The second USS Mugford, DD 389, was laid down 28 October 1935 by Boston Navy Yard; launched 31 October 1936; sponsored by Miss Madeline Orne; commissioned 16 August 1937, Lt. Comdr. E. W. Young in command.
   Joining the Pacific Fleet in late 1937, Mugford conducted local operations along the West Coast and around the Hawaiian Islands, taking time out for periodic overhauls and upkeep. 7

Right: “Mugford in the Franklin Capturing the Hope,” by John Frost. Captain James Mugford of Marblehead, Massachusetts was born 19 May 1749.    In 1775, a press gang pressed him into service on a British frigate. Before his wife went on board and persuaded the captain to release him, however, he learned that a “powder ship” was expected from England.    Securing a commission in haste as a privateer commanding schooner Franklin in Capt. John Manley’s squadron off Boston, Mugford Mugford captured the brig Hope.with 75 tons of vitally needed powder and ran her into Boston in open view of the British fleet, 17 May 1776.    Two days later—his 27th birthday—Capt. Mugford was killed when Franklin was attacked by small boats intent on her capture.    Coincidentally, USS Mugford, DD 389, was escorting carrier Franklin when the latter was hit, 30 October 1944.

December 1941 found her at Pearl Harbor. When the attack began, Mugford was on standby status and while raising steam to get underway, she downed three planes in 10 minutes with her antiaircraft guns. Within an hour after the attack began, the "little ship" was steaming out of Pearl Harbor firing as she went. Her next major duty was to screen the Wake Island relief force and after completion of this duty served as an escort for convoys traveling between the United States and Australia. She served in this capacity until mid-1942.
   On 7 August Mugford was on patrol off Lunga Point, Guadalcanal, when a large Japanese airstrike came in; three near misses and one bomb hit couldn't prevent Mugford from downing two of her attackers, but she suffered eight killed, 17 wounded and 10 missing. Next day she shot down another enemy aircraft in a raid in which she suffered no damage, and rescued two enemy aviators from the water. On the 9th, she sped toward the action of the first Battle of Savo Island, arriving in time to pull 400 survivors of Vincennes (CA-44) and Astoria (CA-34) from the water.
 (continued)