1. USS Panay (of course, 1 sailor and 3 marines were wounded in the Japanese attack on Shanghai, and 1 sailor was killed and 19 wounded on the USS Augusta in two separate incidents at Shanghai, all earlier than the Panay attack)
2. December 12, 1937
3. USS Ruben James (It was the third US ship hit by the Germans in World War II, but the first sunk. 11 died and 22 were injured on the USS Kearny October 17, and 1 was injured on the USS Salinas October 30.
4. October 31, 1941
5. November 21, 1941
6. They fought on Java.
7. Several possible answers based upon whether Africa (Italian attack on Ethiopia), Asia (Japanese attack on China) or Europe is used as the starting point.
The combat phase(s) started somewhat later.