Denver (LPD 9) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 7 text:

FROM THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE USS DENVER (LPD-9) I am sure that all the individuals who served onboard the DENVER during her deployment from September 1 97 1 until August 1 972 will agree that no book could be long enough to describe the many missions she undertook or the many experiences we shared. This book, therefore, is an overview. I hope that it will provide many happy memories of an experience that I look back on with happiness and pride in a job well done. Robert E. Bodamer Captain, USN

Page 9 text:

CAPTAIN ROBERT E. BODAMER, USN Captain Robert E. Bodamer assumed command of USS DENVER (LPD-9) on 9 June 1971 while the ship was moored in the harbor of the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong. His previous assignment was as Commander, Destroyer Division 212. Captain Bodamer was born in Columbus, Ohio and still considers Tiffin, Ohio his home, although he and his family presently live in Imperial Beach, California. Captain Bodamer ' s wife is the former Patricia A. Shoquist of Des Moines, Iowa. They have a son Steven. Captain Bodamer began his Navy career in 1943 when he entered the University of Wisconsin in the Navy V-12 program. In August 1944 he was transferred to the University of Minnesota where he was commissioned an Ensign, 20 February 1946 and received his BS degree. Captain Bodamer attended the General Line School, Monterey, California in 1948 and the U.S. Naval Post- graduate School and Carnegie Institute of Technology from August 1951 to June 1954 when he received the degree of Master of Science in Metallurgy. In 1968 Captain Bodamer attended intensive language courses in Chinese in Washington, D.C. before going to Taiwan for naval attache duty. Other of his duty stations include a tour as Executive Officer onboard USS DUNCAN (DDR- 874); Commanding Officer of USS PICKET (AGR-7), USS PORTERFIELD (DD-682), and USS MORTON (DD-984); and Director Surface and Amphibious Programs at the Office of Naval Research. Other previous experience in amphibious operations includes duty as boat group com- mander onboard USS WASHBURN (AKA-108) during the landing at Inchon and Wonson. Korea.