In the Camp Searchlight challenge, I didn't get the option to send Private Edwards to the camp with the other ghouls, I just got to suggest "there must be plenty of places" he could go and being a caring sort of fellow I decided to follow him. Just west of the camp we encountered a viper gunslinger at the Raided Farmstead and after helping him out, decided to be a more active bodyguard. Here's me and the lads with Edwards approaching the Nipton Road Reststop (I'd like to point out that my character doesn't look in the least bit gay and definitely isn't wearing lipstick, it's natural colour and he just likes hats):

[img]http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/1867/screenshot29h.jpg[/img]

After shooting a few Rads at the reststop we went ahead and killed a whole bunch of the big ones up at what turned out to be Mesquite Mountains Campsite, where we waited for Edwards. He arrived and without even looking around, turned and headed back the way he came. I thought he was going to return to his little house, which it has to be said, is a lot nicer than most in the wasteland, but no, he gets to Camp Searchlight and just restarts to journey.

He's well capable of taking care of himself, dispatching any enemies he comes across with aplomb, sometimes seeming to go out of his way to find them, eating as he goes, pausing for a rest now and again but never settling (after three circuits anyway).

Checking the wiki (could have done that first but prefer blundering about and then finding out what should have happened) he's meant to get killed by the Rads at the campsite. I thought I was saving him but instead I've doomed him a lifetime of endless wandering. So much better if I could have got him the ghoul camp where they could have bonded over hard luck stories and what's the best moisturiser.

I do not know who Pvt. Edwards is, but if he is part of the NCR, I would rather kill him than follow him.

http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Private_Edwards

[EDIT:] Ah newer mind, I just missed your last lines. I think he is supposed to dye. If you let him alone, He will be probably killed by rads once they respawn at campingsite. Ghoul station is definitely better choice.

I should have mentioned that I'd added the info to the wiki, sorry.

I know it says it already in the wiki, but if you have a high Speech/INT, then he's not "meant" to die or wander.

Update: When he gets to the camp and encounters a Rad, he kills it and stays put. He occupies his time sitting by the fire, standing to warm his hands on it or doing press ups. Whenever a Rad comes into the vicinity he goes off to kill. I don't know how long he'll last but he seems to be doing OK. (Wiki updated accordingly).

Here's him warming himself by the fire with a recent victim:

[img]http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/4905/screenshot51a.jpg[/img]