Mon Nov 18 08:30:16 UTC 2024: ## WWII US Destroyer “Dancing Mouse” Found in Pacific After 82 Years
**CANBERRA, Australia** – The wreck of the USS *Edsall*, a US Navy destroyer nicknamed the “Dancing Mouse” for its evasive maneuvers during a World War II battle, has been discovered in the Pacific Ocean. The ship, which sank off the coast of Australia on March 1, 1942, was located by Australian and US officials using advanced hydrographic survey technology aboard the naval support ship MV *Stoker*.
The *Edsall*, under the command of Lieutenant Joshua Nix, engaged a vastly superior force of the Imperial Japanese Navy, successfully dodging over 1,400 shells from battleships and cruisers before being attacked by dive bombers. Despite sustaining damage, the crew fought valiantly until the ship was finally sunk.
US Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy praised the bravery of Lieutenant Nix and his crew, highlighting their crucial role in defending Australia during the early, critical stages of the war. Australian Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond also lauded the crew’s efforts.
Historical accounts from the US Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) detail the desperate battle. The *Edsall*, a relatively small and older vessel, was hopelessly outmatched by the Japanese fleet’s superior firepower and air support. Despite the overwhelming odds, Lieutenant Nix chose to make a defiant stand, even aiming the ship’s bow towards the enemy vessels in a final act of resistance before it succumbed to the Japanese barrage.
The discovery of the *Edsall* brings closure to a chapter of naval history and serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made during World War II. The precise location of the wreck is being withheld to protect the site.
First Piper 