Denver (LPD 9) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMMANDING OFFICER Captain William F. Hopper was born and raised in East Liverpool, Ohio. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy and was commissioned in June of 1972. He holds an M.S. Degree in Systems Technology (Command, Control, and Communications) from the Naval Postgraduate School and has completed the Navy ' s Nuclear Power Training Curriculum. Captain Hopper ' s operational tours have included an assignment in the USS FIDELITY (MSO-443) homeported at Charleston, South Carolina as Mine Counter Measures and Operations Officer. This was followed by a tour aboard the USS LEXINGTON (CVT-16) in Pensacola, Florida. After being approved for aviation training he was subsequently designated an E-2 Naval Flight Officer and reported to Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron, One Hundred Sixteen (VAW-1 16) at NAS Miramar, San Diego, California. There he served on deployments to the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean as Personnel Administrative and Maintenance Officer. Follow-on aviation assignments included tours as the Operations Officer of the Sun Kings of VAW-1 16 and as their Commanding Officer when they were the Pacific Fleet nominee for the annual AEW Excellence Award. Finally as Executive Officer on USS NIMITZ (CVN-68) at Bremerton, Washington, the ship earned an unprecedented third consecutive Admiral Flatley Award for carrier aviation operational safety and a NEY Award. During this tour he was selected to become the Commanding Officer of USS DENVER (LPD-9) Assignments ashore for Captain Hopper were as the Executive Officer of VEW-1 10, the West Coast E-2C Fleet Replacement Squadron and as the Requirements Officer for the Advanced Tactical Surveillance Aircraft Program while on the Navy Staff. Captain Hopper has earned the Meritorious Service Medal (3 Awards), Navy Commendation Medal, and various campaign and expeditionary medals. He is married to the former Janet Lynn Hackney of Napa, California. They have two children, Krista Nicole and Bryan.

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' . . - CAPT W.F. HOPPER »aip— wmmam

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USS DENVER LPD-9 a s ' 6 (NEW) DENVER 1996 USS DENVER (LPD-9) is the third ship to bear the name DENVER . The keel was laid in February 1964 by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company in Seattle, Washington. DENVER was commissioned in October 1968, christened by Mrs. John Love, wife of the Governor of Colorado. DENVER was originally homeported in Long Beach, California, and assigned to Amphibious Squadron SEVEN. In January 1970, one year after arriving in Long Beach, DENVER deployed to the Western Pacific in early 1971 in support of the redeployment of forces in Southeast Asia. In July 1971, DENVER was administratively reassigned to Amphibious Squadron Five and shifted homeport to San Diego. Three months later, DENVER commenced a ten month deployment during which five downed pilots and one merchant seaman were rescued while supporting numerous combat operations in Vietnam. DENVER was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for accomplishments during this deployment. In April 1975, DENVER assumed a key role in the emergency evacuation of Vietnam, receiving more than 7,500 refugees transported by helicopter and surface craft of all types. DENVER carried more than 500 refugees, in addition to an overflowing complement of evacuated Marines, to the Republic of the Philippines. In early 1977, after completing a major overhaul, DENVER participated in the operational evaluation of USS TARAWA (LHA-1) and a midshipman training cruise to Alaska and Canada. Following the deployment in September 1979, DENVER participated in the filming of the motion picture, Raise the Titanic. In 1986 DENVER visited the Portland Rose Festival; Expo ' 86 in Vancouver, British Columbia; and Monterey, California for the Navy ' s Birthday on 13 October 1986. In January 1989, DENVER departed San Diego on deployment number twelve to the Western Pacific which included several port visits in the far east including Hong Kong, Yokosuka, Sasebo, Pusan, Pohang, Subic Bay, and Okinawa. During this deployment DENVER participated in the combined U.S. -Republic of Korea Forces Amphibious Exercise, TEAM SPIRIT ' 89. In May 1990. DENVER participated in RIMPAC ' 90 exercises with the Navies of Australia, Canada, Japan, and South Korea. In December 1990, DENVER departed San Diego as part of a 13 ship Amphibious Task Force in support of operation DESERT STORM, the largest Amphibious Force to depart the West coast since the Korean War. On 17 July 1991. DENVER departed the Arabian Gulf as part of the last group afloat navy crews who had participated in the Desert Shield Desert Storm war. DENVER had the distinction of being the last ship of the group to depart the Arabian Gulf. In October of 1993 DENVER departed on the 14th deployment to the Western Pacific and was diverted one month into the cruise to the coast of Somalia in support of operation RESTORE HOPE. DENVER mostly remained at anchor to conserve fuel during the 4 month stay. The Commander in Chief, President Bill Clinton, also made a phone call to wish the crew, Happy Holidays, and to say the American people were very supportive of their efforts. The Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Kelso, and the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Munday, also visited DENVER while deployed. On 13 November 1995 DENVER deployed to the Arabian Gulf in support of operation SOUTHERN WATCH with the PELELIU (LHA-5) Amphibious Ready Group and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). DENVER participated in exercises IRON MAGIC IRON SIREN with the United Arab Emirates, PELMEUEX with Kuwait, and EASTERN MAVERICK with Qatar.