Today, 7/14, is my birthday, which has nothing to do with anything except it's the same as Woody's.

My wife's birthday is 7/02 and one of my daughter's is 7/20, which again has nothing to do with anything except to say July is a big birthday month for us.

My wife's uncle William Newton was killed when the Reuben James was sunk on 10/31/1941. Woody supposedly wrote verses about all the sailors whose lives were lost that night. I've never found any verse about Seaman Bill Newton, so if anyone ever sees any mention of Uncle Bill, please respond to the forum.

Arlo was kind enough to sign a paper copy of the last photo of the whole Newton family from Roanoke, VA, taken in the summer of 1941, with 'Remember the Reuben James' which I brought to the Newton family re-union a half dozen years ago. I also was able to tape Arlo's performance of the ballad at his Readington, NJ concert, which was a real tear jerker hit when I showed it at the family re-union dinner of the surviving siblings (There were 11 brothers and sisters, including my father-in-law. My father-in-law was supposed to be on the Reuben James but was re-assigned at the last minute).

I've never publicly thanked or acknowledged Arlo's kindness for signing the photo. Belatedly, I thank you now.

As an aside, since Uncle Bill was not deemed a veteran of WWII, he wasn't entitled to a grave marker. My wife wrote many letters with documentation and was able to secure an official marker with the Purple heart on it, which was laid beside the grave of his best friend, my father-in-law, in a cemetery just outside of Roanoke.

Thanks again, Arlo.

Welcome to the site! What a neat story. I'd love to hear the lyrics about the Uncle...

Happy belated birthday to you. Interesting. My 24th wedding anniversery is on the 14th of July. Anyhow, I do not know if you have ever seen this listing of the Reuben James but I have provided a link below for you that list all the names.

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/shi ... html#EnclB
-Eric