Reuben James

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.

Career

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.

Influence

Three warships of the Navy have been named "Reuben James" in his honor::*"Reuben James" (DD-245), a four-stack "Clemson"-class destroyer:*"Reuben James" (DE-153), a "Buckley"-class destroyer escort:*"Reuben James" (FFG-57), a "Oliver Hazard Perry"-class guided missile frigate

There are also two songs with the title "Reuben James", neither of which are about the man in question. The first is a Woody Guthrie-written folk song about the first USS "Reuben James" and its sinking. It later became a hit by the Kingston Trio. The second was a major hit for Kenny Rogers and the First Edition in 1969, that deals with the issue of racism and friendship.

External links

* [http://www.usni.org/proceedings/Articles05/Pro02LWF.htm Lest We Forget]