USS Reuben James DD-245

Maiden voyage, October 1919

   A "four-stacker" destroyer, built by New York Shipbuilding Company in Camden New Jersey, just in time for the end or World War One.  Her first "tour" overseas was to Yugoslavia and Russia (my, how times change), it was a humantarian mission.  She left France as a guard to the Cruiser USS Olympia who was carrying the remains of the Unknown Soldier, a high honor.
  Decommisioned in 1931 she was put into the "mothball fleet" in Philadelphia, re-commisioned in 1932 she patrolled the water off Cuba during the overthrow by Fulgencio Batista.  Transferred to the Pacific Fleet where she took part in the evaluation of Aircraft Carriers, just had to see if those things could work.
  As World War Two was breaking out in Europe, the ship was transferred back to the Atlantic Fleet for patrols.  Based in Hvalfjordur, Iceland she sailed to protect Convoy HX 156, which was eastbound from Newfoundland, Canada, the Reuben James was torpedoed by U-552, a German U-boat.  She had positioned herself between the "wolfpack" of submarines known to be in the area, and the ammunition ship sailing to Iceland.  The torpedo sunk the Reuben James when a magazine exploded.  Of a crew of 159 men, only 44 survived the sinking.  The USS Reuben James was the first United States casualty of World War Two.