Wel welcome to war stories. Im oliver north coming to you from patriots point. This is the world war ii destroyer, a fighting ship with a remarkable history. At normandy, her guns fired to protect american soldiers landing on the beach. In the space of 09 minu90 minut planes attacked her. The heroic efforts saved the ship and she made her way back to the u. S. And saw action again in the korean war. The brave soldiers who served aboard these vessels called them tin cans. They shot down enemy aircraft, hunted and sank submarines, screened for larger ships, provided naval gunfire support for troops on shore. And delivered the mail. Their jack of all trades capabilities put them in harms way against far superior foes. Despite their valiant service, theyre less well known than the capitol ships they protected. They might be better celebrated, but they didnt go anywhere without their destroyer escorts. Tonight on war stories, the tin can sailors of world war ii. More more than 300,000 serve