"Parker" was commissioned into the United States Navy on 30 December 1913 under the command of Lieutenant Commander C. P. Nelson. "Parker" was attached to the Torpedo Flotilla, Atlantic Fleet, operating off the Atlantic coast during the years of American neutrality in World War I. On 6 April 1914, "Parker" and sister ships and were exercising off the North Carolina coast, about off the Diamond Shoals lightship. An explosion ripped through the forward fire room on "Aylwin", injuring three men. "Benham" loaded the three wounded sailors and sped to the naval hospital at Norfolk, Virginia, while "Parker" took on the remainder of "Aylwin"s crew. One of the injured men died on "Benham" before landfall was made in Virginia; another died a short time later. "Aylwin" remained afloat but, unmanned, was towed into Norfolk by "Parker" and U.S. Navy tug . The crews of all three destroyers raised $250 to help defray funeral expenses for the widow of one of the men.