Edson (DD 946) - Naval Cruise Book

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Winter and into the sunshine of the Carib- bean. We saw Ciudad Trujillo and San luan. 'We had aunnery and ASW exercises in Guantanimo. We went into the canal and tested the water Wash-down system in Gat- un Lake. We became shellbacks on the way' to Peru. ' At lona last we reached Lona Beach on 2 March. There were two Weeks of reunion for the married folk, and two Weeks of qet- tina acquainted with home port for the rest of us, before We Went to San Diego for four weeks of refined torture called shake- down traininaf' Cn 5 May We chalked up our first first. VV e became the first ship of our class to complete Final Acceptance Trials. ' This shake-down trainina Was the pro- loaue to the Service career of the USS ED- SON. The story is told in the Words and pic- tures that follow.

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SS EDSO DD 946 HIP HISTGRY V The EDSON is too young to have a history but is fortunate to have a tradition. She was built in Bath, Maine, The cradle of ships, and named for a great Marine General whose ability as a fighting man is a legend. She is a flagship of the Little Beaver squadron which a Captain named Arleigh Burke commanded in World War ll. Though we may not yet have a history, we have a story to tell. Our story is the story of men. Those who went to Bath to watch her building. Those who went to Newport and drilled and studied to get ready for this new super-destroyer. On 31 October, two hundred of us stood on a pier in Boston and saw her swing into harbor. We witnessed the formal delivery of the ship to the Navy in the exchange of papers by a man in civilian clothes and a man in uniform. We were herded on board and whisked below by the old salts who had ridden her down from Maine. One week later, on a wind-washed No- vember day the commission pennant was hoisted and ours was a ship of the Navy. For the next two months we trained and fitted-out. We polished bright work, waxed decks, and loaded tons of supplies. Then on a bitter lanuary day we took her to sea and operated off Boston for two weeks in weath- er that would make a mud-caked GI feel sorry for a sailor. 1 After a stop in N ewport-the first of many inspections-we headed South, out of the

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The EDSCN is a fighting ship. lt is fitting that she is named after a fighting Marine. lt is a lasting tribute to Major General Merritt A. EDSGN USMC, C1897-l955l. General EDSCN was considered to be one of the five greatest combat commanders of World War ll. For his astute leadership and gallant devotion to duty during the defense of Edson Ridge K3-10 September l942l at Guadalcanal, General EDSCN received the Medal of Honor, his country's highest honor, from a grateful American people During this battle General EDSCN, through personal example enabled 800 Marines to withstand ' d , repeate assaults of a fanatical enemy numbering more than 2,500. ln additi t th M d on o e e al of Honor, two Navy Crosses, a Silver Star and two Legion of Merits, his numerous decorations included the Presidential Unit Cita- tion with two bronze starsp the Mexican Service Medal: World War I Victory Medal with Maltese Cross: China Service Medal with bronze star Am ' 5 erican Defense Service Medal with bronze starg American Campaign Medalg Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal with six bronze stars: World War Il Victory Medal and the Distinguished Service Order CBritish Empire? ' General EDSCN will be remembered for his keen professional ability his magnificent leadership in battle and his sympathetic understanding of his juniors. t RED MIKE