The destroyer's commander, David W. Bagley, ordered all life boats launched. As the ship sank, her bow raisd in the air almost vertically before she sank. At this point, the armed depth charges near the stern began to explode, killing men unable to escape the destroyer and stunning many in the water.
The Jacob Jones was the first American destroyer ever lost to enemy action. It sank in just eight minutes after being hit by the torpedo. Two officers and 64 men of the crew died out its 99 man complement.
Several of the crew, including Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Stanton F. Klak, the officer-of-the-deck, when the torpedo struck, began to get men out of the water and into life rafts. He was working in the cold North Atlantic waters and was striving to equalize the loads on the various rafts. Sadly, he died of exhaustion and exposure.
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