Friday, October 07, 2011

Death List Of The USS Jacob Jones 1917.

USS Jacob Jones (Destroyer No. 61/DD-61)was a Tucker-class destroyer built for the United States Navy prior to the American entry into World War I. The ship was the first U.S. Navy vessel named in honor of Jacob Jones.

Jacob Jones was laid down by the New York Shipbuilding of Camden, New Jersey, in August 1914 and launched in May of the following year. The ship was a little more than 315 feet (96 m) in length, just over 30 feet (9.1 m) abeam, and had a standard displacement of 1,090 long tons (1,110 t). She was armed with four 4-inch (10 cm) guns and had eight 21-inch (530 mm) torpedo tubes. Jacob Jones was powered by a pair of steam turbines that propelled her at up to 30 knots (56 km/h).

After her February 1916 commissioning, Jacob Jones conducted patrols off the New England coast. After the United States entered World War I in April 1917, Jacob Jones was sent overseas. Patrolling the Irish Sea out of Queenstown, Ireland, Jacob Jones rescued the survivors of several ships, notably picking up over 300 from the sunken Armed merchant cruiser Orama.

On 6 December, Jacob Jones was steaming independently from Brest, France, for Queenstown, when she was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-53 with the loss of 66 officers and men, becoming the first United States destroyer to ever be sunk by enemy action. Jacob Jones sank in eight minutes without issuing a distress call; the German submarine commander, Kapitänleutnant Hans Rose, after taking two badly injured Jacob Jones crewmen aboard his submarine, radioed the American base at Queenstown with the coordinates for the survivors.


Death List Of The USS Jacob Jones.

All the men on this list died on December 6, 1917, unless I state otherwise.  They died in action with a enemy subarine and was torpedoed.

1. John William Bielatowice, Seamen, Second Class, United States Navy, Enlisted Baltimore Md., October 16, 1916, Next of kin; Uncle, Anthony Kucht.

2. John Thomas Jr., Brummall, Chief water tender, United States Navy, Enlisted Newport R. I., Septemder 10, 1914, Next of kin; Wife Jessis Brummall.

3. James Brannigan, Fireman, Second Class, United States Navy, Enlisted Pittsburgh Pa., May 20, 1916, Next of kin; Mother Mary Hecker.

4. George Frederick Bryan, Seaman, Second Class, Enlisted Boston Mass., March 30, 1917, Next of kin; Father John T. Bryan.

5. John Edward Butler, Fireman, Second Class, United States Navy, Enlisted Boston Mass., December 7, 1916, Next of kin; Father James M. Butler.

6. Frank William Chappie, Seaman, Second Class, United States Navy, Enlisted Boston Mass., December 6, 1917, Next of kin; Father Ronlhold Chappie.

7. John Joseph Cooney, Chief water tender, United States Navy, Enlisted New Orleans La., September 4, 1915, Next of kin; Sister Katle Forstrom.

8. Maurice Joseph Costigan, Seaman, Second Class, United States Navy, Enlisted Boston Mass., March 30, 1917, Next of kin; Mother Jane Costigan.

9. James Frank Morison Cross, Gunner's mate, First Class, United States Navy, Enllisted Newport R. I., March 11, 1916, Next of kin; Mother Mary J. Cross.

10. George Dolezal, Water tender, United States Navy, Enlisted February 9, 1916, Died December 8, 1917, Next of kin; Father Joseph Dolezal.

11. William Augustus Donovan, Boiler maker, United States Navy, Enlisted Newport R. I., January 4, 1915, Next of kin; Wife Anna L. Donovan.

12. Henry Philippe Favreau, Machinist's mate, Second Class, United States Navy, Enlisted Philadelphia Pa., August 4, 1915, Next of kin; Anna Favreau.

13. Reginald John Fisher, Seaman, Second Class, United States Navy, Enlisted Indianapolis Ind., May 8, 1917, Next of kin; Father Fred W. Fisher.

14. James Alva Francis, Eletrician, Thied Class, United States Navy, Enlisted Cincinnatt Ohio., September 29, 1915, Next of kin; Mother Clara Francis.

15. Charles French, Fireman, First Class, United States Navy, Fleet Reserve, Enlisted New York, New York, October 28, 1916, Next of kin; Mother Nora French.

16. William Thomas Gilford, Fireman, Second Class, United States Navy, Enlisted Atlanta Ga., July 16, 1914, Next of kin; Cousin Etta Williamson.

17. Henry R. Hood, Gunner, United States Navy, Enlisted from North Carolina, Next of kin; Mother Belle R. Hood.

18. Stanton F. Kalk, Lieutenant Junior grade, United Stated Navy, Enlisted from Nebraska.  Died from exposure after the Jacob Jones was torpedoed, Next of kin; Mrs. George R. Kalk.

19. Henry Andersen, Gunner's mate, Second Class, United States Navy.  He was lost at sea?, when the Jacob Jones was torpedoed.  Next of kin; Father Jens P. Andersen.

20. James Cummings, Seaman, Second Class, United States Navy Enlisted in Kansas City Mo., April $, 1917, Next of kin; Mother Nellie Cummings.

21. Carl G. Ebisch, Quartermaster, Third Class, United States Navy, Enlisted Philadephia Pa., July 31, 1915, Next of kin; Mother Augustas Ebisch.

22. Schuyler Gregory, Copper smith, United States Navy, Enlisted Indianapolis Ind., March 30, 1917, Next of kin; Wife Alma Gregory.

23. Clifton Stephens Grinnell, Seaman, Second Class, United States Navy, Enlisted Boston Mass., July 20, 1915, Next of kin; Father George B. Grinnell.

24. James Stephen Fitzgerald, Gunner's mate, Second Class, United States Navy, Enlisted Boston Mass., September 17, 1917, Next of kin; Father P. R. Fitzgerald.

25. Leland McKeand Highet, Seaman, Second Class, United States Navy, Enlisted Indianapolis Ind., May 9, 1917, Next of kin; Mother Catherine Highet.

26. Dock Johnson, Cabin Cook, United States Navy, Enlisted Philadelphia Pa., May 24, 1916, Next of kin; Wife Loreana Johnson.

27. George Christian Merkel, Machinist's mate, First Class, United States Navy, Enlisted Philadelphia Pa., May 27, 1914, Next of kin; Mother Katherine Merkel.

28. Martin Joseph Nee, Chief Machinist's mate, United States Navy, Enlisted Receiving ship, Norfolk Va., December 16, 1915, Next of kin; Wife Katie N. Nee.

29. George Washington Pote, Oiler, United States Navy, Enlisted Philadelphia Pa., January 8, 1916, Next of kin; Sister Mabel Pote.

30. Wallace Simpson, Cabin Steward, United States Navy, Enlisted Brooklyn New York, November 18, 1915, Next of kin; Father Thomas Simpson.

31. William Henru Sohn, Chief Machinist's mate, United States Navy, Enlisted Boston Mass., November 16, 1914, Next of kin; Mother Rose Sohn.

32. Ralph Burgee Williams, Seaman, United States Navy, Enlisted Baltimore Md., July 29, 1915, Next of kin; Father Mr. Edgar R. Williams.

33. Joseph Patrick Murphy, Fireman, Third Class, United States Navy, Enlisted Bostion Mass., April 3, 1917, Next of kin; Mary Murphy.
Note. This is not a full list.  There were 66 men lost.  If you didn't find you name of interest write me and I will take a look.

New. My  father, Samuel Mims Collier, also died on the USS Jacob Jones. He was a Machinist Mate 2nd class and was from Charlotte, NC. 
Shirley Collier Perry.

Authors not.  Mrs. Perry didn't realize this page was for the USS Jacob Jones of WWI.  The second USS Jacob Jones was sunck on February 28, 1942, by a German submarine just like the first USS Jacob Jones of 1917 was.  All hands were lost but 12.  As I don't plan to do a page on the second USS Jacob Jones, those of you who had a family member who died on either of the ships can have their names placed here.  I can be reached at the following, dsegelquist1cox.net

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am a grandNephew of Ralph Burgee Williams. I am grateful for this information and would be interested in the source used for the USS Jacob Jones death list.
Thank you.

Dennis Segelquist said...

This list came from the Bureau of Navigation. Its full title is:

"Officers and enlisted men of the United States Navy who lost their lives during the World War, from April 6, 1917 to November 11, 1918." Page 782, Cause: Killed in action.