,which Japan would use as a base to invade, or at least, attack Australia
The resulting battle in which the enemy ships never saw each other was a first. All the combat damage was dealt by aircraft.
The Lexington and its men fought well and the ship was badly damaged. But even as the airmen fought heroically in the sky over the Japanese fleet, there was back on the ship heroism as the men of the Lexington fought to keep the stricken ship from sinking.It is quite a story.
The early part of the book is of the early days of the ship and its commanders.It is useful in that it relates the growth, training and growing influence of carriers in naval thinking. It also describes the fatal flaws in the construction of this ship in particular, and in the aircraft tactics. The last section is of the career of the new Lexington, CV16 in the Pacific war.But the Coral Sea combat is the heart of the book and it beats strongly, filled with emotion and greatness.
Recommended to WW2 amateur historians.
I would have given it four stars if it included maps (if I am wrong about the absence of maps, I apologize, but I did not find them in the Kindle edition.)
November 1, 2015
Excellent book about the first carrier, Lexington
Excellent time about the USS Lexington, her crew and her life and death at the battle of the coral sea. As an amateur military historian, in most interested in the Pacific theater of world war 2. This book is an excellent addition to any library.
Excellent time about the USS Lexington, her crew and her life and death at the battle of the coral sea. As an amateur military historian, in most interested in the Pacific theater of world war 2. This book is an excellent addition to any library.
August 1, 2015
I recently won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. This is a true story during WW II about the USS Lexington. If you are interested in history and the South Pacific this book will be meaningful for you.
July 25, 2015
A very easy and informative read. I have a personal interest in the Lex as she was me grand fathers last ship. The author did a good job mixing fact with first hand accounts to make an entertaining book.
November 18, 2015
Good account of the battle of the coral sea and events leading up to it.
Read
March 25, 2018MWSA Review
Author Phil Keith does a superb job in telling us the story of the USS Lexington, CV-1, while primarily focusing on its brief role in World War II. Keith's extensive knowledge on all things navy are evident throughout the book. He includes numerous first hand accounts of what transpired during the first five months of the war on the Pacific, and while these accounts come mostly from the American personnel who were there, they also include several from Japanese war records. His detailed description of the USS Lexington, its personnel, and the operations of its air group make this book a very interesting read. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in military history, and especially to those with an interest in the war in the Pacific during World War II.
Reviewed,by: Bob Doerr (Sep 2015)
Author Phil Keith does a superb job in telling us the story of the USS Lexington, CV-1, while primarily focusing on its brief role in World War II. Keith's extensive knowledge on all things navy are evident throughout the book. He includes numerous first hand accounts of what transpired during the first five months of the war on the Pacific, and while these accounts come mostly from the American personnel who were there, they also include several from Japanese war records. His detailed description of the USS Lexington, its personnel, and the operations of its air group make this book a very interesting read. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in military history, and especially to those with an interest in the war in the Pacific during World War II.
Reviewed,by: Bob Doerr (Sep 2015)
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews