USS DONNER LSD20

• Commissioning and Class: USS Donner (LSD-20) was a Casa Grande-class dock landing ship, commissioned into the United States Navy on July 31, 1945, just after the end of World War II. • Named After a Famous Expedition: The ship was named after the Donner Pass in the Sierra Nevada, itself famous for the ill-fated Donner Party of 1846. • World War II Service: Although commissioned too late to participate in World War II combat, USS Donner was part of the massive fleet expansion that helped cement U.S. naval dominance. • Korean War and Cold War: Donner served extensively during the Korean War and throughout the Cold War, supporting amphibious operations and exercises. • Space Program Involvement: In 1960, USS Donner made history by recovering the Mercury-Redstone 2 capsule, which carried the chimpanzee Ham, America’s first hominid in space. • Humanitarian Missions: The ship participated in numerous humanitarian missions, including hurricane relief operations in the Caribbean. • Innovative Amphibious Training: Donner was involved in pioneering new amphibious assault techniques, including helicopter-borne operations, during the 1950s and 1960s. • International Engagements: The ship took part in joint exercises and goodwill visits with allied navies, strengthening U.S. military ties in Europe and the Mediterranean. • Decommissioning: After a long and varied service, USS Donner was decommissioned on October 31, 1970, and struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1977. • Final Fate: The vessel was sold for scrapping in 1991, concluding nearly half a century of service to the U.S. Navy and the nation.