Hoping to Identify my father's ship

[jscharpf]

I know this is probably asking much..but I didn't know where to go, so I figured my friends here on subsim would at least get me on the right path.

My father was in the navy just after world war 2. He signed up at 17 years old in 1946. I know he went to Easter Island. Other than that, nobody in my family knows anything, including my mom. She is alive at 91, and my father passes away in 2008. I finally found a picture in their house, but my mom is not interested.
So I will try to attach it here. I know he was on a destroyer, that's all I know.

At one time I did try to search his name but everyone wants some type of permission or fee. My mom doesn't know much, and I don't want to push to get his social security number (which is what the official sites want). My 7 siblings don't know.

So first I thought I would post this picture and see if anyone can help me identify the ship. At least if I knew what it was, it would help.

I don't really know who took the picture or when, but this was in our house since I was a young boy, and I barely remember him talking about it.

Thanks for any help you can provide!

Jeff

[Kapitan]

USN Bagley class Destroyer your in luck because only 8 were ever built

I have Narrowed it down some what for you too

USS Patterson DD392
USS Ralph Talbot DD390
USS Mugford DD389
USS Helm DD388
USS Bagley DD386

[jscharpf]

Wow thank you Kapitan! I think "Helm" sounds familiar.. I thought it started with an H or an I..

Weird.. He served in late 1945 into 1946 (I think). I'm pretty sure the war was over when he got in. My mom says he was 17, and he was born March of 1928.. so..

I'm wondering if it is the Helm. That name sounds so eerily familiar!

Thanks again!! I so much appreciate your help! I have some searching to do!



Jeff

[Kapitan]

USS Helm was indeed a Bagley class and she survived world war II only to be scrapped in 1947 she participated in Operation Cross roads

Quite why he would be in Easter Islands i have no idea that's quite far south East and near Chile (and Chilean territory) from Hawaii and at least 5000nm from Bikini Atoll.

[jscharpf]

hmm.. interesting.. maybe my memory of what he told me is wrong, maybe .. he didn't remember correctly.
I know that is his ship (whatever it is), and I (think) I remember him telling us one time that he was at Easter Island (not sure if they stopped, or maybe this was a "story"..).. I think my mom has more pictures, I will have to do more searching.. but she is a little sensitive, and doesn't want any of his stuff touched.. so this is why I haven't really pursued it.

However, this Christmas, we were all there, and I found the picture.. just that nobody else seemed interested..

Anyway, I appreciate the help. I'm sure I'll have an answer to this puzzle. Perhaps I have the ship name totally wrong lol!.. He didn't talk about it much..

[Kapitan]

It is always worth pursuing my family nearly chucked out a load of family items that dated back to World War I this lead me on a hunt and i found much useful information from it.

What ever you find always share too

Easter Island could have been a port call or stop over given the time frame of cross roads its possible.

[jscharpf]

Kapitan!!.. I did a GOOGLE for my dad's name with US Navy and what showed up was a pay site for records (something .. fold3d.com.. whatever)..
but while it wanted me to pay for his record, the "preview" revealed something like "navy muster rolls 1938-1949.. USS HELM DD388".. then his name..
There is a preview of some document but if I click it they want me to pay.. however, his picture is right there, in his navy uniform!! THIS MUST BE IT!!!


I may actually pay to get these records, but I will wait for now.

[Kapitan]

I am not sure what system you guys have in the USA but in the UK sometimes we have to pay for family records that are held but most of the time they are free to access there's only one file i cant get my hands on because the Canadian Government wont release it even though its over 100 years old!

I am not sure if you have a commission for war / military records they if they exist maybe able to locate and release to you your dads file.

[Aktungbby]

port side vs starboard Caption: Camouflage Measure 32, Design 1D; this drawing prepared circa 1944 by the Bureau of Ships (BuShips) for a camouflage scheme intended for destroyers of the Gridley-class. Ships known to have worn this pattern included Bagley, Helm, Mugford and Ralph Talbot. Some of these ships may have used different paints than those specified on this drawing. This plan shows the ship's port side, bow, stern, superstructure ends, and exposed decks. the very detailed USS Helm's war history mentions every Pacific island except Easter Island.

Originally Posted by jscharpf

I know he went to Easter Island.

Easter Island at the time was a slave-labor Chilean governed sheep ranch of little use to the US Navy. R U sure it wasn't Ulithi? https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/h/helm.html