Reuben James (1776 – 3 December 1838)
was a boatswain’s mate of the United States Navy,
famous for his heroism in the First Barbary War.
Born in Delaware around 1776, James joined the Navy
and served on several ships, including the frigate USS Constellation.
James continued his Naval career,
and was forced to retire in January 1836 because of ill health.
He died in 1838 at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Washington, DC.
Three warships of the Navy have been named Reuben James in his honor:
- Reuben James (DD-245), a four-stack Clemson-class destroyer
Launched 4 October 1919 Sunk by U-552, 31 October 1941
- Reuben James (DE-153), a Buckley-class destroyer escort
Launched 6 February 1943 Sunk as target, 1 March 1971
- Reuben James (FFG-57), an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate
Launched 8 February 1985 Sunk as Target January 19, 2016
The Sinking Of The Reuben James
Words and Music by Woody Guthrie
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICy5P1pKy5A
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Have you heard of a ship called the good Reuben James
Manned by hard fighting men both of honor and fame?
She flew the Stars and Stripes of the land of the free
But tonight she’s in her grave at the bottom of the sea.
Tell me what were their names, tell me what were their names,
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?
What were their names, tell me, what were their names?
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James
Well, a hundred men went down in that dark watery grave
When that good ship went down only forty-four were saved.
‘Twas the last day of October we saved the forty-four
From the cold ocean waters and the cold icy shore.
It was there in the dark of that uncertain night
That we watched for the U-boats and waited for a fight.
Then a whine and a rock and a great explosion roared
And they laid the Reuben James on that cold ocean floor.
Now tonight there are lights in our country so bright
In the farms and in the cities they’re telling of the fight.
And now our mighty battleships will steam the bounding main
And remember the name of that good Reuben James.
Ha, you beat me.
It took me too long to paste it all together.