USS Helena (CL-50) was a Brooklyn-class light cruiser built for the United States Navy in the late 1930s, the ninth and final member of the class. The Brooklyns were the first modern light cruisers built by the US Navy under the limitations of the London Naval Treaty. She was torpedoed at the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 and was repaired and modernized in early 1942. Following the American victory on Guadalcanal in early 1943, Allied forces began preparations to advance along the Solomon chain, first targeting New Georgia. Helena took part in a series of preparatory attacks on the island through mid-1943, culminating in an amphibious assault in the Kula Gulf on 5 July. The next night, while attempting to intercept a Japanese reinforcement squadron, Helena was torpedoed and sunk in the Battle of Kula Gulf. Out of a crew of almost 1,200, 168 men were killed, either during the battle or while the men were adrift.
S/O Pearl M (Brown) & Frederick Luther Uhl
Service # 5637148
Unit United States Naval Reserve
Rank Seaman Second Class U.S. Navy
Status Missing in Action
★ Purple Heart
UHL, Laverne, SEA2, 5637148, USNR, from California, USS Helena, location Solomon Islands, missing, date of loss July 6, 1943.
Source material from multiple public domain websites.
Historical Note:
There are multiple variations of spelling in both civilian and military
records. LaVern, Laverne & LaVerne
Remembered by Buffalo (50696055)
S/O Pearl M (Brown) & Frederick Luther Uhl
Service # 5637148
Unit United States Naval Reserve
Rank Seaman Second Class U.S. Navy
Status Missing in Action
★ Purple Heart
UHL, Laverne, SEA2, 5637148, USNR, from California, USS Helena, location Solomon Islands, missing, date of loss July 6, 1943.
Source material from multiple public domain websites.
Historical Note:
There are multiple variations of spelling in both civilian and military
records. LaVern, Laverne & LaVerne
Remembered by Buffalo (50696055)
USS Helena (CL-50) was a Brooklyn-class light cruiser built for the United States Navy in the late 1930s, the ninth and final member of the class. The Brooklyns were the first modern light cruisers built by the US Navy under the limitations of the London Naval Treaty. She was torpedoed at the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 and was repaired and modernized in early 1942. Following the American victory on Guadalcanal in early 1943, Allied forces began preparations to advance along the Solomon chain, first targeting New Georgia. Helena took part in a series of preparatory attacks on the island through mid-1943, culminating in an amphibious assault in the Kula Gulf on 5 July. The next night, while attempting to intercept a Japanese reinforcement squadron, Helena was torpedoed and sunk in the Battle of Kula Gulf. Out of a crew of almost 1,200, 168 men were killed, either during the battle or while the men were adrift.
S/O Pearl M (Brown) & Frederick Luther Uhl
Service # 5637148
Unit United States Naval Reserve
Rank Seaman Second Class U.S. Navy
Status Missing in Action
★ Purple Heart
UHL, Laverne, SEA2, 5637148, USNR, from California, USS Helena, location Solomon Islands, missing, date of loss July 6, 1943.
Source material from multiple public domain websites.
Historical Note:
There are multiple variations of spelling in both civilian and military
records. LaVern, Laverne & LaVerne
Remembered by Buffalo (50696055)
S/O Pearl M (Brown) & Frederick Luther Uhl
Service # 5637148
Unit United States Naval Reserve
Rank Seaman Second Class U.S. Navy
Status Missing in Action
★ Purple Heart
UHL, Laverne, SEA2, 5637148, USNR, from California, USS Helena, location Solomon Islands, missing, date of loss July 6, 1943.
Source material from multiple public domain websites.
Historical Note:
There are multiple variations of spelling in both civilian and military
records. LaVern, Laverne & LaVerne
Remembered by Buffalo (50696055)
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from California.
Family Members
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