Denver (LPD 9) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMMANDER AMPHIBIOUS SQUADRON SEVEN COMMODORE B. R. DODSON USN

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U.S.S. DENVER LPD-9 THE FIRST TIME AROUND A ship, much like a man, goes through several stages in life. The completion of a successful first deployment marks the end of that stage in which a hull becomes a true ship, just as a child becomes a man. However, this maturation must be preceeded by a conception, a birth and growth Likewise, as a ship matures, so must its crew, for they are a single entity The period from February 7, 1964 to late September, 1970, marks the time from the conception to maturation of the Amphibious Transport Dock. USS DENVER (LPD-9). It was not an easy growth, but neither was it without its fond memories and rewards. We herein present, in picture and word, a chronology of the development of DENVER.

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Captain Boykin R. Dodson was born in Richmond, Virginia on April 14, 1919. He attended Georgia Institute of Technology, graduating in 1940. While at- tending Georgia Tech, Capt. Dodson joined the Naval Reserve Officer Training Program, and upongradu- ation was commissioned as an Ensign in the Naval Reserve. He was ordered to active duty in 1942 and received a regular Navy commission in 1943. During World War II he served as Commanding Officer of a Subchaser and later as Damage Control Officer and then as Navigator aboard USS SUWAN- NEE (CVE-27). In addition to his command of the Subchaser, he has served as Commanding Officer of the USS MALABAR (AF-37), USS WILLIAM T. POWELL (DER-213), USS O ' BRIEN (DD-725) and USS LEMAWEE (APA-195) During the Korean War, he served as Executive Officer in the USS BLUE (DD-744) and USS CON- SOLATION (AH- 15); and during the Passage to Freedom evacuation of North Vietnam to South Vietnam, he served as Executive Officer of the USS ESTES (AGC-12). He has also served as Operations Officer and Navigator aboard the USS OKALOOSA (APA-219). During Capt. Dodson ' s tours ashore, he has served as Plans Officer, Staff, Commander Amphibious Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet; Planning and Operations Officer, Staff, Commander Task Group 7.3; Assistant to the Center Commander, Naval Training Center, San Diego, California and as a member of the staff in the Office of Chief, DASA. Capt. Dodson has just completed a tour of duty in Bangkok, Thailand where he was Chief Navy Advisory Group, COMUSMAC Thailand and CINCPACFLT Navy Advisory Group, COMUS MACTHAI and CINCPACFLT Representa- tive Thailand. Capt Dodson has been awarded the Silver Star, the Navy Commendation Ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, Philip- pine Presidential Unit Citation and various area campaign medals and ribbons. Capt Dodson is married to the former Elizabeth Bowden of Atlanta, Georgia. He has five children.