USS Helena

The USS Helena CL-50 was a modified Brooklyn -class light cruiser. She was commissioned on December 14, 1939. She was transferred to the Pacific fleet in September of 1940. On December 7, 1941, the USS Helena was moored inboard the Minelayer USS Oglala near the drydocks as she was slated to undergo some refitting later that month. She was behind the USS Pennsylvania, which was in the dry dock with Ford Island and battleship row off her starboard quarter and the USS California to starboard. When the initial wave of Japanese planes began their attack, the glare of the rising sun had made them mistake the USS Helena for the USS Pennsylvania. A torpedo was launched at the USS Helena. The torpedo passed under the USS Oglala, impacting Helena’s hull. Her machine spaces were flooded, which caused a loss of power. The crew began manning the anti-aircraft guns. The auxiliary generators started returning power to the guns. Through the second wave of the attack, her anti-aircraft fire managed to fend off further attacks. She set off for Mare Island in January 1941 for permanent repair and refit. She left for the warzone in July of 1942. The USS Helena served in the savage fighting in the Solomon Islands. The USS Helena was lost on July 6, 1943, in the battle of Kula Gulf after receiving three torpedo hits in rapid succession. Below is a list of the personnel killed on December 7, 1941. Please view the list to learn the names of those who lost their lives on that day.