Oct. 31, 1941, a week before Pearl Harbor, the Reuben James DD-245, was sunk by a German U-boat while escorting a convoy of merchant ships. 143 men were aboard, and only 44 enlisted men survived.
It was the first US ship sunk during WW II, and became a rally cry for involvement in the European theater, albeit, a moot one after Dec. 7.
It became a folk song, sung by Woody Guthrie and the Kingston Trio.
On YouTube, the names of the sailors lost are scrolled during the songs.
https://youtu.be/I7jBbCQwJ0g
Gordon