Around 45 veterans of the Austin-class amphibious transport dock USS Ogden (LPD-5) met in Ogden on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, for a reunion. This gathering marked the first time the event was held in the namesake city of the ship.
Mark Stephens, treasurer of the USS Ogden LPD-5 Reunion Association, stated on Wednesday that while organizers had attempted to host the event in Ogden previously, they had previously traveled to locations like Boise, Idaho, or Alabama. Mayor Ben Nadolski said his office jumped at the chance to welcome the group and expressed a desire to ensure the veterans felt welcomed, appreciated, and honored. During the event, Nadolski presented a proclamation to recognize the veterans and their service throughout the ship's career.
USS Ogden veteran Charley Adair noted that the city and its downtown area and museum were impressive. Stephens added that the reunion attracted 45 veterans, noting that while they have had as many as 90 in the past, the current turnout was a good number for Ogden. Much of the memorabilia displayed during the reunion is intended for potential future display at the Museums at Union Station.
The 569-foot-long USS Ogden was launched on June 27, 1964, and commissioned on June 16, 1965. Named after Ogden, Utah, and the fur trapper Peter Skene Ogden, the ship served in the Vietnam War, Operations Desert Storm/Shield, and Operations Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom. The vessel was decommissioned in 2007 and was sunk as part of an exercise in 2014.
