First Jackson County Casualty Of World War

COPP

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 2/5/2011 at 07:56:43

Jackson Sentinel, November 23, 1917

FIRST JACKSON COUNTY CASUALTY OF WORLD WAR

Ira F. Copp, First Jackson County Victim of World War

Copp Was 1st Class Gunner’s Mate on Torpedo Boat Destroyer “Chauncey” Sunk Last Monday-Had Seen Much Service

Telegram was received here on Wednesday by Bert Copp, from a brother in Davenport, confirming the news that their brother, Ira F. Copp, was one of the twenty-one victims of the disaster which befell the torpedo boat destroyer “Chauncey,” which was sunk in a collision in the war zone Monday. This is the first casualty of the war among Jackson county boys in the service, Ira having served in the navy for several years, seeing considerable service in Mexican waters, and held the rank of 1st class gunner’s mate at the time of his death.

The “Chauncey,” a small American destroyer on patrol duty in foreign waters, was sunk in a collision early Monday morning. Three officers and eighteen men were lost. The “Chauncey” was one of the old type destroyers completed in 1902. Her displacement was 420 tons and her complement of 21 officers and men For several years before the war the “Chauncey” was used only in coast defense work and was classified as a coast torpedo vessel.

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