World War II Honoree

Otho W. Helm

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Roanoke, Virginia

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

HE WAS A SEAMAN ABOARD THE HEAVY CRUISER USS CHESTER IN THE PACIFIC. HE WAS ONE OF 13 MEN LEFT ASHORE AT PEARL HARBOR 10 DAYS BEFORE THE DECEMBER 7, 1941, JAPANESE AIR ATTACK. THE USS CHESTER NEEDED ROOM FOR THE EQUIPMENT IT HAD TO DELIVER TO MARINES ON WAKE ISLAND, SO THE CRUISER'S LAUNCH BOATS WERE PUT ASHORE AND 13 CREW MEMBERS WERE LEFT TO GUARD THEM. HE WAS WALKING BACK TO THE BOATS AFTER BREAKFAST WHEN THE JAPANESE PLANES BEGAN THEIR BOMBINGS. STRAFED BY THE ATTACKERS, HE AND A COMPANION DIVED INTO THE WATER UNDER THE HEAVY CONCRETE OF THE COAL DOCK. BUT BEFORE LONG, THEY TIRED OF TREADING WATER AND WERE UNABLE TO HOLD ON TO THE BARNACLE-ENCRUSTED PILINGS. THE TWO THEN BEGAN USING THEIR SHIP'S LAUNCHES TO FERRY SAILORS ON SHORE LEAVE BACK TO THEIR SHIPS. THEY LATER BROUGHT ACETYLENE TORCHES OUT TO WORKERS TRYING TO CUT THROUGH THE HULLS OF THE CAPSIZED BATTLESHIPS USS OKLAHOMA AND USS UTAH, WHERE MEN WERE TRAPPED. WHEN HIS SHIP RETURNED, HE REJOINED IT AND SERVED IN BATTLES IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS. HE LATER SERVED ON THE BATTLESHIP USS MASSACHUSETTS, PARTICIPATING IN THE INVASION OF CASABLANCA, MOROCCO. HE ALSO SERVED ON THE SUBMARINE USS SEA POACHER. HE RECEIVED THE PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR'S MEDAL.