Tucker was the second vessel to be named for Samuel Tucker, who had been an officer in the Continental Navy and the United States Navy.
Tucker's keel was laid down on 15 August 1934.
She was launched on 26 February 1936 and christened by a third cousin of Tucker.
The ship was commissioned in the United States Navy on 23 July, with Lieutenant Commander George T. Howard in command.

After her shakedown cruise, she joined destroyer forces attached to the United States Battle Fleet in San Diego, California.
She operated with them along the West Coast and in the Hawaiian islands as part of Destroyer Squadron 3 of the Destroyer Division.

In February 1939, she took part in Fleet Problem XX, a naval exercise held in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean and observed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
As tensions with Japan increased, the fleet was ordered to return to Hawaiian waters.


In June 1940, Tucker steamed from Hawaii to a location east of Wake Island for fleet exercises.
In United States Navy Destroyers of World War II, John Reilly, Jr. described the uncommon method used to power the vessel on its return to Hawaii: 
... Tucker stretched her fuel supply by rigging Sails.
Her homemade foresail and mainsail moved Tucker at an estimated 3.4 knots, letting her maintain steerageway as she loitered on station several days.

Tucker continued operating between Hawaii and the West Coast into February 1941.
She then set course for New Zealand on a goodwill tour, arriving in Auckland on 17 March.
Returning to Pearl Harbor, she took part in routine exercises at sea before returning to her homeport of San Diego on 19 September.
After a short stay, Tucker steamed to Hawaii in November as part of Task Force 19, operating again in the Hawaiian Islands.
Shortly afterward, she put into Pearl Harbor for an overhaul by a destroyer tender.

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, Tucker was one of five destroyers moored at berth X–9, East Loch, alongside the destroyer tender Whitney.
Even before Tucker's general quarters alarm could be sounded, one of her on-deck sailors began firing a 50-caliber machine gun at the first wave of Japanese aircraft.
When the second wave attacked, every ship that could opened fire.
Tucker's gunners scored hits on at least two aircraft: one crashed in a cane field, another in flames disappeared over a mountaintop.
Still undergoing overhaul, much of Tucker’s machinery had been torn down for repairs.
Despite the crew's efforts, she was unable to get underway until that evening.

After her overhaul, Tucker patrolled off Pearl Harbor and spent several months escorting convoys between Hawaii and the West Coast.
With new orders, she steamed to the South Pacific for convoy duty.
Tucker then escorted the seaplane tender Wright to Tutuila, American Samoa, as part of the drive to fortify outposts.
She then escorted her charge to Suva, Fiji, and proceeded to Noumea, New Caledonia.
Steaming on for Australia, she arrived at Sydney on 27 April.
After taking on fuel, she visited Melbourne, Perth, and Fremantle before steaming back to Sydney.
Tucker and  Wright returned to Suva, arriving on 3 June 1942.
For the remainder of June and into the first week of July, Tucker operated out of Suva before relieving the cruiser Boise of convoy escort duties on 10 July.
On 30 July, the ship arrived at Auckland and the following day started back for Suva.
Tucker was the second vessel to be named for Samuel Tucker, who had been an officer in the Continental Navy and the United States Navy. Tucker's keel was laid down on 15 August 1934. She was launched on 26 February 1936 and christened by a third cousin of Tucker. The ship was commissioned in the United States Navy on 23 July, with Lieutenant Commander George T. Howard in command.
After her shakedown cruise, she joined destroyer forces attached to the United States Battle Fleet in San Diego, California. She operated with them along the West Coast and in the Hawaiian islands as part of Destroyer Squadron 3 of the Destroyer Division.
In February 1939, she took part in Fleet Problem XX, a naval exercise held in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean and observed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. As tensions with Japan increased, the fleet was ordered to return to Hawaiian waters.

In June 1940, Tucker steamed from Hawaii to a location east of Wake Island for fleet exercises. In United States Navy Destroyers of World War II, John Reilly, Jr. described the uncommon method used to power the vessel on its return to Hawaii: 
... Tucker stretched her fuel supply by rigging Sails. Her homemade foresail and mainsail moved Tucker at an estimated 3.4 knots, letting her maintain steerageway as she loitered on station several days.
Tucker continued operating between Hawaii and the West Coast into February 1941. She then set course for New Zealand on a goodwill tour, arriving in Auckland on 17 March. Returning to Pearl Harbor, she took part in routine exercises at sea before returning to her homeport of San Diego on 19 September. After a short stay, Tucker steamed to Hawaii in November as part of Task Force 19, operating again in the Hawaiian Islands. Shortly afterward, she put into Pearl Harbor for an overhaul by a destroyer tender.
When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, Tucker was one of five destroyers moored at berth X–9, East Loch, alongside the destroyer tender Whitney. Even before Tucker's general quarters alarm could be sounded, one of her on-deck sailors began firing a 50-caliber machine gun at the first wave of Japanese aircraft. When the second wave attacked, every ship that could opened fire. Tucker's gunners scored hits on at least two aircraft: one crashed in a cane field, another in flames disappeared over a mountaintop. Still undergoing overhaul, much of Tucker’s machinery had been torn down for repairs. Despite the crew's efforts, she was unable to get underway until that evening.
After her overhaul, Tucker patrolled off Pearl Harbor and spent several months escorting convoys between Hawaii and the West Coast. With new orders, she steamed to the South Pacific for convoy duty. Tucker then escorted the seaplane tender Wright to Tutuila, American Samoa, as part of the drive to fortify outposts. She then escorted her charge to Suva, Fiji, and proceeded to Noumea, New Caledonia. Steaming on for Australia, she arrived at Sydney on 27 April. After taking on fuel, she visited Melbourne, Perth, and Fremantle before steaming back to Sydney. Tucker and  Wright returned to Suva, arriving on 3 June 1942. For the remainder of June and into the first week of July, Tucker operated out of Suva before relieving the cruiser Boise of convoy escort duties on 10 July. On 30 July, the ship arrived at Auckland and the following day started back for Suva.
USS Tucker (DD-374)