Lost WWII Hero: USS Edsall Found After 82 Years in Pacific Depths

Discovered 82 years later, the World War II-era destroyer USS Edsall—known as the Navy's "dancing mouse—offers a powerful reminder of tenacity and sacrifice. Found roughly 200 miles off Christmas Island in the Pacific Ocean, the Clemson-class destroyer sank on March 1, 1942, following a fierce battle against superior Japanese troops. The announcement date for the discovery is November 11, Veterans Day in the United States, and Remembrance Day in Australia.

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Jointly reporting the discovery, the U.S. Navy and Royal Australian Navy observed that the shipwreck was unintentionally found last year on an unrelated survey trip close to Christmas Island. Robotic and underwater drones were used to investigate and confirm that the wreck was actually the USS Edsall.

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"The wreck of this ship is a hallowed site, marking the 185 U.S. Navy personnel and 31 U.S. Army Air Force pilots aboard at the time, almost all of which were lost when Edsall succumbed to her battle damage," Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti said. Sailors and Navy personnel of today should be driven by their bravery and sacrifice, inspired by this revelation.

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Built under commission in 1920 under the name Seaman Norman Edsall, a hero of the Spanish-American War, the USS Edsall valiantly operated over various theaters. Originally sailing in the Mediterranean, the ship finally made its way across the Pacific near China. Fast joining other American ships to protect Allied interests, The Edsall was on route to Jakarta when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941.

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Australia's Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, underlined the strategic relevance of the Edsall in the Pacific, especially its part in the Battle of the Coral Sea and its indispensable contribution in destroying the Japanese submarine I-124 on January 20, 1942—a legendary triumph for American destroyers in the war.

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The discovery of the USS Edsall underlines the bravery and legacy of its sailors, therefore ensuring that their sacrifices will motivate succeeding generations.

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