The second USS Henley, DD 391, was launched 12 January 1937 by the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, Calif.; sponsored by Miss Beryl Henley Joslin, a collateral descendant of Captain Robert Henley, and commissioned 14 August 1937, Lt. Comdr. H. Y. McCowell in command.

“Sir: I am happy to inform you that all my officers and men acted bravely, and did their duty in the battle yesterday, with the enemy,” wrote Robert Henley (Henly), commanding the 20-gun brig Eagle at the Battle of Plattsburg, 11 September 1814.    Second-largest of four ships in Master Commandant Thomas Macdonough’s squadron on Lake Champlain, Eagle was rushed to completion in nineteen days at Vergennes, Vermont, two weeks before a British land-and-water invasion from Canada began.    In the ensuing battle, Eagle lost 13 killed and 20 wounded of a crew of 142. Congressional Gold Medals were later awarded to Macdonough, Henley and Lt. Stephen Cassin in recognition of the “signal victory.”    Henley, born at Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia, 5 January 1783, died at Sullivan's Island, Charleston, South Carolina, 7 October 1828.

   After shakedown in the Pacific and Hawaiian waters, Henley joined the Pacific Battle Force, Destroyer Division 11, at San Diego 12 September 1938. She departed San Diego 14 April 1941 to join the fleet at Pearl Harbor. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor 7 December 1941, Henley was moored in East Loch with battle stations manned, a green sailor having sounded General Quarters instead of Quarters for Muster. This fortunate mistake gave Henley the opportunity to fire the first destroyer shots as the initial wave of enemy planes swooped in. A bomb exploded 130 yards off her port bow as she slipped her chain from the buoy, and, as she cleared, she received a signal that a submarine was in the harbor. Henley maneuvered through the smoke, fire, and confusion and sped out of the channel. Her gunners splashed one dive bomber with her .50 cal. guns and shared credit for another. Conned by a junior lieutenant both her commanding officer and executive officer were ashore when the attack began Henley dropped depth charges on a sonar contact, possibly a midget submarine, outside the harbor, and continued to blaze away at the enemy with her guns. (continued)