After conducting a brief harbor cruise with 85 Army reservists embarked on 18 May, "Anderson" got underway to conduct a neutrality patrol off the coast of southern California. During the course of this operation on 20 May, the destroyer sighted a tug five miles (8 km) away at 0945 and altered course to close and investigate. Closer examination revealed "Ray P. Clark", towing a barge laden with horses and bales of hay and flying a distress signal. "Anderson" immediately called away her fire and rescue party and stopped to render assistance, help which turned out to be only giving directions to the tug which had become lost and needed the course to San Nicolas Island. The assistance duly rendered, "Anderson" continued on her appointed rounds, arriving back at San Diego on the morning of 23 May.