Denver (LPD 9) - Naval Cruise Book

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Denver ' s History The first Denver, Cruiser Number 14 served from 1904 to 1933 in both Pacific and Atlantic fleets. Her primary action was as a convoy escort from 1917-1918 during World War I. The second Denver (CbSS), a light cruiser, saw action from 1942-1945. She participated in the bombardment of the Solomon Islands, the landing and group operation at new Georgia, the Treasury Bougainvillea Operation, took part in the Luzon Operation, the Manila Bay-Bicol Operation, the Consolidation of Southern Philippines, the Borneo Operations, and Third Fleet operations against Japan. Denver (Cb58) continued action until 1960 when she was decommissioned. USS DENVER (LPD-9) is the third ship of the fleet to bear this name. Denver ' s keel was laid 7 July 1964 at Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company, Seattle, Washington. She was launched!! 23 January 1965, christened by Mrs. John Love, wife of the Governor of Colorado, and commissioned 26 October 1968. James William Denver The names of Amphibious Transport Docks are d rawn from cities, which have been named after early explorers of the United States. Denver, Colorado is named after James William Denver. James W. Denver was born in 1817; taught school in Missouri and Kentucky, and practiced law in Ohio. During the war with Mexico in 1847, he recruited a company for the 12th U.S. Volunteer Infantry and was commissioned a Captain. In 1850 he traveled to California to engage in trading and was later elected State Senator in 1852. A year later he was appointed as the California Secretary of State. While holding that office, he was elected to the 34th Congress of the Special Committee on Pacific Railroads. At the close of his term in 1857, President James Buchanan appointed him Commissioner of Indian Affairs. In the autumn of 1857; he became Secretary of the Territory of Kansas, became Governor a year later, and retired in 1859. At the outbreak of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln commissioned him a Brigadier General of Volunteers. After the war, he opened a law office in Washington, D.C. In 1876 and 1884, his name was mentioned in connection with Democratic nomination for the Presidency He died in Washington, D.C. in August 1886. USS DENVER ' S motto, A Mile High... A Mile Ahead alludes to our strong and abiding ties to the city of Denver, Colorado.

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■rfriBlftl AMi) ■ , CMDCM (SW AW) A. S. Graham Command Master Chief USS DENVER (LPD-9) Graduating from Recruit Training Command, San Diego, Ca., in August 1979, Master Chief Graham attended Sonar Technician A school at Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center, Pacific. Upon graduation, he accepted orders to Pre-commissioning duty for USS Fletcher (DD-992). Master Chief Graham commissioned USS Fletcher (DD-992) in July 1980, home ported in San Diego, Ca. where he operated and maintained the AN SQS-53 Sonar System. After re-enlisting under the STAR program in 1981, Master Chief Graham attended Basic Electronics and Electricity followed by the AN SQS-53A operations and maintenance course of instruction. Master Chief Graham then attended MK 116 MOD ' S 1-4 Underwater Battery Fire Control System (UBFCS) operations and maintenance course of instruction with orders to USS Arkansas (CGN-41) home ported in Norfolk, Va. During this tour of duty, Master Chief served as maintenance group supervisor for the Sonar and Fire Control work centers, assistant Chief Master-At-Arms, departmental 3M coordinator. Nuclear Weapons handling supervisor, and Leading Petty Officer for CA division. Master Chief Graham then accepted orders for instructor duty to Combat Systems Technical Schools Command, Mare Island, Ca. where he earned a Master Training Specialist designation and instructed the operations and maintenance course of instruction for the MK 116 MOD ' S 5 6 8 9 UBFCS. In May of 1990, Master Chief Graham accepted orders to USS Valley Forge (CG-50) home ported in San Diego, Ca. where he served as Division Officer and Leading Chief Petty Officer for CA division. In July 1994, Master Chief Graham accepted orders to Mobile Technical Unit Five located in San Diego, Ca. In September 1994, Mobile Technical Unit Five was disestablished as part of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) program and the Fleet Technical Support Center, Pacific, was established in its place. Master Chief Petty Officer Graham earned his Bachelors of Science Degree in Workforce Education Training and Development, Summa cum Laude, from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois in May 1997 In July 1997 Master Chief Graham accepted orders back to USS Valley Forge as the Weapons department and CA division Leading Chief Petty Officer. In February 2001, Master Chief Graham was hand picked by Commodore Phil Wisecup, Commander, Destroyer-Squadron 21, to serve on his staff where he served until accepting his current orders as Command Master Chief, USS Denver (LPD-9) in January 2003. Significant events of Master Chief Graham ' s career include combat operations during Operation Desert Shield Storm, Operation Enduring freedom, numerous deployments to the Arabian Gulf, Western and Eastern Pacific and Indian Oceans. Master Chief Graham is an honor graduate of Senior Enlisted Academy, Class 90, January-March 2000. Master Chief Graham obtained his Officer of the Deck (underway) qualification in USS Valley Forge. He has earned the Navy Marine Corp Commendation Medal (Two Awards), Navy Marine Corp Achievement Medal (Four Awards), Navy Good Conduct (Seven Awards), Navy Efficiency Battle E Award (Five Awards), National Defense Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal, and Southwest Asia Campaign Medal

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ship ' s Statistics USS DENVER is an Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD-9). This is an all purpose class, which employs the balanced load concept. The LPD class is capable of carrying troops, cargo, and tanks. In addition, they operate troop and cargo carrying helicopters, V-STOL fixed wing aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to project assault, special warfare, and reconnaissance forces inland in support of the beachhead from the helicopter-landing platform. The crew consists of approximately 350 Sailors and 30 Officers. More than 19,000 repair parts are stored onboard to permit all levels of maintenance while underway. The diesel and steam generators produce sufficient electricity to light all the homes in a medium sized city. The evaporators have the capacity to distill more than 60,000 gallons of water per day. DENVER has an official US Post Office where the crew can purchase stamps and money orders and mail letters and packages anywhere in the world. A large air-conditioning plant cools all electric spaces as well as living, berthing, and dining areas. The overall length of DENVER is nearly twice that of a football field. DENVER ' S storerooms and refrigerators can hold enough food to feed the crew for a month. She has a fully automatic laundry, which provides daily services, three barbershops, and a general store which sells more than $20,000 worth of clothing, snacks, and other merchandise per month. The crew ' s galley is capable of serving 4,000 meals per day. The medical facility is supplied with the latest medicines and antibiotics, and is staffed by a doctor, a dentist, and experienced Hospital Corpsmen and Dental Technicians. Onboard and off duty activities include: unlimited use of ships at sea telephones, E-mail access, two weight rooms and work out spaces, regularly scheduled movies and the occasional onboard steel beach picnic on the flight deck.