Kula Gulf
On 5 July she participated in another bombardment of Kolombangara. In the early morning hours of the 6th she made contact with enemy surface vessels in Kula Gulf. In the ensuing battle, "Helena" (CL-50) was lost. "Nicholas", while rescuing 291 survivors, took the Japanese ships under torpedo and gunfire. "Nicholas" and "Radford" (DD-446) were later awarded Presidential Unit Citations for their persevering performance during the Battle of Kula Gulf—a token, Admiral Chester Nimitz told the crew, of "the respect and esteem which this ship, her officers and men have well earned throughout the Navy."