Denver (LPD 9) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 30 text:

DENVER History USS DENVER (LPD-9) is the third ship to bear her name. Her keel was laid in February 1964 by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Con- struction Company in Seattle, Washington. DENVER was commis- sioned on 26 October 1968, being christened by Mrs. John Love, wife of the governor of Colorado. DENVER was originally homeported in Long Beach, Califor- nia, and assigned to Amphibious Squadron Seven. In January 1970, DENVER made her first deployment to the Western Pacific. In July 1971, DENVER was administratively reassigned to Am- phibious Squadron Five and changed homeport to San Diego. Three months later DENVER commenced a ten-month deploy- ment during which she was distinguished by her rescue of five downed pilots and one merchant seaman in four separate events while supporting numerous combat operations in Vietnam. DEN- VER was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for her accom- plishments during this deployment. Upon returning to the United States, DENVER commenced her first overhaul in Long Beach. She returned to the Western Pa- cific in August 1973 for her fifth deployment, returning home sev- en months later. April 1975 found DENVER enroute to the Western Pacific for what proved to be her busiest deployment ever. DENVER assumed a key role in the emergency evacuation of Vietnam, receiving more than 7,500 refugees transported by helicopters and surface craft of all types. DENVER herself carried more than 500refugees, in addition to an overflowing complement of evacuated Marines, to the Republic of the Philippines. In mid-1976, DENVER began her second overhaul, again in Long Beach. In early 1977, after completing overhaul, DENVER par- ticipated in the operational evaluation of USS TARAWA (LHA-I) and a midshipman training cruise to Alaska and Canada. DENVER began her seventh deployment in mid-September, participating in several multi-national exercises. She followed that up with her eighth deployment in early 1978. Since her return in September 1979, DENVER has remained very active. In early December she participated in the filming of the major motion picture Raise the Titanic. 26 DENVER HISTORY The new year brought training exercises for the Battle Effi- ciency Awards (the Engineering Departmental Excellence Award, the Air Departmental Excellence Award, Operations Excellence Award, and the Assault Boat Operations Award were accorded the respective departments for their achievements during the 18-month competitive cycle commencing I January 1979). On 7 March 1980, DENVER began her third overhaul in her homeport, San Diego, Upon completion of the overhaul eight months later, she conducted successful sea trials and two very successful underway training periods to Seattle and San Francis- co. Upon returnin g from San Francisco, DENVER conducted her dependent ' s cruise. The ship completed Operational Propulsion Plant Examination. Refresher Training and Amphibious Refresher Training prior to deployment to the Far East in June 1981. DENVER returned from her ninth deployment on 23 December 1981. Since the beginning of 1982, DENVER participated in various underway training exercises. She transitted to the Portland Rose Festival in Portland, Oregon and to the Second Annual Fleet Week festivities in San Francisco. On 30 January 1983, the ship was underway for her tenth de- ployment. In addition to successfully completing three amphibi- ous exercises underway, DENVER crewmembers got involved with community relations in Pusan, Korea-, the Republic of the Phi- lippines; and Hong Kong, a British Crown Colony. The deployment ended five and a half months later on 14 July 1983. After a mini-overhaul, DENVER commenced her eleventh de- ployment on 30 May 1984. Include d in the cruise was a trip into the Realm of Neptunus Rex and across the Indian Ocean. DENVER completed her deployment on 6 December 1984. Since the deployment, the ship went into an eight month overhaul and successfully completed a long list of inspections and training exercises resulting in several departmental efficiency awards. Then it was a trip to the Portland Rose Festival in Port- land, Oregon and to Expo ' 86 in Vancouver, British Columbia. DENVER commenced her twelfth deployment on 15 January 1987.

Page 29 text:

AAA SHi Wilson FA Wingard M Division MM3 Wiscaver M Division BT3 Woods 6 Division MR2 Yanoscik R Division PN3 Yumul X Division SN Zacharias 3nd Division SA Zrelinski 2nd Division

Page 31 text:

The first DENVER, cruiser No. 14. was commissioned on 17 May 1904 and was commanded by Navy Commander J.B. Murdock. DENVER participated in the burial of John Paul Jones at the Naval Academy, and the September Fleet Review by President Theodore Roosevelt. The ship was re- classified as a gunboat (CL-16) in 1921. The second DENVER (CL-58) was commissioned on 15 October 1942 and was commanded by Navy Captain R.B. Carney. The new cruiser first saw action in the bombard- ment of Vila, Solomon Islands, on 6 March 1943. During the same action, DENVER ' S force sank two Japanese des- troyers and participated in the invasion landing of New Georgia. DENVER participated in several operations throughout the remainder of 1943 and throughout most of 1944. She returned to the Philippines in 1945, providing sup- port for various operations. DENVER received eleven battle stars during the war. DENVER HISTORY 27