USS Ogden ( LPD - 5 ) USS " Ogden " ( LPD - 5 ) , an " Austin " - class amphibious transport dock , was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Ogden , Utah . " Ogden " was laid down on 4 February 1963 by the New York Naval Shipyard . She was launched on 27 June 1964 sponsored by Mrs . Laurence J . Burton , and commissioned at New York City on 19 June 1965 with Captain Floyd M . Symons in command . Operational history . Vietnam era . After training off Norfolk , " Ogden " arrived in San Diego 29 October 1965 to join the Pacific Fleet and complete her initial training . In her first year of service she deployed twice to South Vietnam ( 8 February through 4 April 1966 and 16 May through 7 July 1966 ) , bringing Marines and their equipment to the Vietnam War . On her return passages , she brought damaged vehicles home for repair . During the summer of 1966 , she conducted experiments with aircraft capable of vertical or short landing and take - off . The " Ogden " participated in Operation Endsweep in Haiphong Harbor as a member of Task Force 78 from January 1973 through July 1973 , clearing mines with Marine CH53 Helicopters . 1989 Oil Spill Task Force 2 The USS Ogden was relieved by the USS Duluth during the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill after spending 2 months onsite . She supported over 400 civilians with beds , food , operational command for the Task Force and helicopter support for Task Force 2 . Westpac . Ogden has turned sailors and Marines into Golden Shellbacks on at least four occasions . On November 10 , 1976 , June 1987 , 1992 , and again in November 2001 , Ogden crossed the Equator and the International Dateline simultaneously . During the 2001 crossing , Ogden was hosting Alpha Company 1 / 1 BLT of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit . Special Note : On November 10 , 1976 , the Marine Corps 201st birthday , BLT 2 / 3 based out of KMCAS Hawaii , en route from Australia to Pearl Harbor after conducting the joint Operation Kangaroo II , simultaneously crossed the International Dateline ( Latitude 00 ) and the Equator ( Longitude 180 ) . This crossing made history as being the only time a Marine Corps unit has celebrated the birthday twice in the same year . All newly initiated Shellbacks from the trip to Australia were inducted into the Order Of The Golden Shellback . " Ogden " was damaged when she collided with the submarine on 27 February 2002 , which opened a five by 18 inch hole in one of her fuel tanks . Despite the fact that the collision was the fault of the USS Greenville the Captain of the Ogden was still relieved of his command . Middle East . She was commissioned as part of the 3rd Fleet . She deployed in early 2006 with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit as part of a battle group . The ship was originally scheduled for decommissioning in 2000 , but with the requirements of the Operation Iraqi Freedom it was rescheduled . On 16 February 2007 , " Ogden " was awarded the 2006 Battle " E " award . USS " Ogden " was formally decommissioned on 21 February 2007 . She is to be towed to the vicinity of Hawaii and sunk in a gunnery exercise . in Bahrain Popular References . USS " Ogden " figures prominently in the novel Without Remorse by Tom Clancy as the base of operations for the aborted rescue attempt against the North Vietnam prisoner of war camp .