Sanctuary (AH 17) - Naval Cruise Book

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OUR FIRST MISSION: DEPART SAN FRANCISCO ON PROJECT HANDCLASP CRUISE TO BUENAVENTURA, COLOMBIA AND PORT AU PRINCE, HAITI After most of the crew had spent the best part of a year in San Francisco, the thought of departing on a goodwill mission to Colombia and Haiti and then going on to our new homeport of lVlayport, Florida was welcome indeed. The cruise would not only give us a chance to test virtually everything we had learned about ourselves and our ship during the preceding year, it would provide a change of scenery and hopefully put us one step closer to fullfilling our original mission of dependent support. Two weeks of Refresher Training in February 1973 and several shakedown cruises had proven that SANCTUARY and her crew were ready for sea. Now it was just a matter of departing San Francisco one more time with the knowledge that this time we wouldn't return after one day or two days or two weeks at sea. We left a lot of good memories in San Francisco, but it was time to move on. With the details of our dependent support role still uncertain at the time of departure, we couldn't have asked for a more timely or worthwhile mission than Project Handclasp to give SANCTUARY and her crew a sense of purpose. It gave us the chance to be part of the relatively new idea of providing people-to-people assistance to countries requesting our aid, through the combined resources and coordination of the civilian and military communities. People-to-people provided the key to the entire endeavor. Rather than give blanket aid to Colombia and Haiti, we were encouraged to get out and meet and associate with the people of both countries, not only through Project Handclasp but on an individual basis.

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After spending our final month in the Bay Area preparing for our mission-all the work proved worthwhile when, after spending eleven days at sea, we arrived in Buenaventura to the sight of several thousand Colombians waiting on the piers and in the streets to welcome us to their country. And the friendship didn't stop at the greeting we received at the pier, a simple walk through the streets during our month stay never failed to bring enough smiles and handshakes to make us realize that the people of Buenaventura were happy to have us there. Still, our main concern was Project Handclasp. lt was plain to see that a month's stay couldn't begin to solve all the ills that have plagued this seaport town for generations, but by deliverying goods where the needs were most immediate, by cross training with medical personnel within the city, and by seeing as many patients as we had room for, we contributed as much as possible in the time we were given. In addition, the 13-man Seabee Detachment spent long hours on engineering and public works projects aimed at providing advice and assistance on construction techniques that should have a long-term impact on the living conditions in parts of Buenaventura. lf success were to be measured solely in terms of what we accomplished with the technical aspect of Project Handclasp, then our trip to Buenaventura was all we could have hoped for. lf, in addition, it could be measured by the intangibles such as the friendships we made, the cultural knowledge we gained and the lessons we learned, then this part of the SANCTUARY Experience will remain with us all for a long time. One of our last views of San Francisco Bay. Alcatraz Igland.