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The United States Navy Memorial

Navy Memorial Honoring the Men & Women of the Sea Services

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Reuben James

Ship Designation: 
DD-245
Date Lost: 
Friday, October 31, 1941
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. Of the crew, 44 survived, and 115 died

Lost At Sea Log

Number of sailors in this log: 99

Namesort descending Service Branch
Sea 2c Kenneth Neely USN
TM 3c Aldon Neptune USN
Y 3c William Newton USN
Sea 2c Harold Orange USN
CK 1c Pedro Ortizuela USN
Sea 1c Benjamin Owen USN
Sea 1c William Painter USN
CWT Joseph Parkin USN
Cox William Paterson USN
QM 2c Burl Pennington USN
Sea 1c Joseph Polizzi USN
Sea 1c Corwin Porter USN
BM 1c Frederick Post USN
PhM 1c Lee Powell USN
Sea 1c Elmer Rayhill USN
TM 1c Lee Reid USN
Sea 1c John Ress USN
Sea 1c James Rogers USN
Cox John Ryan USN
Sea 1c Clarence Rygwelski USN

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Prepared by CAPT R.O. Strange USN (Ret.)