The Jacob Jones was launched 29 May, 1915 by sponsor Mrs. Jerome Parker Crittenden, a great-granddaughter of the ship's namesake Commodore Jacob Jones (1768-1815), a U.S. naval officer during the War of 1812.
The USS Jacob Jones (DD-61) was commissioned on 10 November 1916 under the command of Lieutenant Commander William S. Pye. He is perhaps best-known for his remark on December 6, 1941: "The Japanese will not go to war with the United States. We are too big, too powerful, and too strong."
Following commission, the Jones conducted training exercises off the New England coast then entered Philadelphia Navy Yard for repairs.
On 3 February 1917, the day the United States broke diplomatic relations with Germany, the Jones nearly sank in the navy yard. Contemporary reports said it might have been an act of sabotage. Upon the U.S. entry into the war on 6 April 1917, the ship patrolled off the coast of Virginia.
She and a group of destroyers sailed from Boston for Europe on 7 May and arrived at Queenstown, Ireland, on 17 May.
The Jacob Jones' duties involved patrolling and escorting convoys in the Irish Sea and occasionally rescuing crews of sunken ships.
--Cooter
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