All Hands Magazine

A Glance at the Origins of Naval Special Warfare

Join in the story of four recruits as they make their way into the United States Navy through the training pipeline, never before so intimately profiled, of the Navy's Recruit Training Command (RTC) in Great Lakes, Ill. Beginning with their hometowns across the United States, watch the young men and women featured in Making a Sailor walk in the footsteps of millions of Americans before them, stepping off the bus at RTC, beginning their training, learning necessary skills, toughness, and discipline, and moving on towards graduation. Throughout the six 10-minute episodes, witness firsthand what recruits must both endure and accomplished in order to earn the coveted title, "United States Navy Sailor."

Join in the story of four recruits as they make their way into the United States Navy through the training pipeline, never before so intimately profiled, of the Navy's Recruit Training Command (RTC) in Great Lakes, Ill. Beginning with their hometowns across the United States, watch the young men and women featured in Making a Sailor walk in the footsteps of millions of Americans before them, stepping off the bus at RTC, beginning their training, learning necessary skills, toughness, and discipline, and moving on towards graduation. Throughout the six 10-minute episodes, witness firsthand what recruits must both endure and accomplished in order to earn the coveted title, "United States Navy Sailor."

Join in the story of four recruits as they make their way into the United States Navy through the training pipeline, never before so intimately profiled, of the Navy's Recruit Training Command (RTC) in Great Lakes, Ill. Beginning with their hometowns across the United States, watch the young men and women featured in Making a Sailor walk in the footsteps of millions of Americans before them, stepping off the bus at RTC, beginning their training, learning necessary skills, toughness, and discipline, and moving on towards graduation. Throughout the six 10-minute episodes, witness firsthand what recruits must both endure and accomplished in order to earn the coveted title, "United States Navy Sailor."

Join in the story of four recruits as they make their way into the United States Navy through the training pipeline, never before so intimately profiled, of the Navy's Recruit Training Command (RTC) in Great Lakes, Ill. Beginning with their hometowns across the United States, watch the young men and women featured in Making a Sailor walk in the footsteps of millions of Americans before them, stepping off the bus at RTC, beginning their training, learning necessary skills, toughness, and discipline, and moving on towards graduation. Throughout the 6 10-minute episodes, witness firsthand what recruits must both endure and accomplish in order to earn the coveted title, "United States Navy Sailor."

Join in the story of four recruits as they make their way into the United States Navy through the training pipeline, never before so intimately profiled, of the Navy's Recruit Training Command (RTC) in Great Lakes, Ill. Beginning with their hometowns across the United States, watch the young men and women featured in Making a Sailor walk in the footsteps of millions of Americans before them, stepping off the bus at RTC, beginning their training, learning necessary skills, toughness, and discipline, and moving on towards graduation. Throughout the 6 10-minute episodes, witness firsthand what recruits must both endure and accomplish in order to earn the coveted title, "United States Navy Sailor."

Join in the story of four recruits as they make their way into the United States Navy through the training pipeline, never before so intimately profiled, of the Navy's Recruit Training Command (RTC) in Great Lakes, Ill. Beginning with their hometowns across the United States, watch the young men and women featured in Making a Sailor walk in the footsteps of millions of Americans before them, stepping off the bus at RTC, beginning their training, learning necessary skills, toughness, and discipline, and moving on towards graduation. Throughout the 6 10-minute episodes, witness firsthand what recruits must both endure and accomplish in order to earn the coveted title, "United States Navy Sailor."

"I wanted to be an officer ... so I just spent the past two and a half years as an enlisted Sailor, working my way up to the point where I can switch over."

Spirituality, wisdom, strength, majesty, freedom: Eagles hold many different meanings among different cultures, throughout history and around the world. In 1782, Congress chose the bald eagle as the United States national bird for its beauty, strength and long life.

Since September 2012, more than 25 enlisted Sailors from the Information System Technician (IT) and Cryptologic Technician-Networks (CTN) ratings have earned Master of Science in Applied Cyber Operations (MACO) degrees from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, California.

Hidden among seal-covered beaches, bustling boardwalks and a world-class golf course is the Defense Language Institute (DLI) in Monterey, California. On this campus, where the sun rises over a transplanted section of the Berlin Wall each morning, service members train to become experts in languages and cultures of countries across the globe.

Master Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Britt Slabinski:

In the early morning of 4 March 2002, then-Senior Chief Slabinski led a reconnaissance team to its assigned area atop Takur Ghar, a 10,000-foot snow-covered mountain in Afghanistan. An enemy rocket-propelled grenade attack on the insertion helicopter caused Petty Officer Neil Roberts to fall onto the enemy-infested mountaintop below, and forced the damaged helicopter to crash land in the valley below. Fully aware of the risks,... read more

Master Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Britt Slabinski: In the early morning of 4 March 2002, then-Senior Chief Slabinski led a reconnaissance team to its assigned area atop Takur Ghar, a 10,000-foot snow-covered mountain in Afghanistan. An enemy rocket-propelled grenade attack on the insertion helicopter caused Petty Officer Neil Roberts to fall onto the enemy-infested mountaintop below, and forced the damaged helicopter to crash land in the valley below. Fully aware of the risks, a numerically superior and well-entrenched enemy force, and approaching daylight, without hesitation Senior Chief Slabinski made the selfless and heroic decision to lead the remainder of his element on an immediate and daring rescue back to the mountaintop. Senior Chief Slabinski’s team, despite heavy incoming enemy fire, was subsequently successfully inserted on top of Takur Ghar. Senior Chief Slabinski, without regard for his own life, charged directly toward the enemy strongpoint. He and a teammate fearlessly assaulted and cleared one enemy bunker at close range. The enemy then unleashed a murderous hail of machine gun fire from a second hardened position twenty meters away. Senior Chief Slabinski exposed himself to enemy fire on three sides, then moved forward to silence the second position. With bullets piercing his clothing, he repeatedly charged into deadly fire to personally engage the enemy bunker with direct rifle fire, hand grenades and a grenade launcher on the surrounding enemy positions. Facing mounting casualties and low on ammunition, the situation became untenable. Senior Chief Slabinski skillfully maneuvered his team across open terrain, directing them out of effective enemy fire over the mountainside. Senior Chief Slabinski maneuvered his team to a more defensible position, directed danger-close air support on the enemy, requested reinforcements, and directed the medical care of his rapidly deteriorating wounded teammates, all while continuing to defend his position. When approaching daylight and accurate enemy mortar fire forced the team to maneuver further down the sheer mountainside, Senior Chief Slabinski carried a seriously wounded teammate through waist-deep snow, and led an arduous trek across precipitous terrain while calling in fires on enemies engaging the team from the surrounding ridges. Throughout the next 14 hours, he stabilized the casualties and continued the fight against the enemy until the mountain top could be secured and his team was extracted. His dedication, disregard for his own personal safety and tactical leadership make Master Chief Slabinski unquestionably deserving of this honor.   show less

Navy Wounded Warrior Training Camp

ANNAPOLIS, Md (March 29, 2018) Midshipman 2nd Class Amanda Agana is a track runner at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. She was born in Bolgatanga (Bolga), Ghana, and has used track to assimilate herself into American culture. (U.S. Navy video by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jonathan B. Trejo/Released)

US Navy Forward Present Ready
USS Carl Vinson Strike Group - West Pac 2018

One Navy Team: MC2 Danian Douglas

Proud to serve and eager fight, the Evarts-class Destroyer Escort, DE-529 protected merchant ships crossing the Atlantic Ocean during WWII. The black enlisted crew of the USS Mason was permitted to train in ratings other than cooks and stewards in a segregated United States Navy. While supporting Convoy NY-119, bound for England, USS Mason suffered critical structural damage during a severe North Atlantic storm. Communications were down when the ship’s radio antenna was damage from the... read more

Proud to serve and eager fight, the Evarts-class Destroyer Escort, DE-529 protected merchant ships crossing the Atlantic Ocean during WWII. The black enlisted crew of the USS Mason was permitted to train in ratings other than cooks and stewards in a segregated United States Navy. While supporting Convoy NY-119, bound for England, USS Mason suffered critical structural damage during a severe North Atlantic storm. Communications were down when the ship’s radio antenna was damage from the high winds, and the deck had split from the strain of high seas and crushing waves. The Mason had already escorted the most vulnerable ships of the convoy to safety, but instead of pulling into port for repairs she returned to the sea. As the storm raged on, the crew self-repaired the ship while underway and rescued other ships in the convoy. Convoy Commander, Commander Alfred Lind, who called the ship “the plucky Mason,” recommended the crew for a letter of commendation. The Men of USS Mason never received that letter of commendation. After the war, the ship was decommissioned, struck from the Naval Vessel Register, and sold for scrapping. More than fifty years later, the United States Navy awarded the long-overdue letter of commendation to the surviving crewmembers of DE-529 for their meritorious service and steadfast devotion to duty. In 1998, the Secretary of the Navy, John H. Dalton named the Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer DDG-87 the USS MASON in order to mark the contributions of Sailors of DE-529. Sailors who were “Proud” to serve their country despite the racial barriers they had to overcome.   show less

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This multimedia production features the story of Navy Lt. Quadri Yusuf - a native of Nigeria who immigrated to the United States as a teenager on a quest to make his father proud. He joined the U.S. Navy and began working out and bodybuilding - resulting in him entering and winning bodybuilding competitions and making his way through the enlisted ranks and commissioning as an officer. (U.S. Navy video by Austin Rooney/released)

Commander, Task Force (CTF) 75 showcases local Guam activities and sites for Sailors permanently assigned to units under CTF-75's operational control at Naval Base Guam. CTF 75 provides expeditionary combat capabilities in the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet area of responsibility. CTF 75 is capable of providing the fleet with diverse expeditionary war fighting capabilities that are combat-ready and able to deploy anywhere in U.S. 7th Fleet in response to any contingency. (U.S. Navy Combat Camera video by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Arthurgwain L. Marquez)

Many times Sailors ask why things must be done a certain way. Often, they're convinced they know a more effective way. Sometimes, they're right. The Innovation Lab, better known as the iLab, gives Sailors a chance to take those ideas and possibly turn them into reality.

Read the whole story: http://www.navy.mil/ah_online/ftrStory.asp?issue=3&id=103928

Why the Sullivan brothers joined the Navy.

Airman Maxwell "Emay" Holmes speaks about his love of music, his experiences on his first deployment working on the flight deck aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68), and the challenges of writing music out to sea in this video interview. (U.S. Navy video by Austin Rooney/released)

USS Kidd (DDG 100) and USS Shoup (DDG 86) fire their 5-inch guns during a sea power demonstration in the Pacific Ocean. Some footage in slow motion. (U.S. Navy video by Austin Rooney/released)

We want to welcome home the USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Turn up your volume and listen as Nimitz Sailor Airman Maxwell Emay Holmes performs his original song, "The Deployment Song." Holmes just returned home from his first deployment aboard Nimitz on Sunday. Stay tuned for a full story about Holmes coming to All Hands in the near future!

The Deployment Song video produced by All Hands Magazine or any portion when synced to the music "the Deployment Song" by Emay Holmes is in public domain.

Music and performance of "The Deployment Song" copyrights retained by Maxwell "Emay" Holmes.

Video without music is in public domain.

Army Navy Battle of Drumlines Video: Midshipman 1st Class Kaycee Kimbrow

A roaring wall of flames rolls over Sailors' heads as the hose team - made up of Sailors who just checked into their first ship - inches its way through a smoke-filled room. Read more: www.navy.mil/ah_online/ftrStory.asp?issue=3&id=103646

December 7, 1941 dawned an ordinary Sunday for now-retired Lt. James "Jim" Downing. He and his wife of five months had invited a few other Sailors to breakfast, and were sitting around the table when they heard explosions. Boom. Boom. Boom. They could see smoke in the distance, across the island of Oahu.

Read more: http://www.navy.mil/ah_online/ftrStory.asp?issue=3&id=103671

Sailors assigned to USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) discuss what life is like on a Littoral Combat Ship, and the challenges and missions unique to the LCS class. (U.S. Navy video by Austin Rooney.)

Navy veteran Bruce Empol served on a destroyer in Vietnam, where he saw violence and combat, resulting in him being diagnosed with PTSD. During his treatment, he was able to find a new passion for woodworking, and began making toys in his garage to help calm down and deal with his issues. Today, he gives his toys away for free to families of veterans. (U.S. Navy video by Austin Rooney/released)

Retired servicemembers living at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington D.C., give an inside look at the facility and what it does to take of our heroes.

October 12, 2000 USS COLE DDG 67 was attacked by terrorists while refueling in Aden harbor, Yemen. Today we look back on the lessons learned.

The explosion was sudden, violent, deafening, so intense that 8,500 tons of steel lifted out of the water and crashed back down. The very metal of the ship shimmered and rippled in front of their eyes, remembered survivors. The force of it threw retired Master Chief Sonar Technician Paul Abney out of his chair and sent a shipmate flying over his head. Then, everything went black.

Read the whole story: http://www.navy.mil/ah_online/ftrStory.asp?issue=3&id=102763

Straight out of college and quickly approaching Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island, a brand new officer candidate feels a wave of uncertainty sweep through his mind. Not knowing exactly what to expect, he's anxious. Like many, he questions his decision to become a naval officer. As the cab pulls up in front of the U.S. Navy Officer Training Command, the new student's mind starts going a million miles a minute. He gets out of the car with a mixture of nervousness and excitement.

Read the whole story: http://www.navy.mil/ah_online/ftrStory.asp?issue=3&id=102689

Her journey began more than a decade prior: When she was a child, she remembers seeing helicopters flying over her home and being both perplexed and intrigued.

"I thought they were the weirdest things ever," said Alexander. "It was amazing to me how they could just defy gravity like that."

Read the whole story: http://www.navy.mil/ah_online/ftrStory.asp?issue=3&id=102633

The Navy's submarine force is unlike any other community in the military, a small, tight-knit group of approximately 20,000 active-duty and reserve Sailors who spend months at a time sailing deep below the waves. Between their secretive missions and their lack of contact with the outside world, the submarine community is often a mystery to those on the outside.

Read the whole story:
http://www.navy.mil/ah_online/ftrStory.asp?issue=3&id=102468

Shock. Horror. Grief. The nation watched in disbelief, Sept. 11, 2001, as planes slammed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

USS Somerset (LPD 25) has a very special reminder of that dark day: Her bow includes 22 tons of steel from a mining excavator present at the crash site. First responders later flew an American flag from that excavator. Somerset recently finished her maiden deployment, taking the fight back to America's enemies.

Read the whole story: http://www.navy.mil/ah_online/ftrStory.asp?issue=3&id=102350

Smoke fills the passageway and begins to climb up the ladder. It's a foggy, white mist that has little, almost undetectable odor. Looking down the ladder, only the top of the helmet from the person in front can be seen, as well as an orange fire hose. Pretty soon, the little glimpse of that one person down below disappears. The hose looks like it is being held by the white smoke itself.

Read the whole story: http://www.navy.mil/ah_online/ftrStory.asp?issue=3&id=102230

They come from all walks of life with one common goal in mind - to become a part of our Navy team. We take a look at the story of one of our newest Sailors, Airman Apprentice Wyatt Coronell, and his life before he graduated from Recruit Training Command on Friday.

Congratulations, and welcome to the Team.

His parents, who emigrated from Mexico, worked tirelessly to provide for their family. Reyes' dad worked two jobs, while his mom worked at her job and looked after him and his siblings. With money so tight, they couldn't afford luxury items such as a computer. It wasn't until he was about 13 his family scraped together enough money to buy a computer. Growing up, Reyes experienced their struggles to better their family first hand, and he watched them struggle to learn how to use that computer.

A loud snap in the distance makes the Sailor immediately drop into a low crouch, his eyes wide and heart racing; the noise could have been anything - deadfall from the dry tree branches, a desert fox or mountain lion, or perhaps even the enemy stalking him.

Read the whole story: http://www.navy.mil/ah_online/ftrStory.asp?issue=3&id=101755

U.S. Navy Seabees from Underwater Construction Team (UCT) 2 spent a couple of weeks in Jinhae, Republic of Korea (ROK), training in underwater construction techniques with their ROK navy counterparts as part of Exercise Foal Eagle 2017. Read the whole story at: http://www.navy.mil/ah_online/ftrStory.asp?issue=3&id=101648

In 1946, the new chiefs of the Navy and Army, Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz and General of the Army Dwight Eisenhower, sat down to discuss a situation that had plagued their commands throughout the Second World War.

The Navy Gold Star program provides long-term support to surviving families of fallen Sailors while on Active Duty. This Memorial Day, the Navy recognizes the families of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. Watch as Gold Star Family members honor the memories of their loved ones.

A multimedia piece about Seabees assigned to the U.S. Navy's Underwater Construction Team (UCT) 2 training with divers from the Republic of Korea's (ROK) UCT during exercise Foal Eagle in Jinhae, ROK, April 2017. Foal Eagle is an annual, bilateral training exercise designed to enhance the readiness of U.S. and ROK forces and their ability to work together during a crisis. (U.S. Navy Combat Camera video by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Brett Cote)

Independent Duty Corpsman students go through hyper-realistic training, including combat scenarios, shipboard emergency scenarios, and prolonged care scenarios, at Strategic Operations (STRATOPS) in San Diego, as part of their IDC training at Surface Warfare Medical Institute (SWMI).

November 11th is Veterans Day, a day to honor and thank all men and women who've served in the United States armed forces.

All Hands Magazine extends our deepest gratitude to our brothers and sisters, both past and present, who've donned the uniform in service to our nation. We salute you.

George Washington, John Barry, John Paul Jones and Benjamin Franklin are among those considered as the Fathers of the U.S Navy. And since October 13, 1775, when the Continental Congress formed the United States Navy, Sailors have continued to be the forefront of excellence at-sea and ashore. They have deployed to more than 130 nations across the globe; from the coast of Normandy; to the shrublands of Africa; to the mountains of Afghanistan and to the glaciers of the Antarctic. They have sailed through the blue waters of the Pacific, the unforgiving Atlantic and the warmth of the Indian Ocean. They have been favored, challenged, threatened and defined. America's Sailors, for 241 years, have proven to be Tough, Bold and Ready.

Video for Fab Lab, published and produced by All Hands Magazine.

President Barack Obama presented Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Edward C. Byers Jr., the Medal of Honor during a ceremony at the White House, Feb. 29.

Byers received the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions while serving as part of the team that rescued an American civilian being held hostage in Afghanistan on Dec. 8-9, 2012. He is the 11th living service member to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Afghanistan.

WARNING: Contains explicit language.

The world watched as the plane idled on the Beirut runway. The access ramp at the back of coach was lowered. It was at this moment that a dozen heavily armed men stormed the plane. This must be a rescue operation, thought Tony. The passengers would soon be free - the nightmare over. The hijackers stood in the aisle as the militia filled the cabin. Hope of a rescue evaporated when Tony saw the hijackers and militia laughingly embrace each other.

"Currently, Cmdr. Joe is the only stress-sniffing dog in the Department of Defense, but studies conducted by the University of Denver in Colorado have found that regardless of the type of skill they possess, the presence of therapy dogs reduce overall narcotic and painkiller usage among veterans." Also available in high definition.

All Hands Magazine wanted to find the perfect gift for the Navy's 239th birthday. It was a daunting task. After all, as the old saying goes, "What do you give someone who has everything?"

Hear the harrowing tale of survival from the crew members of USS Indianapolis

After seven and a half years as the Sea Chanter bass, Chief Musician Courtney Williams was selected as the narrator for the US Navy Concert Band, a position also known as the Voice of the Navy. Exhibiting Navy pride and professionalism is Courtney’s favorite part about being a Navy Musician. Meeting family members after the show and hearing stories of their service or their family member’s time in the military reminds him again and again the importance of the Navy and what the US Navy Band does for his country.

Success is often defined by wins and losses. By life-changing professional achievements or things that give people acclaim in their community. However, the most important form of success is often overlooked - personal fulfillment. When people face life-threatening injuries or illnesses, self-doubt, fear, depression and frustration can often overwhelm even the strongest personalities. These facts are no different when it comes to injured and ill Sailors. However, the Navy's wounded warrior program, Safe Harbor, helps Sailors overcome these challenges.

With no clear idea of where life was taking her, Jessica Pulido joined the Navy. Now as a Chief Quartermaster and the senior quartermaster of Waterfront Readiness for the US Naval Academy, Pulido has no trouble navigating her path, and setting a course for others.

Hospitalman Katriana Durakovich was settling in to her first Naval assignment in Guam when she got sick. While waiting to be transferred off the island, she suffered a stroke and was paralyzed on the right side of her body. While going through speech and physical therapy, she got involved with Navy Safe Harbor and is now competing in the Warrior Games in archery. Durakovich participated in the Warrior Games training camp in Port Hueneme, Calif.

On June 6, 1944, D-Day, battleship USS Texas (BB 35) joined Operation Neptune in the Allied Invasion at Omaha Beach, Normandy. Listen as some of the Texas Sailors talk about that pivotal day.

One class shows what it takes to be a Navy SCUBA Diver

The Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II absorbed tens of thousands of lives. Nearly 7,000 Americans and 22,000 Japanese died in the 36 days of fighting. Although the island currently has no permanent residents, the remains of thousands of American and Japanese soldiers still inhabit the Island.

Seventy years later, war stories are traded, battle sites are visited, and men who once tried their hardest to kill each other, stand united.

Marine Lt. Gen. (Ret) Lawrence Snowden, the... read more

The Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II absorbed tens of thousands of lives. Nearly 7,000 Americans and 22,000 Japanese died in the 36 days of fighting. Although the island currently has no permanent residents, the remains of thousands of American and Japanese soldiers still inhabit the Island. Seventy years later, war stories are traded, battle sites are visited, and men who once tried their hardest to kill each other, stand united. Marine Lt. Gen. (Ret) Lawrence Snowden, the founder of the Joint Reunion of Honor, spoke during the 20th annual Joint Reunion of Honor event at Iwo Jima. "We are former enemies, and now we're friends," said Lt. Gen. Snowden, who led the company of 230 Marines who landed on the island Feb. 19, 1945. "The transition from being enemies to being friends has taken time for some, but the widow of Lt. Gen (Tadamichi) Kuribayashi, who manned the forces here when we landed, expressed it very succinctly for us in 1995 ... she said, 'Former enemies, now friends and together we must not let the cycle of warfare happen again.'" Those who visit the island are only allowed to do so for one day - between sunup and sundown - and Snowden makes sure to remind the American contingent that it is not a victory tour, but a way to honor the dead from both sides. "Just recently Gen. Snowden read an article out of my book, which is very significant about what I'm going to do when I go to Iwo Jima ... I am going to make an attempt to honor the Japanese and shake their hand," said former PFC James Skinner, a Purple Heart vet who served from 1942-1945. "Up till then, till he read that article in my book, I was very upset about even attempting to do anything like that." The reunion has become an alliance-building event, although Snowden admits it took time and a major attitude change to get where he is today. That change came during the Korean War in 1953 when Snowden was sent to Japan for meetings. At the time the Japanese were helping the Americans win against Korea. "During (WWII), they (the Japanese) didn't want to be there any more than we did," said Snowden. "They were just like I was." The reunions have become important to the families on both sides whose family members were killed and whose remains are still on the island. "When we walked off the island, 99 of us remained," said Snowden, who retired from the Marines as a lieutenant general in 1979. "That's a pretty high casualty rate." Navy Photo "I came in 2010 for the 65th anniversary but this ... may be the last time that I'll be on Iwo Jima," said Former Marine Capt. Jerry Yellin, one of 16 million who served their nation during WWII. "It's a long trip. I'm 91 years old - I don't know how much time I have left, but it's a day of memories for me, great memories and sad memories. In 1988, my youngest son married the daughter of a Japanese kamikaze pilot, which took me from hatred to love of family. I have three Japanese grandchildren. I'd like their contemporaries to know that my grandchildren's grandparents served their countries with honor; no matter what we learned about the Japanese or what they learned about us - that war is an atrocity - evil has to be wiped out. We are all human beings. Exactly the same, and there is evil in the world today and we have to fight that evil to make sure that there is freedom for free loving people in our world." U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus has hailed the relationship the nations now share. "Rising from the inferno of Iwo Jima, our partnership developed in the wake of war and has grown ever stronger in the years since," he said. "Today, the United States and Japan are interdependent cooperating on everything from international security to free trade. We depend on one another so that each nation may live in peace and prosperity."   show less

Elmo "Bud" Zumwalt Jr., the Navy's youngest Chief of Naval Operations and one of the most influential Sailors of the 20th Century, radically changed the face of the Navy as both a surface warrior and a social reformer.

Can you shoot, jump, dive and blow things up? More importantly, can you save lives? For these U.S. Navy Sailors in 2nd Marines Special Operations Battalion (MSOB) SARC it's another day at the office. Visit All Hands Magazine for the whole story

The rows are neatly lined - this is a farm, after all. Its principle crop is Christmas trees. However, its true purpose seems to be the sale of home and family, of comfort, of peace and safety ... of silence.

A sharp, shrill metallic buzz slices the early morning tranquility. It sounds like a chainsaw at first, but soon reveals itself as a four-wheeled, all-terrain vehicle.

Wally Kaenzig sits at the helm, gleefully carving a path through the fresh-fallen snow. He laughs - zipping around with the wild abandon of youth. Wally is 94 years old. If anyone has earned the right to laugh, it's Wally. He spent 26 days in hell.

Wally is a survivor of Iwo Jima.

During the battle, Shadwell was struck by a torpedo on the starboard side, tearing a hole in the ship's bottom 60-feet wide. The crew of 500 frantically worked to save the ship, but Shadwell was flooding, and sinking.

Shadwell's crew worked through the night to save their sinking ship. By morning they were under their own power, and no longer taking on water.

No lives lost. Three injured.

Their efforts were rewarded.

A Ship of Two Histories

Nearly 70 years later, Shadwell no... read more

During the battle, Shadwell was struck by a torpedo on the starboard side, tearing a hole in the ship's bottom 60-feet wide. The crew of 500 frantically worked to save the ship, but Shadwell was flooding, and sinking. Shadwell's crew worked through the night to save their sinking ship. By morning they were under their own power, and no longer taking on water. No lives lost. Three injured. Their efforts were rewarded. A Ship of Two Histories Nearly 70 years later, Shadwell no longer patrols the waters of the Pacific; the ship is moored to a small island in the waters of Mobile Bay, near the historic Civil War naval battle site. Instead of being mothballed, sunk in target practice, or being converted to a museum ship, Shadwell is in the business of saving lives.   show less

When a cook aboard USS Mississippi set foot on the shores of Naval Shipyard Pensacola in 1914, he had no idea that the photographs he took on his off-duty time would lay the groundwork for 100 years of Navy photography.

Although the photographer rating had yet to exist in the Navy, Walter Leroy Richardson was doing the job, documenting aerial and ship maneuvers, crew movement and daily operations. Recognizing the value and necessity of documenting and creating a visual history of its activities, the Navy asked him to do it officially.

A gunner's mate on board USS Constitution describes his experience as a member of the crew of the world's oldest warship afloat.

All Hands Magazine wanted to find the perfect gift for the Navy's birthday. It was a daunting task. After all, as the old saying goes, "What do you give someone who has everything?"

A sailor assigned to USS Constitution directly from boot camp describes her experience as a member of the crew. Includes soundbites from Seaman Ashley Maldonado, USS Constitution sailor.

A crew member of USS Constitution shares his story of serving on the historic vessel. Includes soundbites from Boatswain's Mate 1st Class William Sanchez, USS Constitution sailor.

The boots are cleaned and polished. The feet inside, however, betray a secret. They belong to Yeoman Seaman Rodney Martin, and are arguably the fastest in the Navy.

Read this story and more at www.ah.mil

The Littoral Combat Ship is the Navy’s newest class of warship. The INDEPENDENCE variant LCS is an aluminum Stabilized Slender Monohull ship and the FREEDOM variant LCS is a steel Double Chine Advanced Semi-Planing Monohull ship.

One Marine's Journey from the Battlefield to the Ice Rink. Duty, Honor, Country. For service members, those three words define what they ought to be, can be, and will be.

White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, is home to a small group of sailors doing some pretty cool work. One of those sailors is Gunner's Mate 1st Class Brenda Reis, and she launches rockets for NASA.

You're plummeting through the air at 120 miles per hour. The Earth is rushing up faster than any person should be comfortable with. Yet, you're cool, calm and collected. For the Navy Parachute Team, the Leapfrogs, this is just another day at the office.

At the end of a seven-month deployment in December of 2010, Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Cothran skipped all of the excitement on the pier and headed home to an empty apartment. His wife was more than 700 miles away, only days from giving birth to their first child.
When deployment schedules caused him to miss a second deployment on Truman, he was determined to at least be there for homecoming. He wanted another chance to see what the fuss was all about.

Navy divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two (MDSU 2) have just wrapped up two weeks in Guatemala working with divers from the Fuerza Especial Naval (FEN) as part of Southern Partnership Station 2014.

It's a strange thing. They love the smell of the ship - all these destroyers have a unique smell. One of the first things they say when they come aboard is, 'I can smell it again. It's just like 1965'," said Richard Angelini, son of a former Sailor aboard the Kennedy and lead caretaker of the ship.

I am Arlington National Cemetery. Watch Arlington Cemetery come Alive and never forget. To read the entire story visit www.AH.mil the official website of All Hands Magazine.

Dennis Landrum was one of the many prisoners of war (POW) held at the Aomori prison camp in Japan during World War II. The POWs wanted a flag to greet their rescuers when they were liberated at the end of the war. Using a bed sheet and colored pencils, Dennis and the other prisoners painstakingly created what would represent the symbol of their freedom.

Dennis' son Jerry was afraid the flag was being stored in an attic or by someone who may not have realized the significance of what the flag represented. In April 2013, Jerry called Allison Russell, a curator at the Naval History and Heritage Command, and together they located the flag tucked away in an off-site storage, beautifully preserved.

US and Belize divers work together to set up a transportable recompression chamber.

Documentary highlighting the development of the Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel (LCVP) and its use in amphibious operations in WWII.

How one Sailor serves her country from her hometown of Grand Junction, Colorado.

Bruised, but not beaten, she rejoined the other American warships. Not long after, the task force crossed paths with Japanese submarine I-26. The submarine fired three torpedoes. One struck Juneau and the ensuing explosion blew the cruiser in half. It would be several days before rescue efforts would begin. When all was said and done, only 10 men were rescued.

How the Navy's recruiting school turns fleet Sailors into recruiters

Honoring MA2 Mark Mayo's Sacrifice. He selflessly gave his own life to ensure the safety of the Sailors on board USS Mahan (DDG 72).

September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground.

Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their lives. Because of the actions of the 40 passengers and crew aboard Flight 93, the fourth attack was thwarted, causing the plane to crash in a field in Stonycreek Township, Penn., near Shanksville in Somerset County.

In honor of those 40 and their bravery, the USS Somerset is the final of the 9/11 tribute ships to be commissioned, joining the USS New York and the USS Arlington.

The Story of EOD2 Taylor Morris and Danielle Kelly.

Although the events of December 7, 1941 will never be forgotten, nature and time are inevitably reclaiming all physical aspects of the once mighty USS Arizona and USS Utah.

With cutting edge technology in underwater mapping and survey, teams are now able to digitally preserve, down to the most minute detail, these quickly fading relics of our "day of infamy."

Find out how MRFN Ashley Castle feels about being a part of the machinery repair shop aboard USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). Also available in high definition.