The second USS Cassin, DD 372, was launched 28 October 1935 by Philadelphia Navy Yard; sponsored by Mrs. H.C. Lombard; and commissioned 21 August 1936, Lieutenant Commander

Stephen Cassin was born at Philadelphia, 16 February 1783 and entered the Navy as midshipman in 1800.    He served in frigate Philadelphia in the West Indies during the latter part of the Quasi War with France.    As lieutenant during the War of 1812, he commanded Ticonderoga in Master Commandant Thomas Macdonough’s squadron at the Battle of Plattsburgh, 11 September 1814, and was subsequently awarded a Congressional Gold Medal for this action with Macdonough and Robert Henley.    Captain Cassin died at Washington, 29 August 1857.

A.G. Noble in command
   Cassin underwent alterations until March 1937, then cruised to the Caribbean and Brazil. In April 1938 she joined forces at Pearl Harbor for the annual fleet exercises in the Hawaiian Islands and the Panama Canal Zone. During 1939, she operated on the west coast with torpedo and gunnery schools, and on 1 April 1940 was assigned to the Hawaiian Detachment. Cassin sailed on maneuvers and patrol in the Pacific, cruising from February to April 1941 to Samoa, Australia, and Fiji. Fall of 1941 found her calling at west coast ports.
   Cassin was in drydock with Downes (DD-375) and Pennsylvania (BB-35) at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. In the Japanese attack, an incendiary bomb exploded Downes’ fuel tanks, causing uncontrollable fires on board both Downes and Cassin. Cassin slipped from her keel blocks and rested against Downes. Both ships were considered lost, and Cassin was decommissioned as of 7 December 1941. However, superb salvage saved Cassin, to play an outstanding role in World War II, and she was towed to Mare Island Navy Yard for rebuilding.
   Recommissioned 6 February 1944, Cassin reported at Pearl Harbor 22 April, and was assigned escort duty from Majuro until August. By shooting out caves and bombarding Aguijan Island, she aided in the consolidation of Tinian from 15 to 25 August, and then assumed escort duties out of Saipan.
   Her guns took revenge on the Japanese once more when she took part in the bombardment of Marcus Island on 9 October. This was part of the preparations for the Leyte assault, and was an attempt to convince the Japanese that the main attack they sensed was coming would be directed at the Bonins. With the same force which had struck at Marcus, Cassin sailed on to join TG 38.1 on 16 October, as the carriers of that group prepared the air strikes designed to neutralize the Japanese airfields in the Manila area prior to the assault landings on Leyte. Cassin steamed northeast of Luzon during the Leyte landings, and when the landings had been successfully launched, was dispatched with her group to refuel and replenish at Ulithi. However, when TF 38 made contact with the Japanese Center Force rounding the southern cape of Mindoro bound for its part in the decisive Battle for Leyte Gulf, Cassin‘s group was recalled to join the approaching action. In the afternoon of 26 October, her group at last reached position to launch aircraft which attacked the Japanese ships in one of the longest-range carrier strikes of the war. These strikes continued as the Japanese fleet retired north, diminished and battered. (continued)