USS Preston (DD-379), Mahan-class destroyer

The fifth USS Preston, DD 379, was laid down 27 October 1934 at the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, Calif., Iaunched 22 April 1936, sponsored by Mrs. Edward H. Campbell and commissioned 27 October 1936, Comdr. C. D. Swain in command.
Samuel W. Preston was born in Canada 6 April 1840. He was appointed midshipman from Illinois 4 October 1858, acting master in 1861 and lieutenant in 1862.
   Preston was captured during an attack on Ft. Sumter in 1863 and exchanged in 1864. He participated in attacks on Ft. Fisher, Christmas Eve 1864 and 13 January 1865, when he was killed.
   Following shakedown, Preston operated briefly under the Chief of Naval Operations, then joined Battle Force, U.S. Fleet. Initially assigned to DesRon 2, then shifted to DesRon 5, she conducted peacetime training
IN TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF GUADALCANAL
NOVEMBER 13–15, 1942
To the superb officers and men on the sea, on land, in the air, and under the seas who in the past five days have performed such magnificent feats for our country. You have won the undying gratitude of your country and have written our names in golden letters on the pages of history. No honor for you could be too great, my pride in you is beyond expression. Magnificently done. May God bless each and every one of you. To the glorious dead, hail heroes—may you all rest with God.
WILLIAM F. HALSEY
Admiral, U.S. Navy
exercises in the Pacific until 7 December 1941. Patrol and coastal escort duties along the west coast kept Preston in the eastern Pacific until 1 June 1942. Then setting a westward course she headed for Hawaii in the screen of Saratoga. Arriving on the 6th, her group, TG 11.1, departed again the next day to rendezvous with TF 17 and deliver planes, pilots, and material to Enterprise and Hornet as that force refueled and rested after the Battle of Midway.
   On the 13th, Preston returned to Pearl Harbor and for the next four months conducted type exercises and performed patrol and
Preston’s casualties at the
Battle of Guadalcanal.
Source: Bureau of Personnel casualty report, NARA.
escort work in the Hawaiian area. She joined TF 16, 4 October, and on the 15th sailed for the Solomons. On the 24th, TF 16 rendezvoused with TF 17, formed TF 61 and continued on. Two days later, Preston, in the carrier screen, introduced her guns to the enemy at the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. Splashing two planes, she emerged unscathed from her first engagement and retired to Nouméa. Rearmed, she headed back to the Solomons and her second and last, fight.
   On the evening of 14 November, Preston, with TF 64, sailed along the western end of Guadalcanal to intercept another Japanese run down the "Slot" to bombard Henderson Field and land reinforcements. Swinging around Savo Island, the force, two battleships preceded by four destroyers, entered the channel between Savo and Cape Esperance. At 2300, the battleship Washington picked up the enemy cruiser Sendai on her radar, and, at 2317, the 3rd Battle of Savo Island began. (continued)