Lloyd Robert Helms was born in Indiana April 22, 1915 to William and Emma Helms. He had 3 younger sisters. The 1930 census shows the family living in Los Angeles. Lloyd enlisted in the Navy Reserve January 5, 1942 and was discharged February 4, 1949 in San Diego. According to the Navy Muster Rolls on Ancestry, Lloyd was on the USS Ajax from December, 1944 until November, 1945, then on USS Terror, CM5 to December, 1947, then on USS Vulcan, AR5 until discharge. Ajax and Vulcan were fleet repair ships of over 500 feet in length. The Terror was a fleet minelayer that he was on right after WW2. No muster roles are available showing his early WW2 service. It is presumed that he was on the Ajax during the entire war. The Ajax had a great career in the Pacific repairing many heavily damaged ships. Lloyd Helms died in San Diego on September 22, 1980.
Lloyd Helms group is extensive. It includes his named and 1945 dated Good Conduct medal, WW2 Victory medal, American Campaign medal, and American Defense medal, with ribbon bars. Also included is a small early studio portrait of Helms in uniform, a photo of Helms and some crewmates on the USS Vulcan, 1947 and 1948 Christmas menus from the Vulcan, 2 ruptured duck patches, his presentation certificate at time of death signed by Jimmy Carter, and his pocket USN service card listing his service dates and his final rating of DC1.
SOLD to a collector 04-2021
