Origins of a squadron -- Prologue -- The destroyers go to war -- Initiation at Guadalcanal -- Naval slugfest off Guadalcanal -- Desron 21 holds the line in the South Pacific -- Blunting the Tokyo Express -- Birth of a squadron -- Struggle for the slot -- Kula Gulf confrontations -- Desron 21 sweeps to victory -- Climbing the New Guinea ladder -- The Philippine whirlwind -- Kamikaze carnage -- Eyewitnesses to victory -- Epilogue -- Chronology -- Appendix I: Battle stars awarded -- Appendix II: Location of ships at war's end.