Time capsule

All Hands, May, 2004

This month we took back in the All Hands archive to see what was going on in the month of February. To view these issues in more detail on the Web, go to www.news.navy.mil/allhands.asp?x=search

May 1958--46 years ago

The underlying theme of this month's All Hands was "People to People." Based on a message from Commander 6th Fleet to every officer and enlisted man in that command, the aim of the program was, "to build a massive program of communication between Americans and the citizens of other lands." While remaining at the peak of combat readiness, the Navy rescued the crew of a steamship, held parties for underprivileged children, participated in international sports competitions, herd blood bank donations for foreign blood banks, played band concerts around the world, delivered babies in foreign countries and generally lived up to their nickname, "The Friendly Fleet."

May 1976--28 years ago

As reflected on the cover, basic training went coed at U.S. Naval Training Station Orlando, Fla. USS Bolster (ARS 38) accompanied two former U.S. coastal minesweepers, Warbler (MSC 206) and Vireo (MSC 205), to Suva, Fiji. The two minesweepers became the first two ships of the Fijian Navy and were recommissioned as HMFS Kiro and HMFS Kula. We also interviewed the Navy Surgeon General VADM Donald L. Custis and featured a photographic look at Navy medicine.

May 1988--16 years ago

All Hands visited San Diego, "the Navy town known as America's finest city." In 1988 active-duty, retired and Navy civilian families made up one-fifth of all residents in San Diego County; and of all Sailors and Marines on active duty servicewide, are one in five were stationed there. We also looked at Ward C, the maternity ward at Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif. Suicide prevention and the myths and facts associated with suicide were also discussed.