This hat was given to me by the crew in 2011. My high school band performed at the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Reuben James was a 18th and 19th century member of the US Navy and distinguished himself in battles against Barbary pirates.
This is the third ship of that name. The first two were used during WWII. This ship actually was included in “Hunt for the Red October” and other movies and books. USS Reuben James was decommissioned in 2013 and sunk off the coast of Hawaii in missile tests.
I decided to wear this hat on Veterans Day to honor their memory.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Reuben_James_(FFG-57)