Parker was attached to the Torpedo Flotilla, Atlantic Fleet, operating off the Atlantic coast during the years of American neutrality in World War I.

Just before the United States entered the war, Parker departed winter maneuvers in Cuban waters to join the fleet at Yorktown in March 1917. She sailed 17 June 1917 with Group 4 of the first convoy of American troops to France. From St. Nazaire, Parker steamed to Queenstown, Ireland, joining the U.S. Naval Forces patrolling the Irish Coast. There she escorted convoys safely through the war zone, and assisted vessels in distress. From July to November 1918 Parker was attached to the base at Plymouth, England, and operated with U.S. submarine chasers.

Parker made contact with the enemy on several occasions during the war. She was credited with probably seriously damaging an enemy submarine 3 August 1917.

As the result of the gallant and daring rescue of survivors of the British Hospital Ship Glenart Castle on 26 February 1918, the men of Parker were commended by the British Parliament, the Admiralty and the US naval authorities.

On 1 November 1918, Parker sailed from Plymouth for Gibraltar but returned to Plymouth at the end of the war. Thereafter Parker carried mail and passengers between Plymouth and Brest. She made a cruise to German ports in early 1919 to implement the terms of the armistice before steaming to the Baltic Sea to assist members and vessels of the Food Administration.

Parker sailed for New York, 20 July 1919, and upon arrival was assigned to Destroyer Squadron 1, Atlantic Fleet. After operating out of Norfolk from 1919 to mid-1921 and making a final cruise as far as Newport, Rhode Island, the destroyer decommissioned on 6 June 1922.

Parker was struck from the Navy List on 8 March 1935, scrapped and sold on 23 April in accordance with the terms of the London Treaty for the limitation of naval armament.

Source: Naval History & Heritage Command including the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.