Sunk in Kula Gulf: The Final Voyage of the USS Helena and the Incredible Story of Her Survivors in World War II

by John J. Domagalski

The early morning hours of July 6, 1943, found the USS "Helena" off the Solomon Islands in what would later be known as the Battle of Kula Gulf. But the ship s participation in the battle came to a swift end when three Japanese torpedoes suddenly struck. One hundred and sixty-eight sailors went down with the ship, many never surviving the initial torpedo hits. As the last of the "Helena" disappeared below the ocean s surface, the remaining crewmen s struggle for survival had only just begun."Sunk in Kula Gulf" tells the epic story of the "Helena" s survivors. Two destroyers plucked more than seven hundred from the sea in a night rescue operation as the battle continued to rage. A second group of eighty-eight sailors clustered into three lifeboats made it to a nearby island and was rescued the next day. A third group of survivors, spread over a wide area, was missed entirely. Clinging to life rafts or debris, the weary men were pushed away from the area of the sinking by a strong current. After enduring days at sea under the hot tropical sun, they finally found land. It was, however, the Japanese-held island of Vella Lavella and deep behind the front lines. The survivors organized and disappeared into the island s interior jungle. Living a meager existence, the group evaded the Japanese for eight days until the Marines and U.S. Navy evacuated the shipwrecked sailors in a daring rescue operation. Using a wide variety of sources, including previously unpublished firsthand accounts, John J. Domagalski brings to life this amazing, little-known story from World War II.

Genres: Nonfiction

256 pages, Unknown Binding

First published September 1, 2012

About the author

John J. Domagalski(www.pacificwarauthor.com) is the author of Into the Dark Water: The Story of Three Officers and PT-109 (Casemate, 2014). The book uses the stories of three young naval officers to tell the World War II saga of the warship made famous by John F. Kennedy.

He is also the author of two other books. Sunk in Kula Gulf: The Final Voyage of the U.S.S. Helena and the Incredible Story of her Survivors in World War II (Potomac, 2012), tells the amazing little-known story of heroism and survival at sea that followed Helena’s sinking in 1943. Lost at Guadalcanal: The Final Battles of the Astoria and Chicago as Described by Survivors and in Official Reports (McFarland, 2010), follows two World War II American warships through one of the U.S. Navy’s greatest naval defeats. His articles have appeared in World War II History, Naval History, and World War II Quarterly Magazines.

Domagalski’s fascination with history began at a young age by building model ships and reading books about World War II. The interest eventually grew into research and writing. He has interviewed scores of veterans who served in the Pacific during World War II. He is a graduate of Northern Illinois University and lives near Chicago.

Reviews

[Marcus Ionis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Working on my pet genealogy project, I spoke with my mother about her father. In our conversation she mentioned my Grandfather Bernard William Arvin was a Lieutenant on the USS Helena. She spoke of him witnessing the attack on his ship at Pearl Harbor and later on the sinking of his ship in the pacific. She spoke of his survival and traumatic responsibility for identifying the ones that passed. Otherwise there was no further information. So I was very pleased finding "Sunk in Kula Gulf".

John Domagalski researched the events that lead to the attack from recent interviews. Those interviews appeared fairly recent. Even though the events are detailed, it's unfortunate most survivors have passed away over time. The book could of used more interviews, but what could one do. Overall, I respect the author for preserving what memories that were available and telling this important event in American history. If your interested in WWII history, I would recommend reading it.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

My great uncle Walt Wendt was on this ship (the USS Helena) and was interviewed for and quoted in this book. Very enlightening to learn this story!

Amazing story, I never new these details before. These men and this generation were amazing