There are places that are haunted, and then there are objects and things that are haunted. Such is the case of the USS North Carolina. Production began on the ship it 1937, and it was officially commissioned in 1941. Stories of ghosts and hauntings started appearing in later years, and considering that ten men were killed on the ship, that shouldn’t be surprising.
The USS North Carolina was sent to Pearl Harbor in 1942, as a way to boost the moral of sailors stationed there. The Japanese were achieving quite a bit of success during this stage of World War II, while American forces were struggling. By sending the troops a ship known as the Showboat, the hope was that it would show that the US was not about to give up.
The ship later moved to the Pacific, where it helped American forces win a number of battles. Its most famous battle was the Battle of the Eastern Solomons in August of 1942. Along with the USS Enterprise, the North Carolina helped sink a Japanese carrier. The battle lasted only eight minutes, but at least 7 Japanese planes were shot down. US forces won the battle, and stopped the enemy forces from spreading further.
Following this battle the ship was sent to guard the USS Saratoga, along with a few others. While protecting these ships, the North Carolina suffered a torpedo hit that took the lives of six men. It was sent back to Pearl Harbor for some repairs before being sent back into action. The ship played a major role in the battles surrounding the Marshall Islands. Protecting other ships, firing shots, and watching for enemy troops were only a few of the things this magnificent ship managed to accomplish during the battles.
The USS North Carolina continued to serve in battle for a number of small skirmishes during WW II. The ship protected other ships, and also fought off enemy troops. Three more men were lost in a battle during 1943 in a skirmish near Okinawa. The ship managed to take down three planes, but suffered some damage in the coming days that forced it to return to Pearl Harbor. The last role it had in WW II was carrying soldiers back from Okinawa, and serving as a training ship.
Following the end of WW II, the USS North Carolina received 15 battle stars. Officially decommissioned in 1947, the ship was sent to North Carolina in 1961 after locals raised $330,000 to purchase the ship. The following year it was dedicated as a state war memorial, and was given National Historic Landmark status in 1986.
Stories of ghosts and hauntings have existed for years, at least since the ship landed in North Carolina. After closing, workers could hear odd noises coming from the ship, and the sounds of people whispering inside. There are also claims of televisions and lights turning on and off on their own, especially late at night. There are also stories told of a spirit who walks through the halls. He has been described as being a blond man in his late teen or early twenties.
A second ghost has been spotted looking out of the portholes. Most of those who have seen this spirit noted that no one was aboard at the time. Some believe this ghost is the one responsible for opening and closing the hatches and doors on the ship. Others have experienced cold spots on the ship, as well as hearing the sounds of footsteps when no one is around.
One of the more popular claims is that of individuals who claimed to feel uncomfortable, upset, or sad on parts of the ship. Considering the history and legacy of this ship, those feelings are entirely normal. It seems as if everyone who visits experiences something different.
