Retired U.S. Destroyer Edson clears Iroquois Locks

 

The US destroyer Edson is pictured as it enters the locks at Iroquois on Thursday, August 2 at about 9:40 a.m. Heading for Bay City, Michigan, the Edson was decommissioned in 1988, and the following year became a museum ship at the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York. She was returned to Navy lay-up in 2004, and this past spring it was decided she would again become a museum ship, this time at Bay City. Named for Major General Merritt “Red Mike” Edson (1897-1955), the Edson was built in 1958. She initially served in the West Pacific/Far East particularly off the coast of Vietnam. She served as a plane guard for aircraft carriers and participated in Sea Dragon operations, patrolled on search and rescue duties and carried out Naval Gunfire support missions during the Vietnam War. The Edson participated in the evacuation of Phnom Penh, Cambodia and Saigon, Vietnam in 1975. Cleared to begin her journey to Michigan in mid-July, she entered the Gulf of St. Lawrence on July 25. She passed Morrisburg at about 7 a.m. last Thursday and was expected to reach her final destination on the weekend. She was towed by the Tug Colonel and the Ecosse was on the stern.

 

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