World War II Soldier: Bernard Larkin Scoggins

Cemetery: Armurchee Baptist Church
Location:
N 34° 23.637 W085° 13.695
Big Texas Valley Road
Floyd County, Georgia

Date of Visit: January 26, 2009

Inscription:

Bernard Larkin Scoggins
GMI
US Navy
World War II
Sept 28, 1915 July 6, 1943
Purple Heart
Pearl Harbor Survivor

Discussion:

Bernard Scoggins was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Scoggins of Route 1, Rome Georgia. He reported to duty on the USS Helena (CL-50) on September 19, 1939. He served on this ship as a Gunners Mate 1st Class (GMI).

The USS Helena (CL-50) was a 10, 000 ton light cruiser of the St. Louis Class. She was built in the New York Shipyards and commissioned in 1939. On December 7, 1941 the Helena was tied to dock 1010 in Pearl Harbor. She received some torpedo damage on that faithful day. If is not clear if Scoggins was wounded during the Pearl Harbor attack. In June of 1942 the Helena returned to sea duty.

In the early morning hours of July 6, 1943 the Helena took part in the Battle of Kula Gulf off of New Georgia. During the battle the Helena was struck by three Japanese torpedoes and sank.
According to after action reports 170 seamen were lost when the Helena sank. Bernard L. Scoggins, GM1c, was listed as Missing in Action.

Sources:
Georgia Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard World War II Causality List, Access Genealogy

After Action Report, www.usshelena.org/actionreport.html