She was the first United States Navy ship to be named after Boatswain's Mate Reuben James (c. 1776–1838), who had distinguished himself fighting in the First Barbary War, and was the first US Naval ship to be sunk by hostile action in the European Theater of World War II.

USS Reuben James (FFG-57), an Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate, was the third ship of the U.S. Navy named for Reuben James, a boatswain's mate who distinguished himself fighting the Barbary pirates.

On February 16, 1804, James, a boatswain’s mate, stood on the deck of the USS Philadelphia in Tripoli as Barbary pirates struck. When a sword-wielding pirate attacked Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, James is said to have jumped in front of Decatur and taken the blow meant for him.

Reuben James was a boatswain's mate who distinguished himself fighting the Barbary pirates. The first USS Reuben James (DD-245), a four-stack Clemson -class destroyer, was the first US Navy ship sunk by hostile action in the European Theatre in World War II.

Jan 14, 2024 · The USS Reuben James (DD-245) was a four-funnel Clemson-class destroyer named after U.S. Navy Boatswain’s Mate Reuben James (1776 – 1838), a hero of the First Barbary War. Her keel...

Feb 1, 2015 · Reuben James and Gilmer (DD-233) relieved Fairfax (DD-93) and Badger (DD-126) as plane guards for the aircraft carrier Ranger (CV-4) after she had recovered her air group on 28 October 1939 and...

While escorting convoy HX-156, the American destroyer U.S.S. Reuben James was torpedoed and sunk with the loss of 115 of 160 crewmen, including all officers. Although not the first U.S. Navy ship torpedoed before the war, the Reuben James was the first one lost.

Reuben James was born in Delaware, Ohio about 1776. He joined the U.S. Navy and served on various ships, including the frigate USS CONSTELLATION. It was during the infamous Barbary Wars that the American frigate PHILADELPHIA was captured by the Barbary pirates.

First Sinking of US Ship in WWII. at Hvalfjordur, Iceland, Reuben James sailed from Argentia, Newfoundland, 23 October 1941, with four other destroyers to escort eastbound convoy HX-156. While escorting that convoy, Reuben James was torpedoed by German submarine U-562. Her magazine exploded, and she sank quickly.

Oct 31, 2016 · Popularized for many Americans by the Woody Guthrie song, "The Sinking of the Reuben James," USS Reuben James (DD-245) was the first U.S. Navy ship to be sunk by enemy action during World War II.