Editing USS Edson (section)

==Commissioning and initial service==
USS ''Edson'' was named for Major General [[Merritt A. Edson|Merritt "Red Mike" Edson]] [[United States Marine Corps|USMC]] (1897–1955), who was awarded the  [[Medal of Honor]] (while serving as [[Commanding Officer]] of the [[First Marine Raider Battalion]] on [[Guadalcanal]]) and the [[Navy Cross (United States)|Navy Cross]] and [[Silver Star]] for other actions in [[World War II]].

''Edson'' was laid down on 3 December 1956 by Bath Iron Works Corporation and launched on 4 January 1958, sponsored by Mrs. M. A. Edson, widow of General Edson; and [[ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 7 November 1958.<ref name=DANFS>{{cite DANFS |url= https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/e/edson.html |title= USS Edson}}</ref>

''Edson'' called at [[Ciudad Trujillo]] and [[Caribbean]] ports while conducting shakedown training en route to [[Callao]], Peru, where she lay from 18 to 21 February 1959 delivering supplies for the U.S. Embassy in [[Lima, Peru]]. She reached Naval Station Long Beach, California, her home port, on 2 March, and through the remainder of the year perfected her readiness with exercises along the west coast. On 5 January 1960, she sailed from Long Beach for her first deployment in the Far East, during which she patrolled in the [[Taiwan Straits]] and took part in amphibious operations off [[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]], and exercises of various types off [[Japan]]. On 29 April, she rescued three aviators from {{USS|Ranger|CV-61|6}}, whose A-3D aircraft crash landed in the ocean.  ''Edson'' returned to Long Beach on 31 May for an [[wikt:overhaul|overhaul]] which continued through October.  ''Edson'' spent the remainder of 1960 conducting training off [[San Diego, California|San Diego]].<ref name=DANFS />
[[File:Bow of the USS Edson.JPG|left|thumb|The bow of USS ''Edson'' at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard]]