Message From Our Chaplain

Solon American Legion Stinocher Post 460

Veteran-Owned and Serving You Since 1902

At Solon American Legion Stinocher Post 460, we know how much it means to serve. As a veteran-owned organization, we are committed to meeting the needs of those in our community. We’ve been open since 1902, and that means we’ve spent over 100 years helping people right here in Solon, IA.

As part of our mission, we are open to the public for meals, special events, and more. To learn more about Solon American Legion Stinocher Post 460 and what we’re all about, read this recent letter from our chaplain from December 2023.

A Message From Chaplain Doug Thompson

In 2022, British divers found the wreckage of the U.S.S. Destroyer Jacob Jones resting in 400 feet of water sixty miles south of Newlyn Cornwall, England. A private group of divers called the British Dark Star Technical Dive Team, discovered the Jacob Jones final resting place. Then they found the bell resting on its side on the sea floor, whereupon they righted the bell and took pictures of the bell confirming the name of the ship. Two years later this past February, British divers salvaged the Jacob Jones' bell utilizing a new underwater robotic vehicle. The bell will be returned to Washington Navy Yard this spring. The Naval Yard will place the bell in its underwater archaeology laboratory for preservation. According to the British Defense Ministry's Salvage and Marine Operations who salvaged the bell, “The clapper is still in place. While they were handling the bell it actually rang.” The 80-pound brass bell is currently being stored by Wessex Archaeology located in Salisbury, England. 

Even though the U.S. Naval Yard wanted to document the wreck and the salvage of the bell later this summer, they accepted the assistance of the British Defense Ministry. The U.S. Navy usually does not disrupt such sites but, because of all the notoriety, it was feared the bell may be stolen for its brass. It is common to find sunken vessels that have been stripped of all usable materials, especially bronze and brass. 

The Jacob Jones was launched on May 29, 1915. On April 6, 1917, the U.S. declared war on Germany, and Jacob Jones was assigned to convoy escort duty and rescuing survivors of ships that were sunk by enemy submarines. On December 6, 1917, German submarine U-53 commanded by Captain Hans Rose, a skilled submariner with 70 ships that were either damaged or sunk under his command, prepared to add another ship to his record. At approximately 1621 hours, Captain Rose fired a single torpedo. One of the sailors who was on watch spotted the torpedo when it skipped to the surface, and he gave a warning to the Officer-of-the-deck. The ship's captain, Lt. Cmdr. David Bagley ordered full steam ahead while turning the ship away from the torpedo. Lt. Cmdr. Bagley later reported “The torpedo jumped clear out of the water at a short distance from the ship, submerged about 50 to 60 feet from the ship, and struck approximately three feet below the waterline. I attempted to send an S.O.S. message by radio, but the main mast was carried away, the antennae fell, and all electrical power failed. As I saw her (Jacob Jones) settling rapidly, I ran along the deck and ordered everybody I saw to jump overboard. The ship sank stern first and twisted slowly nearly 180 degrees as she swung upright. From this nearly vertical position, bow in the air she went straight down.” The Jacob Jones sank in 8 minutes; during these 8 minutes, Bagley ordered all life rafts and lifeboats to be launched. Among the crew and officers of 110 men, 64 went down with the ship. Many of these men had been killed in the explosion. Others were trapped within the ship, and some were pulled down by the suction of the sinking ship. As men struggled in the freezing water, the officer-of-the-deck Lt. Stanton Kalk demonstrated “extraordinary heroism” by helping men out of the water and into life rafts and boats. Lt. Kalk died of exhaustion and hypothermia. He was awarded the Navy's Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) posthumously. The navy later commissioned two destroyers named in the Alabama native's honor. The second U.S.S. Kalk served in the Pacific during WW II earning 8 battle stars.

Twenty minutes after the Jacob Jones had been struck, the German submarine U-53 surfaced several miles away and slowly navigated within 800 yards from where the ship sank and rescued two injured sailors. The American sailors' wounds were treated, and they both survived the war. Eventually, an additional 39 men were plucked from the icy water by other ships in the convoy. Among those 39 rescued was Lt. Cmdr. Norman Scott and he survived the First World War. During the Second World War, Rear Admiral Scott was killed during the nighttime Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. He was the second of five U.S. Navy admirals killed during WW II and he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

The ship's Captain, Lt.Cmdr. David Bagley served as an Admiral during WW II and his flagship was slightly damaged during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Captain Hans Rose became one of the most successful German U-boat commanders during WW I; he sank 79 ships and damaged many others. During WWII he was in command of U-boat training until 1940. He passed away at the age of 84 in 1969.

The U.S.S. Jacob Jones holds the historical distinction as the first U.S. destroyer sunk by enemy forces. The Jacob Jones is now listed as a historical U.S. Naval grave site. 

This Memorial weekend let us give 8 minutes of tribute to the men who called the Jacob Jones home.

Doug Thompson, Chaplain 

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