Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Reuben James

Reuben James was a boatswains mate in the first Barbary War. He was honored by the Navy when a Clemson class Destroyer was named in his honor in 1919. The ship had the distinction of becoming the first American ship sunk in WW2 when, while escorting convoyHX156, she positioned herself between a wolf pack and an ammunition ship in the convoy. She was struck forward, her bow blown off, and sunk a short five minutes later killing 100 sailors

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