Mason was named for the two men: John Young Mason, born April 19, 1799, in Greene County, Virginia. Both a political leader and diplomat, he was Secretary of the Navy for Presidents John Tyler and James K. Polk and Distinguished Flying Cross Winner Ensign Newton Henry Mason who died in aerial combat during World War II in Battle of the Coral Sea, May 9, 1942. But, the ship also inherits the legacy of the previous USS Mason (DE 529), the first Navy ship with a predominately African-American crew. This was the first time that black Americans were permitted to be trained and serve in Navy career fields other than cooks and stewards. One hundred sixty black Sailors were enrolled in all fields of operational and technical training, and manned the ship at commissioning.

Constructed at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, DDG 87 is the 37th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and the 9th of the Flight IIA variant. On June 23, 2001, the PCU Mason was launched in Bath Iron Works, Mass. She was commissioned April 12, 2003.

July 25, 2003 The U.S. and Spanish navies successfully conducted a Combined Combat System Ship Qualifications Trials (CSSQT) off the coast of Wallops Island, Va. July 17-22. USS Mason and the Spanish frigate Alvaro De Bazan (F 101) participated in the trial, which was the first Aegis Combined CSSQT with a foreign navy. CSSQT is a series of at-sea exercises and tests to verify that shipboard systems have been installed correctly, and can be operated and maintained safely and effectively.

July 15, 2004 USS Mason, along with USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Carrier Strike Group, wrapped up a first-of-its-kind multinational exercise known as Majestic Eagle. Majestic Eagle is a multinational exercise being conducted off the coast of Morocco.

October 13, DDG 87 departed Naval Station Norfolk, with the Truman CSG, for a scheduled deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

January 4, 2005 Sailors from USS Mason began the new year patrolling the Persian Gulf Jan. 2 after a five-day port visit to Manama, Bahrain.

April 18, USS Mason returned to homeport after a six-month deployment in the Persian Gulf, conducting Maritime Interdiction Operations (MSO).

March 2, 2006 The guided-missile destroyer is currently off the East Coast for routine trainings, as part of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CSG, in preparation for the upcoming deployment later this year.

April 24, DDG 87 is currently in the Atlantic Ocean conducting Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) April 12 to May 12.

May 24, USS Mason arrived in New York City to participate in 19th Navy Fleet Week through May 30. Fleet Week has been sponsored by New York City since 1984 in celebration of the United States sea service.

October 3, USS Mason departed Naval Station Norfolk for a six-month deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

November 7, The guided-missile destroyer entered the Persian Gulf and joined with Combined Task Force (CTF) 152. CTF 152, comprised of coalition forces currently led by Italian Navy Rear Adm. Emilio Foltzer, conducts MSO in the central and southern Persian Gulf.

May 23, 2007 USS Mason returned to homeport after seven-and-a-half month underway period. In the Gulf it participated in a bilateral Exercise Neon Falcon between the United States and Royal Bahraini navies.

March 29, 2008 DDG 87 is currently off the coast of Florida, participating in a tailored ship's training availability, as part of USS Theodore Roodevelt CSG.

September 12, USS Mason, commanded by Cmdr. Robert E. Clark, departed Norfolk for a scheduled deployment with the TR Carrier Strike Group.

October 1, The Mason pulled to Batumi to take officers of Georgian navy and coast guard on board and will continue sailing in the neutral waters of the Black Sea.

October 15, The guided-missile destroyer departed Istanbul, Turkey, after a three-day port visit.

February 6, 2009 Sailors from USS Mason went aboard Motor Vessel Faina to conduct a health and comfort inspection of the crew as well as provide Faina's crew with food, water and medical support. The U.S. Navy fleet ocean tug USNS Catawba (T-ATF 168) also provided fuel and fresh water to the merchant vessel. Faina is currently anchored off the coast of Somalia, near Hobyo, and is making engineering preparations to get underway. Somali pirates released the Belize-flagged roll-on/roll-off ship Feb. 5, after holding it for more than four months.

April 18, DDG 87 returned to homeport after a seven-month underway period in the U.S. Central Command AoR.

October 10, 2010 USS Mason is currently participating in a Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), as part of the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Carrier Strike Group.

January 13, 2011 USS Mason departed Naval Station Norfolk for a scheduled deployment.

January 30, The guided-missile destroyer departed Palma de Mallorca, Spain, after a three-day port visit.

March 15, Cmdr. Adan G. Cruz relieved Cmdr. Kevin M. Robinson as CO of the Mason during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the ship while inport Haifa, Isreal.

June 30, Capt. James Gilmour relieved Rear Adm. Harris Chan Weng Yip as Commander, Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, during a change-of-command ceremony on board the USS Mason in Djibouti. This the first time that a Royal New Zealand naval officer has commanded a major multinational task force in recent decades.

July 9, DDG 87 arrived in Bodrum, Turkey, for a three-day port call.

July 27, USS Mason returned to Norfolk after six-and-a-half month deployment.

August 25, The Mason departed Naval Station Norfolk to avoid the approaching Category 3 Hurricane Irene.

October 7, USS Mason recently arrived in Mobile, Ala., for a scheduled port visit to participate in BayFest.

January 30, 2012 USS Mason, along with USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), entered the Titan dry-dock at BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair facility for repairs and modernization as part of the DDG Modernization (DDG MOD) upgrade. This was the first ever tandem dry-docking of two U.S. Navy Aegis guided-missile destroyers. The Titan is the largest floating dry-dock on the East Coast, measuring 950 feet long and 160 feet wide, with a lift capacity of 52,000 tons.