Stribling was laid down by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation at Staten Island in New York on 15 January 1945, launched on 8 June 1945 by Mrs. W. Hunter Powell and commissioned on 29 September 1945.

Stribling shook down out of Guantánamo Bay, Cuba; then reported for duty at the Fleet Sonar School at Key West, Florida.

From June 1960 until April 1966, she was modified extensively at the Charleston Navy Yard under the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) program.

After refresher training out of Guantanamo Bay and participation in NATO exercise "Lime Jug," Stribling stood watch during the recovery of astronaut, John Glenn, in February 1962.

She exercised with units of the Saudi Arabian and Iranian navies and visited many new ports, notably Djibouti in French Somaliland, Kharg Island in Iran, and Aden.

Heading via the Panama Canal, San Diego, and Pearl Harbor, the destroyer made for Yokosuka, Japan, and then operations off the coast of Vietnam.

The latter assignment involved riding "shotgun" for larger PIRAZ ships armed with more sophisticated radar and target designation systems.

When not operating in the combat zone, she put into Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Hong Kong; and Subic Bay in the Philippines for repairs after a collision with a barge being towed by RVN tug during a nighttime underway replenishment .

With Syrian elements and left-wing Jordanians attempting to topple King Hussein from his throne, the 6th Fleet was mobilized to maintain a striking force poised in the eastern Mediterranean.

Operating in much the same manner as she did in Vietnam in 1969, Stribling cruised along the coast of Syria on Bravo Station in the anti-aircraft screen for the 6th Fleet until the crisis abated.

The aging Stribling made her final Mediterranean cruise in early 1976, just before decommissioning, due to urgent deployment requirements during this period.

The Stribling also earned credit for the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm during the periods 21 March 1969 to 2 April 1969; and 23 to 26 July 1969.