The first US Navy destroyer to be lost in combat was the USS Jacob Jones, sunk by the German submarine SM U-53 6 December, 1917. The ship's brief history, and its loss- the only US destroyer lost during the great war- represented the risks faced by, and heroism of, the men of the US Navy in that war.
By September of 1944, the Western Allies had broken out of the Normandy beachehead, and suddenly and quickly moved across northern France . By September 7th, the 90th division was stretched across the northern sector on Patton’s Third Army’s left, advancing slowly northeast. As they did so the German defenders made a risky attack in an effort to spoil the allied advance, cutting through Allied lines in a surprise action at the small town of Mairy-Mannville.