With tensions increasing before the start of World War II, the Montgomery was reactivated and recommissioned 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 to her new home port of Pearl Harbor.
She was at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attack came December 7, 1941. The Montgomery and other minelayers put up a huge anti-aircraft fire and believed to have shot down up to six enemy planes. Within 45 minutes the ship was ready to get underway. An hour and a half later she and the others were ordered to get underway to establish an anti-submarine patrol off the entrance to Pearl Harbor.
Lt.Cmdr. R.A. Guthrie reported that his ship received no damage or casualties, but its crew fought with "coolness during the attack and their speed in making anti-aircraft fire effective."
Continuing with his after action report: "During attack, civilians reported two Japanese swimming around plane capsized in the water near Pearl City dock. Ship's motor whale boat investigated and found one, the pilot, still afloat. He was motioned to get into the boat several times, but refused to obey, instead reached inside his jacket. At this action, CALKINS, D.F., Sea. 1c, USN, shot him. He immediately sank."
At 3:14 PM, she dropped eight depth charges at a sound contact three miles off the harbor entrance. On Jan. 8 at 2 AM, she dropped four more depth charges. No contact was made in either case. Then from December 9 to 12 the Montgomery patrolled the Western area, but no contacts.
--GreGen
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