The USS Edson

We made the drive up to Bay City on a chilly winter day for what would become our first all-male investigation as a team. When we arrived along the river, the USS Edson was already waiting for us, looming out of the darkness with a sharp, imposing silhouette. The destroyer has a presence you feel before you ever step aboard. She sits tall in the channel, cold steel against the wind, and honestly looks magnificent lit against the night sky.  We could easily understand her motto of "three guns, no waiting".  We were welcomed warmly by the staff and given a fantastic, in-depth tour of the ship. Between the history, the layout, and the atmosphere, the Edson immediately became one of the most interesting locations we’ve ever set foot on.

The investigation itself started strong. Up on the upper deck in the officers’ meeting room, we had meaningful Ovilus-type responses and several clear names come through, along with a couple of EVPs that still don’t have any obvious explanation. For a ship that doesn’t carry a huge haunted reputation, the amount of activity surprised all of us. The 9/11 communications room was especially active, coming in waves for well over an hour. We had repeated EMF spikes, catballs lighting up, and moments where both devices responded in sync. As the night went on, temperatures dropped sharply and a snowstorm rolled in, making the entire ship even colder and more atmospheric. By the time we wrapped, we all agreed it had been a far more active and intriguing night than we ever expected. The Edson has tremendous historical value on its own, and we fully intend to return; for the history, for the environment, and for the activity we witnessed. We highly recommend the USS Edson to anyone considering a visit.