Seaman First Class
USS Helena CL-50
Information received via an email from shipmate Charlie McClelland of the USS Helena CL-50,
on 28 January 2008.
Permission to post the following pictures provided by Information received via an email on 10 January 2008.
The following web page address provided by Shipmate Charlie McClelland of the USS Helena CL-50.
The following information received via an email on 5 January 2008.
Preston Douglas is to be buried Jan. 26 in Sneedville, TN about 50 miles west of Kingsport near the Kentucky border. The following email received on 13 November 2007.
Dear Dave,
I regret to inform you of the passing of Regina Douglas Collins, General Preston Douglas' sister. Funeral services were held today in Hancock County, TN.
Billy On 28 September 2007, Entry #172 was logged into our USS Helena Guest Book. It reads as follows:
Entry #: 172
Date: 2007-09-28 06:51:29
Name: Billy Smith
Comments:
RE: PRESTON DOUGLAS
I KNOW YOU WILL BE INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT PRESTON DOUGLAS, A SERVICEMAN FROM WORLD WAR II. PRESTON DOUGLAS WAS SERVING ON THE USS HELENA WHEN SHE WAS SUNK AT THE BATTLE OF THE KULA GULF IN 1943. APPARENTLY HIS BODY WASHED ASHORE ON ONE OF THE ISLANDS AND WAS BURIED THERE. PRESTON'S BODY WAS FOUND JUST A SHORT TIME AGO BY A PERSON DIGGING IN A GARDEN ON ONE OF THE ISLANDS. HE WAS IDENTIFIED THROUGH HIS DOG TAGS, AND THE MILITARY BEGAN A SEARCH FOR HIS FAMILY.
RECENTLY DNA WAS TAKEN FROM HIS SISTER WHO LIVES IN HANCOCK COUNTY, TENNESSEE. PRESTON SHOULD BE HOME SOON FOR BURIAL IN HIS HOMETOWN LOCATED IN CAMPBELL COUNTY, TENNESSEE.
Billy Smith. smith@bellsouth.net Thank You! As Manager of the USS Helena Web page and our Guest Book, it is my job to provide information and verify, if possible, same. I contacted Mr Billy Smith to inquire how he received the information about Preston Douglas's remains. Here is his reply:
Hello Mr. Brouchard,
The way the story came to me in early Spring, the Navy contacted the Postmaster in Jellico (Campbell County), Tennessee, trying to find a next of kin of Mr. Douglas. The Postmaster, a friend of mine, called me and thought Mr. Douglas' sister, Regina Douglas, had lived in Claiborne County, Tennessee, but did not know if she was still living, if she was married, etc. The Postmaster thought I might know of the family, since I had been a State Trooper and Sheriff for many years in Claiborne County and naturally came in contact with a lot of people. But I could not locate her, so we took the search to Hancock County, Tennessee, which joins Claiborne County. My wife works for the power company that serves the area and contacted some of her co-workers to help locate Ms. Douglas. Hancock County is one of Tennessee's smallest counties, so within a few hours her co-workers had called her back stating that Ms Douglas did indeed live in Hancock County and serveral of the employees knew the Douglas family. The co-worker contacted Ms. Douglas' daughter, who told him that yes, her mother had two brothers who served during WWII, and that Preston never came home. She said her mother had talked about him many, many times over the years and of course never knew what had happened to him. Apparently Ms. Douglas is now in a fragile state of mind (possibly has Alzheimer's?), and lives near her daughter who looks after her. The daughter said she would tell her mother about her brother and said if her mother were having a good day, she would understand. The daughter gave us home, work and cell phone numbers where she could be reached, and we in turn gave those to the Postmaster in Jellico, who then made contact again with the Navy.
The Navy told the family that Mr. Douglas would be home by the end of this summer. I wanted to wait until he was home before posting this; however, that did not happen, so I went ahead and posted it on the Helena message board. I tried just sending it to your e-mail address, but it would not take it. No, I did not serve on the Helena or know anyone who did. Yes, you may use my e-mail address.
Billy Smith
The next information came from Shipmate Charlie McClelland who served on the USS Helena CL-50 and reads as follows:
American Remains Found on Ranonga Island
In 2006, locals discovered the remains of an American buried on the island, with his dog tag. The remains belong to Seaman 1st Class, General Preston Douglas, 2960771 from Newcomb TN. He was a crew member of the USS Helena You can access the page where Charlie found the above information by clicking HERE.
You can also access the USS Helena CL-50 Final Muster Report, dated August 1, 1943. I fully agree with Mr. Smiths words.
Hello Mr. Brouchoud,
Yes, it certainly will be alright to use my words, no credit necessary. I am just glad he was found and gets to come home.
Billy Smith Map found and provided by Charlie McClelland
To view an enlarged map of the Solomon Islands, click HERE.
Knoxville, TN
Load, have patience as you scroll down to read comments made about Seaman Douglas.
Patriotic Guard Riders
It is sad that she did not live to get to see him come home.
If you are interested in reading the obituary, you can find it in the Morristown Citizens Tribune (Morristown, TN), obituary section,
yesterday's listing (11-12-07).
Or, if you don't find it and have a fax, I'd be glad to fax a copy to you.
David J. Brouchoud
dave.brouchoud@gmail.com
Load the page and scroll down to the list of Missing in Action. Click HERE.
