(1) The song is from 1961 and was released around the 20th anniversary of the sinking of the USS Reuben James. JFK had his own naval experience memorialized by Jimmy Dean around that time.
(2) The Reuben James sinking predated Pearl Harbor by a full 5 weeks and yet is largely forgotten. Imagine the outrage with today's news cycle.
(3) The song was written by Woody Guthrie at a time when both the political right and left could still unite against common enemies.
(4) Guthrie originally intended to include the names of every sailor lost in the sinking, but settled for "what were their names;" The maker of this YouTube video admirably succeeds at Guthrie's original goal. I liken the effect to releasing the men's names from the blackened depths--like bubbles coming to the surface each time the song is played:
The Kingston Trio added their own flourish at the end:
Many years have passed since those brave men are gone,
Those cold icy waters they're still and they're calm,
Many years have passed and still I wonder why,
The worst of men must fight and the best of men must die.
