The third USS Bagley, DD 386, was launched 3 September 1936 by Norfolk Navy Yard: sponsored by Miss Bella Worth Bagley, sister of Ensign Bagley; commissioned 12 June 1937, Lieutenant Commander F. W. Morris in command; and reported to the Atlantic Squadron.

Ensign Worth Bagley was the first US Navy officer killed in the Spanish-American War. Born at Raleigh, North Carolina, 6 April 1874, Bagley was graduated from the Naval Academy in 1895.    Attached to USS Winslow, TB 5, patrolling Cuba’s northern coast, Winslow left her blockade station and, with revenue cutter Hudson, proceeded to Cardenas Bay to replenish her coal bunkers, where she was engaged by a Spanish steamer and shore batteries, 11 May 1898. Disabled by several hits, Winslow had already rigged a tow line to Hudson when one of the last Spanish shells hit her near the starboard gun and killed Ens. Bagley, who had been helping to direct the warship's maneuvers by carrying instructions from the deck to the base of the engine room ladder.

   Bagley operated along the east coast and in Cuban waters during the first year following her commissioning. Assigned to Destroyer Division 7, Battle Force, in June 1938, she participated in fleet maneuvers in the Canal Zone, Haitian-Cuban Florida area, and later on the west coast.
   On 7 December 1941 Bagley was moored at Pearl Harbor and when the Japanese planes attacked, she opened fire immediately and assisted in the destruction of' several enemy airplanes. Between December 1941 and 30 May 1942, when she arrived in Brisbane, Australia, Bagley performed patrol and escort duties in the Central and Eastern Pacific, taking part in raids on Bougainville (20 February 1942) and Salamaua-Lae (10 March). Between 7 and 30 August 1942 she was at Guadalcanal and took part in the First Battle of Savo Island (9 August) splashing one plane. Following the battle she rescued approximately 450 survivors of Astoria (CA 34), Vincennes (CA-44), and Quincy (CA-39). (continued)