The third USS Rowan, DD 405, was laid down on 25 June 1937 by the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Va., launched 5 May 1938, sponsored by Miss Elizabeth H. Rowan, great granddaughter of Vice Admiral Rowan, and commissioned 23 September 1939, Lt. Comdr. B. R.

Stephen C. Rowan was born at Dublin, Ireland in 1805. His family immigrated to the United States when he was ten. Appointed midshipman 1 February 1826, he was executive officer of Cyane during the capture of Monterey, 7 July 1846, and commanded steam sloop Pawnee at the outbreak of the Civil War in attempting to relieve Fort Sumter and burn the Norfolk Navy Yard.    Promoted captain and then rear admiral in 1866, he commanded the Norfolk Navy Yard and then the Asiatic Squadron. Vice admiral from August 1870, he ended his career in 1889 as Superintendent of the Naval Observatory in Washington. He died there 22 August 1890.

Harrison, Jr., in command.
   After shakedown in the Caribbean, Rowan departed Norfolk on 17 May 1940 for duty in the Pacific, based at San Diego. During the spring of 1941, however, U.S. involvement in the war in Europe increased. In May the limits of the Neutrality Patrol were extended and the Navy gradually expanded its responsibilities for protecting transatlantic convoys.
   At the end of the month, Rowan was transferred to the Atlantic and assigned to the Neutrality Patrol. Through the spring and summer, she ranged from Newfoundland to the Caribbean. Then, in early November, she was ordered to escort Convoy WS-12X, carrying British reinforcements for the Near and Far East, from Halifax to Capetown.
   Sailing from Halifax on 10 November, she reached Capetown on 9 December, 2 days after the United States entered World War II. In January 1942, she returned to the east coast of the United States and resumed convoy duty in the North Atlantic and the Caribbean. On 30 April she sailed east from Halifax to escort another convoy to the midocean rendezvous point. (continued)