(The following "document" copied from the USS HELENA 1951 Crew's Book.)
U. S. S. HELENA (CA-75)
FLEET POST OFFICE
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
24 November 1951
From: Commanding Officer, U.S.S. HELENA (CA-75)
TO: CHARLIE ABLE
Subj: Participation in United Nations action in Korea
1.Pursuant to your services, in the U.S.S. HELENA (CA-75) it is hereby certified that you took part in the following actions in which the U.S.S. HELENA (CA-75) participated while a member of the United Natons naval forces engaged in Korea:
Number 1 through 52, inclusive | ||
NO. | DATE | ACTION |
1. | 2 Apr1951 | Serving outside the continental limits of the United States. |
2. | 15 Apr | Crossing 160 degrees longitude and entered into the Far East. |
3. | 24 Apr | Conducted diversionary pre-landing bombardment in the vicinity of Kosong, Korea. |
4. | 24-29 Apr | Combat operations with Task Force 77 (Fast Carrier Striking Force) on the East coast of Korea. |
5. | 29-30 Apr | Participating in preliminary bombardment and gunfire support for amphibious landing demonstration in vicinity of Tangchon, Korea. |
6. | 30 Apr | Bombardment of Wonsan, Korea. Received return fire from enemy shore batteries. No hits suffered. |
7. | 1-5 May | Combat operations with Task Force 77 (Fast Carrier Striking Force) on the East coast of Korea. |
8. | 5 May | Bombardment of Wonsan, Korea. |
9. | 6-7 May | Bombardment of Kosong and Kanson, Korea. |
10. | 7-17 May | Combat operations with Task Force 77 (Fast Carrier Striking Force) on the East coast of Korea. |
11. | 30 May-7 Jun | Combat operations with Task Force 77 (Fast Carrier Striking Force) on the East coast of Korea. |
12. | 8 Jun | Bombardment of Songjin, Korea. |
13. | 9 Jun | Bombardment of Chuuronjang and Songjin, Korea. |
14. | 10 Jun | Bombardment of Chuuronjang and Iwon, Korea. |
15. | 11-27 Jun | Combat operations with Task Force 77 (Fast Carrier Striking Force) on the East coast of Korea. Assisted in removing wounded from USS WALKE after striking floating mine Received aboard 7 patients. |
16. | 11-17 Jul | Gunfire support to UN troops (US X Corps and ROK 1st Corps) in the vicinity of Kansong, Korea. |
17. | 17-20 Jul | Bombardment of Wonsan, Korea. |
18. | 20-25 Jul | Combat operations with Task Force 77 (Fast Carrier Striking Force) on the East coast of Korea. |
19. | 26-27 Jul | Bombardment of Songjin-Tanchon area. |
20. | 27-28 Jul | Bombardment of Chuuronjang-Chongjin area. |
21. | 28-29 Jul | Bombardment of Songjin, Korea. |
22. | 29 Jul 3 Aug | Bombardment of Wonsan, Korea. Received direct hit from enemy shore batteries on main deck aft on 31 July. |
23. | 3-8 Aug | Combat operations with Task Force 77 (Fast Carrier Striking Force) on the East coast of Korea. |
24. | 22-25 Aug | Combat operations with Task Force 77 (Fast Carrier Striking Force) on the East coast of Korea. |
25. | 25 Aug | Radar picket mission during air Force strike at Rashin, Korea. |
26. | 25 Aug | Bombardment of Chongjin, Korea. |
27. | 26 Aug | Bombardment of Songjin and Tanchon, Korea. |
28. | 28-31 Aug | Participated in pre-invasion and amphibious demonstrations at Purple Beach in the vicinity of Changjon, Korea. |
29. | 31 Aug-1 Sep | Gunfire support to UN troops at bombline area. |
30. | 1-4 Sep | Combat operations with Task Force 77 (Fast Carrier Striking Force) on the East coast of Korea. |
31. | 4-9 Sep | Gunfire support to UN troops in the vicinity of Kansong, Korea. |
32. | 9-19 Sep | Combat operations with Task Force 77 (Fast Carrier Striking Force) on the East coast of Korea. |
33. | 3-5 Oct | Combat operations with Task Force 77 (Fast Carrier Striking Force) on the East coast of Korea. |
34. | 5 Oct | Bombardment of Hungnam-Hamhung area. |
35. | 6 Oct | Bombardment of Songjin, Korea. |
36. | 7 Oct | Bombardment of Chongjin and Hungnam, Korea. At Hungnam the USS SMALL struck a mine and was assisted by HELENA. Eight patients were received aboard for treatment. |
37. | 8-12 Oct | Combat operations with Task Force 77 (Fast Carrier Striking Force) on the East coast of Korea. |
38. | 13 Oct | Bombardment of Chongjin, Korea. |
39. | 14 Oct | Bombardment of Songjin, Korea. |
40. | 14-17 Oct | Combat operations with Task Force 77 (Fast Carrier Striking Force) on the East coast of Korea. |
41. | 18 Oct | Bombardment of Songjin, Iwon and Sinpo, Korea. |
42. | 19 Oct | Bombardment of Sinpo, Korea. |
43. | 20 Oct | Bombardment of Songjin, Korea. |
44. | 21 Oct | Bombardment of Songjin, Chongjin, Iwon and Hungnam, Korea. |
45. | 22 Oct | Bombardment of Hungnam, Korea. Received direct hit from enemy shore batteries in the after superstructure area. |
46. | 22 Oct | Bombardment of Wonsan, Korea. |
47. | 23-25 Oct | Combat operations with Task Force 77 (Fast Carrier Striking Force) on the East coast of Korea. |
48. | 25 Oct | Bombardment of Hungnam, Korea. |
49. | 26-31 Oct | Combat operations with Task Force 77 (Fast Carrier Striking Force) on the East coast of Korea. |
50. | 15-19 Nov | Combat operations with Task Force 77 (Fast Carrier Striking Force) on the East coast of Korea. |
51. | 19 Oct | Bombardment of Songjin, Iwon and Tanchon, Korea. |
52. | 19-20 Nov 1951 | Combat operations with Task Force 77 (Fast Carrier Striking Force) on the East coast of Korea. |
2. During the period 2 April 1951 to 24 November 1951 the U.S.S. HELENA (CA-75) operated as a unit with TF 77, TF 95, TG 77.1, TF 76, TG 74.2 and TG 76.2
3. For your service on board the U.S.S. HELENA (CA-75) and your participation in the above, you are hereby authorized to wear the Koren Service Medal with 1 star in accordance with MarCorps-BuPers Joint ltr dated 20 March 1951 (NDB 31 March 1951,51-230) and BuPers Circular Letter 169-51.
L. H. MARTIN