  {|    |} uss helm (dd-388) was a bagley-class destroyer in the united states navy during world war ii. she was named for rear admiral james meredith helm. helm received 11 battle stars for her world war ii service in the pacific. ==pre-war== helm was launched by norfolk navy yard on 27 may 1937; sponsored by mrs. j. m. helm, widow; and commissioned on 16 october 1937, with lt. comdr. p. h. talbot in command. after shakedown, helm operated in the caribbean until march 1938. following summer exercises, she was attached to the newly formed atlantic squadron on 1 october 1938. early in 1939, she deployed with carrier division 2 in the caribbean for fleet problem xx. after being transferred to the west coast in may 1939, helm engaged in fleet exercises and screening maneuvers out of san diego and the hawaiian islands. ==pearl harbor== at 0755 on the morning of 7 december 1941, helm had just turned into west loch in pearl harbor, en route to deperming buoys,carroll 1941 when japanese carrier planes attacked the naval base. it was the only ship under way at the beginning of the attack.nimitz 1942 the destroyer manned her guns and brought down at least one of
1937_ships Bagley-class_destroyers Ships_built_in_Portsmouth,_Virginia Ships_present_during_the_attack_on_Pearl_Harbor World_War_II_destroyers_of_the_United_States