USS Case, DD 370, was launched 14 September 1935 by Boston Navy Yard, Boston, MA, sponsored by Miss M. R. Case, commissioned 15 September 1936, Commander J. S. Roberts in command; and reported to the Battle Force, later the Pacific Fleet.

Augustus Ludlow Case was born 3 February 1812 at Newburgh, New York and was appointed midshipman in 1828.    He participated in the Wilkes Expedition of 1837–42 that discovered Antarctica, the Mexican War and the Civil War, when he was Fleet Captain of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron.    Promoted rear admiral in 1872 while serviing as Chief of the Bureau of Ordinance, he later commanded the European Squadron and the combined European, North and South Atlantic Fleets assembled at Key West in 1874.    Rear Admiral Case died at Washington 16 February 1893.

   Case joined in fleet problems in the Hawaiian area, and in 1938, served as school ship at San Diego. From this, her home port, she carried midshipmen on an Alaskan cruise in summer 1939, and in April 1940 returned to Pearl Harbor to take part in a fleet problem which found her sailing to Midway, Johnston, and Palmyra Islands. Between February and April 1941, she cruised to Samoa, Tahiti, and Auckland, N.Z.
   Case was in a nest of destroyers at Pearl Harbor Navy Yard on 7 December 1941. The nest opened fire on the attacking Japanese, and splashed several enemy planes in the first action of World War II. From 7 December until 23 May 1942 Case escorted convoys passing between the west coast and Pearl Harbor.
   From 31 May to 7 August 1942, Case defied the vicious weather of Alaskan waters, as she patrolled and carried out the usual varied destroyer assignments off Kodiak On 7 August, she unleashed her guns in the preinvasion bombardment of Kiska, and on an enemy tanker with undetermined results. Case continued on patrol off Adak until mid-October, when she escorted shipping to Pearl Harbor, then proceeded to the States for overhaul.
   Returning to Pearl Harbor 21 November 1942, Case cleared to escort a convoy to the Fiji Islands, arriving 20 December. From Fiji she sailed to Guadalcanal to screen a convoy during its unloading period, and on l January 1943, arrived at Espiritu Santo, her base for escort, patrol, and training duty through 23 September After overhaul at San Francisco, Case returned to Pearl Harbor in December. (continued)