DD-388 was named for James Meredith Helm (1855 -1927) who commanded gunboat Hornet during the Spanish American War. In the blockade of Cuba, he captured a Spanish steamer and three contraband schooners, and was advanced five numbers in grade for outstanding performance at the Battle of Manzanillo 30 June 1898. During World War I Rear Admiral Helm was Commandant of the 4th Naval District and received the Navy Cross for his achievements. A Gridley class destroyer, Helm was commissioned 16 October 1937.
On the morning of 7 December 1941, Helm was under way in West Loch Channel, Pearl Harbor when the Japanese planes struck. She immediately fought back and shot down at least one of the attackers. Helm was lightly damaged by two near miss bombs. After the attack Helm joined the task group assigned to the carrier Saratoga.
During World War II Helm earned 11 battle stars and was involved in many of the greatest engagements in the Pacific from Guadalcanal to Okinawa. Helm was decommissioned in June 1946 and later used as a target for atomic tests in the Pacific. She was sold for scrap in October 1947.
Compiled from:
| Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, 8 vols., (Navy Department, Office of Chief of Naval Operations, Naval History Division, Washington, DC, 1963), Volume III, pp.292-294. |
