Rescue of the Helena Survivors in World War II
A Tale of Incredible Courage
by
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Primary Focus of the Book
This book is primarily written about a Light Cruiser in the United States Navy in the year 1943. At about one o’clock in the morning of July 10th the Helena took a torpedo that sheared off her bow. Almost immediately two more torpedoes struck her and put her on the bottom. 168 of her crew perished in the sinking. Two destroyers, escorting the Helena, rescued as many of the 900 members of the original crew that were in the water that they were able to. 275 survivors however were left; seemingly to their fate. This book is the story of the gallant rescue of these 275 survivors. Other information is included as a lead into the Story of the rescue of the Helena’s Survivors. It is a tale of incredible courage and valor. It was an example of the American fighting men at their finest.
The following is a few stories about people; many times just ordinary people, who performed heroic deeds, in helping others in peril:
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About the Book
This book is written about a Light Cruiser that was heavily involved in the Solomon's in the far Pacific. It seemed that she was indestructable and possessed of a charmed life. Time after time when trouble struck and it seemed that disaster lurked in the wings the angel of death passed over her. But those who repeatedly tempt fate are destined to reap a bitter harvest.
It happened after the Enemy had been driven off the Island of Guadalcanal and had retired to the Island of New Georgia to make a desperate stand. But the United States Military Forces were not to be denied the Fruits of Final Victory.
Fierce nocturnal Fights erupted at Night in the Sea around the Island of New Georgia. And it was on one of these terrible nights in a God Forsaken stretch of Water the Natives called Kula Gulf that the Helena's charmed life came to an end.
The first Torpedo tore off her bow; two more torpedoes broke her hull in two pieces and put her on the bottom.
About 176 men perished in the sinking. Another 760 were cast into the sea. Two destroyer picked up about 500 of them and fled the scene to be out of reach of the Japanese dive bombers before dawn began to light up the eastern sky.
This book is about the rescue of the remaining crew members who remained in the dark murky waters of Kula Gulf. These unfortunate men had no assurance that they would ever be rescued. Many of them spent what seemed to be endless hours tortured by thirst; plagued by the pain of burns and other injuries that exposed raw flesh to the Salt Water. It was a hellish situation if there ever was one. From time to time another and another gave up the fight to survive and sank below the sea to rise no more.
Here they were cast into the dark waters right at the enemies doorstep. But their salvation was waiting in the wings as the valor and devotion to their fellow comrades decided the issue. Like the Cavalry of Old charging across the prairie with the Bugles Shrill notes blowing the Charge the remaining destoyers at Guadalcanal came to their rescue.
This in the final analysis is the incredible Story of that Valiant Rescue.
About the Author
This Writer spent six years on the Open Sea in the United States Navy. Four of those years were spent on duty on a Battleship from the years 1936 to 1940. Two years were spent on a new Destroyer in 1942 and 1943.
Later this Writer was an Honor Graduate from one of Californias biggest State Universities in Engineering.
As a member of the National Engineering Honor Society Tau Beta Pi thiis Writer was employed for 3 years on the Apollo Project as a thermal and structural Stress Analyst at the North American Space Center located in Downey, Calfornia from 1964-1967, Three more years were spent as an Engineer on the Manned Orbiting Lab for the Space Center located at Huntington Beach, Californis. This Writer was employed by the Douglas Corporation.
Eleven Years were spent while employed in a Public Employee Traffic Signal Division.
This writer was a Registered Professional Engineeri in the State of California in 1984 before retiring.
As a boy this Writer grew up during the so called Great depression.This was back in the days of the Long Horn Steers in Texas where there was Open Range.
This Writer started Self Publishing Books in the year 2002 and since then have Self Published Eleven Books.