USS Denver (LPD 9) is the third ship of the fleet to bear this name. Denver's keel was laid July 7, 1964 at Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company, Seattle, Wash. She was launched January 23, 1965, christened by Mrs. John Love, wife of the Governor of Colorado, and commissioned October 26, 1968.

USS Denver arrived to its new homeport of Long Beach, California, arriving in Jan. 1969. In April she made a voyage to Acapulco, Mexico, for rest and relaxation.

In January 1989, USS 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, Busan, Pohang, Subic Bay, and Okinawa. During this underway period she participated in Exercise Team Spirit '89.

In May 1990, LPD 9 participated in RIMPAC '90 exercises with the Navies of Australia, Canada, Japan, and South Korea. In December, the amphibious transport dock departed homeport 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.

November 13, 1995 USS Denver departed for the 15th deployment to the Arabian Gulf, in support of operation Southern Watch, with the USS Peleliu (LHA 5) Amphibious Ready Group and the 15th MEU. She participated in exercises Iron Magic and Iron Siren with the United Arab Emirates, PELMEUEX with Kuwait, and Eastern Maverick with Qatar.

January 24, 2000 USS Denver departed homeport for an underway period to the western Pacific, Indian Ocean and Arabian Gulf. Her first mission was to support peacekeeping and humanitarian operations of the international forces in East Timor. While in the Arabian Gulf she joined other forces of the fifth fleet supporting operation Southern Watch. Port visits included Darwin, Australia; Phuket, Thailand; Manama, Bahrain; Kuwait City, Kuwait; Doha, Qatar; Jebel Ali, U.A.E.; Muscat, Oman; Penang, Malaysia; and Hong Kong.

July 13, USS Denver was preparing to receive fuel from the USNS Yukon about 180 miles west of Oahu when a crash between the two vessels occurred early that evening. No one was injured, but the Yukon sustained heavy damage to its right side. Damage to the Denver was confined to the bow.

June 15, 2002 USS Denver departed San Diego for a scheduled deployment, as part of USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3) Amphibious Ready Group and the 11th MEU. The ARG visited Singapore July 19-23. After that the three ships transited the Suez Canal, and the 11th MEU participated in the Infinite Moonlight '02 exercise in Jordan, which began on Aug. 12 and was completed in early September. Following the exercises in Jordan, the ARG transited the Suez and Operated in the Arabian Gulf region. In late September they arrived off the coast of Kuwait where elements of the 11th MEU were to take part in Eager Mace '03 which is scheduled to last roughly one month. LPD 9 returned to homeport after extended underway period in March 2003.

September 4, While underway in late August in the sea test range of the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), Point Mugu, Calif., the amphibious transport dock ship successfully commanded the U.S. Navy’s Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to launch, maneuver and land for the first time.

May 27, 2004 USS Denver departed Nabal Station San Diego, as part of USS Belleau Wood Expeditionary Strike Group and the 11th MEU, to the western Pacific Ocean and the Central Command Area of Responsibility in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

October 24, LPD 9 returned to homeport after a surge five-month underway period.

March 11, 2005 USS Denver, commanded by Capt. Todd Zecchin, anchored off the coast of Santa Barbara, Calif., to host two receptions March 4 and 6, as well as participate in a variety of community events in support of the Navy League of the United States, Santa Barbara Council.

January 22, 2007 USS Denver is currently operating off the coast of southern California, conducting Expeditionary Strike Group Integrated Training (ESGINT) Exercice, in preparation for the upcoming deployment with the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6).

February 20, The amphibious transport dock is currently off the West Coast participating in Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) with the ESG-5.

April 10, USS Denver departed San Diego for a scheduled deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism and Maritime Security Operations (MSO).

May 1, LPD 9 departed Apra Harbor, Guam, after a three-day port call. USS Denver departed Singapore on May 12.

June 28, USS Denver provided medical assistance to a Panamanian-flagged merchant motor vessel Green Vile 2, in distress in the Persian Gulf, while conducting maritime operations in the 5th Fleet area of operations (AoO).

August 13, The amphibious transport dock recently departed Jebel Ali, U.A.E., after a scheduled port visit.

August 30, USS Denver, commanded by Capt. Joe Clarkson, provided medical assistance to a Qatari-flagged dhow, Al Junbi, while conducting MSO in the Central Persian Gulf.

October 21, LPD 9 departed Fremantle, Australia, after a five-day port call.

November 19, USS Denver returned to Naval Station San Diego after a seven-month deployment.

June 26, 2008 USS Denver recently arrived in its new homeport of Sasebo, Japan, for a hull swap with USS Juneau (LPD 10). The two ships will stay stern to stern in the Sasebo port for about three weeks while new equipment and data is transferred and the crews get accustomed to new equipment. A small group of Sailors that came with the Denver will stay as part of the crew and the rest will ride the Juneau back to the States for decommissioning.

July 10, Capt. Kent D. Whalen took the command of the Denver during a command exchange ceremony at Sasebo Naval Base. Denver will remain forward-deployed to Japan while the Juneau was scheduled to depart Sunday for San Diego.

September 22, LPD 9 recently departed Sasebo for a fall patrol as part of the Essex (LHD 2) ARG.

November 4, USS Denver arrived off the coast of Pohang, ROK, for this year's Korean Interoperability Training Program (KITP).

December 2, The Denver returned to Japan after a two-and-a-half month underway period.

March 23, 2009 The amphibious transport dock is currently in port undergoing a scheduled Selected Restricted Availability (SRA).

June 10, USS Denver departed homeport for a routine sumnmer patrol in support of Exercise Talisman Sabre '09.

July 5, LPD 9 departed Townsville, Australia, after a eight-day port visit.

August 17, USS Denver arrived off the coast of southern Taiwan to help re-supply remote towns cut off Aug. 7 by Typhoon Morako, which claimed about 500 lives on the island and caused an estimated $1.5 billion in damage. The ship is carrying two MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters from Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 14 Det. 1, based at Pohang, South Korea, which will carry supplies to isolated mountainous areas.

August 28, The Denver, commanded by Capt. Gregory J. Fenton, recently pulled to Tokyo to participate in a Metropolitan government disaster relief drill with the Japan Self-Defense Force and local governments.

September 23, USS Denver departed Sasebo for a Fall Patrol.

October 8, LPD 9 arrived off the coast of Padang, Indonesia, to provide humanitarian assistance after and 7.6 magnitude earthquake hits the island of Sumatra Sept. 30.

November 2, The Denver Amphibious Task Group is currently in the East Sea participating in annual bilateral Korean Integrated Training Program (KITP) exercise.

November 13, USS Denver recently returned home after completing the fall underway period.

December 16, The amphibious assault ship pulled to dry-dock at SSK Shipyard in Sasebo for repairs on a rudder damaged during the last deployment.

January 23, 2010 USS Denver recently departed homeport for a routine Spring Patrol, as part of the Essex ARG.

February 15, LPD 9 pulled to Laem Chabang, Thailand, for a scheduled port visit after successful completion of Cobra Gold 2010, a joint and coalition multinational exercise hosted annually by the Kingdom of Thailand.