USS Denver
She’s oh-so-elderly. In fact she’s the second oldest lady in the deployableU.S. Navy fleet. But she does her job. This time, the amphibious transport dock ship USS Denver (LPD 9) has shoved off from Sasebo, Japan, to take her place with the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet patrolling the Pacific and participating in exercises with the Thai navy.
She was christened in January, 1965 by Ann Love, wife of Colorado Governor John A. Love. In the photo below, Mrs. Love smashes a traditional bottle of champagne onto the bow of The USS Denver before its launch in Seattle, Washington.
Christening of USS Denver in 1965
The USS Denver played an historic role in Vietnam War history during the evacuation of Saigon, in April 1975. U.S. Navy ships of all sizes intercepted boats filled with South Vietnamese refugees fleeing Saigon ahead of the North Vietnamese troops swooping into the city.
Here she is in 1984, underway in an aerial starboard bow view taken by official U.S. Navy photographers:
USS Denver in 1984
Below, troops from the 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment onboard the USS Denver prepare to disembark during a training exercise in 1995.
Marines disembark USS Denver in 1995.
Still active, still serving… The USS Denver (LPD 9).