USS Montgomery (DD–121) was a in the United States Navy during World War I, later reclassified DM-17. She was the fifth ship named Montgomery and was named for Rear Admiral John B. Montgomery. Montgomery was built by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company. The ship was launched on 23 March 1918, sponsored by Mrs. Andrew Jones, a descendant of Admiral Montgomery. The destroyer was commissioned on 26 July 1918, Lieutenant Commander W. R. Purnell in command. Service history Following an east coast shakedown, Montgomery left Hampton Roads on 25 August 1918 for her first anti-submarine patrol, alternating such patrols with coastal escort duty until the close of World War I. She conducted training and fleet maneuvers from Maine to Cuba until 19 July 1919, when she departed Hampton Roads for west coast duty. Montgomery arrived at San Diego on 7 August to join Destroyer Squadron 4, Pacific Fleet. For the next 3 years she took part in fleet operations from Alaska to Panama, then on 17 March 1922 began inactivation at San Diego, where she decommissioned on 6 June 1922. Re-designated DM-17 on 5 January 1931, Montgomery was converted to a light minelayer and recommissioned on 20 August 1931. In December she sailed to Pearl Harbor, her base until 14 June 1937, when she returned to San Diego, there to decommission on 7 December 1937 and go into reserve. World War II With world tension increasing on the eve of World War II, Montgomery reactivated, recommissioning on 25 September 1939. She trained for possible war service and completed several towing assignments on the west coast until 3 December 1940 when she sailed for her new home port, Pearl Harbor. At Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack on 7 December 1941, Montgomery immediately began anti-submarine patrols in the approaches to the vital base, as well as inter-island convoy duty. Departing Hawaii on 11 April 1942 for Suva, Fiji, Montgomery began 16 months operating from Suva, Espiritu Santo, and Nouméa for escort and minelaying operations in the southwest Pacific, aiding in the struggle for the Solomons. One interruption to this service was 22 September to 12 November, when she sailed north to lay mines in the Aleutians in preparation for the recapture of Attu and Kiska. While laying a minefield off Guadalcanal on the night of 24 to 25 August 1943, Montgomery collided with , losing of her bow. She made