The Haunted Legacy of the U.S.S. Salem

It’s October, and long-time fans of this page know what that means….. So let’s start off with a promise I made a few months ago.

Earlier this year, I made a post about the U.S.S. Salem (CA-139). A Des Moines-class Heavy Cruiser built after WW2 and was one of the last “Big Gun” cruisers built by the United States. In that post, I hinted that the Salem, lovingly known as “The Sea Witch”, was insanely haunted.

The Ghostly Residents of the U.S.S. Salem

Now although the Salem never saw actual combat, the vessel is said to be home to numerous spirits which lurk about the ship. Some of which, are not friendly at all. One spirit is that of a young Greek girl who is said to be seen in and around the vessel’s third wardroom. Another well-known specter of the ship, is known as “The Burning Man”. A specter who “smells like death” whenever it is around. While numerous persons have reported seeing large black “dogs” about the ship itself. Possibly the infamous “Hell Hounds” of legend and folklore.

Non-Combat Deaths and Their Haunting Impact

Now like stated before unlike other alleged haunted ships (USS Lexington, USS Midway, USS North Carolina), Salem never saw combat and usually the ghosts on those ships are believed to be those who were killed in combat. But that does not mean Salem had not seen death.

In 1953, Salem was one of the first vessels to respond to The Great Kefalonia Earthquake, which was one of the worst to hit that region. During that time, Salem was used as a Hospital Ship to treat those who had been injured during the quake and was even used as a morgue for those who did not survive. Which has led many to believe that the ghosts of U.S.S. Salem are actually those who died while being treated on board.

~NC