USS Barker (DD-213) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy in World War II, named for Admiral Albert S. Barker. Barker was launched 11 September 1919 by William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia; sponsored by Mrs. Albert S. Barker widow of Admiral Barker; and commissioned 27 December 1919. Pre-war service In June 1920, Barker sailed to the Middle East to join Division 35, US Naval Detachment, Turkish Waters. She served for several months with the American Relief of Armenia and visited several ports in Turkey and the Middle East before sailing eastward late in 1921, to the Orient to commence her four-year tour of duty with the Asiatic Fleet. Barker cruised in Philippine and Asiatic waters until departing Manila in May 1925. In the next two years she served with the Scouting Force on the east coast and patrolled off Nicaragua, 10–31 January 1927, in the second campaign there. Thereafter, she served a two-year tour with United States Naval Forces Europe, and carried out several goodwill visits to many European ports. From August 1929 to December 1941 Barker was kept on the Asiatic Station and operated with the destroyer divisions of the Asiatic Fleet. In periods of disturbance in China she was engaged in protecting American interests. SS President Hoover In the small hours of 11 December 1937 the ocean liner ran aground in a typhoon on Kasho-to, east of Formosa. Barker was sent from Olongapo Naval Station and was sent from Manila to assist. The two destroyers struggled through heavy seas at only and did not arrive until 1245 hrs the next day, by which time Hoovers 330 crew were most of the way through getting their 503 passengers and themselves ashore safely. However, a few of the crew plundered the liner's liquor store, got drunk, and once ashore started pursuing some of the women passengers. A party from Alden boarded Hoover to protect valuables, and landing parties from both Alden and Barker went ashore to restore order. Second World War On 7 December 1941, Barker was at Tarakan, Borneo, and upon receipt of the news of the Pearl Harbor attack, immediately commenced patrolling the surrounding area. For the remainder of December and throughout January 1942, she patrolled and escorted convoys in the Netherlands East Indies. On 9 January 1942 Barker was one of five destroyers in an escort composed of the cruisers and , with the other