The US Cruiser Helena
On July 6, 1943, during the naval Battle of Kula Gulf, the US destroyer Radford rescued wounded, burned, and drowning sailors from the shark-infested waters off the coast of Kolombangara in the Solomon Islands. The Radford is one of 4 destroyers sent to intercept the Tokyo Express from delivering troop reinforcements on Kolombangara.
During that battle, the US cruiser Helena is hit by the Japanese destroyers, Suzukaza and Tanikaze, and sinks quickly, sending its crew of 900 sailors into the South Pacific sea. At risk of being sunk by Japanese destroyers, the US destroyers, the Radford and Nicholas, remained to rescue over 700 sailors from the Helena, the Radford crew alone saving 468 and the Nicholas 291 sailors of the Helena.