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[2] - 72k | Reuben James (c.1776-3 December 1838) was a Boatswain's Mate of the United States Navy, famous for his heroism in the Barbary Wars. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Reuben James joined the Navy and served on various ships, including the frigate USS Constellation. During the Barbary Wars, the American frigate Philadelphia was captured by the Barbary pirates when it ran aground in the city of Tripoli, on the southern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, along with a group of volunteers that included Reuben James, entered the harbor of Tripoli under the cover of darkness in an attempt to burn the Philadelphia so that the pirates could not make use of her. The American volunteers boarded the Philadelphia on 16 February 1804 and were met by a group of Barbary pirates who were guarding their prize. During the ensuing hand-to-hand combat, Reuben James, with both of his hands already wounded, positioned himself between Lieutenant Decatur and a sword-wielding pirate. Willing to give his life in defense of his captain, James took the blow from the sword and survived, recovering from his wounds. James continued his career in the U.S. Navy, including many years with Decatur. James was forced to retire in January 1836 because of declining health brought on because of past wounds. He died in 1838 at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Washington, DC. Image: "Decatur's Conflict with the Algerine at Tripoli. Reuben James Interposing His Head to Save the Life of His Commander." August 1804. Copy of engraving by Alonzo Chappel. National Archives and Records Administration. | [1] Bill Gonyo
[2] USS Reuben James (FFG-57) website |
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124k | Undated, destroyers moored at San Diego, California, prior to World War II. These ships are (from left to right): USS Barry (DD-248); USS Bainbridge (DD-246); USS Reuben James (DD-245); USS Williamson (DD-244); USS Fox (DD-234); USS Lawrence (DD-250); and USS Hovey (DD-208). Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute Photo Collection. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. | Fred Weiss |
| 97k | The launching, Miss Helen Strauss, sponsor, USS Reuben James, October 4, 1919. New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey. Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Independence Seaport Museum. | Bill Gonyo |
| 79k | USS Reuben James (DD-245) is seen on March 9, 1932 on her recommissioning at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. | Mike at Green Creek Studios |
| 62k | In the Hudson River, NY, 29 April 1939. Photo from the Ted Stone Collection, the Mariner's Museum, Newport News, VA. USN photo NH 66333. | Joe Radigan |
| 98k | USS Reuben James (DD-245) and USS Truxtun (DD-229) and another unidentified destroyer sitting outside of New York Harbour, on 7 September 1940 (Treasure Island Museum-SFCB). Photo from Warship Boneyards, by Kit and Carolyn Bonner. | Robert Hurst |
| 100k | The U.S. Navy's first post WW I design battleship, North Carolina (BB-55) fitting out at New York Navy Yard in early 1941. The stern of the destroyer Edison (DD-439) appears to the left & the destroyer Reuben James (DD-245) appears on the right foreground. | John Chiquoine |
115 of her crew were lost with the ship and remain on duty.
