Gurke (DD 783) - Naval Cruise Book

Text from Pages 1 - 80 of the 1972 volume:

.V USS GURKE(DD-783) Oct. 1971 Oct. 1972 This book is dedicated to the men who so ably demonstrated their professionalism aboard the USS GURKE from October 1971 to October 1972. Professionalism is demonstrated in many fields every day: firemen protect life and property, policemen risk their lives every day to protect our society, and people in every field endeavor to excel in their vocation. Professionalism in the NAVY is ships ready and able to defend the ideals upon which our nation was founded ... GURKE is ready ... GURKE is able . . . From: USS OKLAHOMA CITY Your performance in TU 77.1.2 has been marked by exceptional responsiveness and accurate shooting. Considered ourselves fortunate to have had you on our team. Well Done and thank you. Captain TICE From: USS STE RETT Red Baron of Tonkin Gulf welcomes GALLOPING GURKE as shotgun. CHICAGO reports several fast surface craft vicinity NSAR. You may well get chance to live up to your name. I plan to keep you between me and them. I ' ll zap the MIG ' s if you get the PT ' s. Good shooting. From: CTU 77.1.0 Let me express my appreciation for having had the pleasure of your company. Always a gallant competitor and tough warrior, your performance in Freedom Train ... has been superb. Accept our standing invitation for a return performance anytime. The Freedom Train Raiders can always use a few good ships. With zest, CHOO CHOO JOHNSON, Commander CRUDESGRU Seventh Fleet. From: COMMANDER SEVENTH FLEET It is with great pleasure that I pass on to you WELL DONE from Admiral John S. MCCAIN, Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet. Your work providing Naval Gunfire has been acknowledged in all quarters of the Naval community for the superior performance it is. Please accept my sincerest congratulations on your past accomplishments and my best wishes for good hunting on future missions. VADM. W.P. MACK From: USS KANSAS CITY Of all the top performers in your task organization, GURKE and BERKELEY are tops. Their shiphandling and deck seamanship while alongside K.C. are consistently superlative. It is always a pleasure to service these two fine ships. They are PROFESSIONALS. The GURKE is manned by a very professional crew, and the ship itself is named for a man who was a true professional ... PRIVATE FIRST CLASS HENRY GURKE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS (DECEASED) Born in Neche, North Dakota, on 6 November 1922, Private First Class Gurke atte nded the local schools and enlisted in the Marine Corps on 15 April 1942. Joining the Second Pack Howitzer Battalion of the Twenty-Second Marines, he shipped overseas on 30 July 1942 and landed at Apia, Upolu, British Samoa one month later. In September he was transferred to D Company of the Third Raider Battalion, and in February of 1943 accompanied his unit to the Russell Islands, returning to Esplritu Santos in March 1943. When he was transferred to M Company, Third Radier Battalion, Second Raider Regiment of the First Marine Amphibious Corps in June, Private First Class Gurke came face to face with the enemy in November at Bougain- ville. On 9 November 1943, he sacrificed his life in order that the BAR man by his side could continue to provide effective resistance to the enemy. For this action he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. The citation was signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and presented to his parents at ceremonies in the Navy Department on 31 May 1944. HISTORY OF USS GURKE (DD-783) Named for congressional Medal of Honor winner PFC HENRY GURKE, USMC, of Neche, North Dakota who was killed in action on Bouganville Island in November of 1943. The USS GURKE has had a noteable career in the Western Pacific During the course of two wars. Commissioned in 1945 as a 2,250 ton general purpose Gearing class Destroyer, GURKE is 390 feet long, 40 feet at the beam, and is manned by 260 men. Her armament includes 5 inch guns, anti-submarine weapons, and the latest array of small anti-aircraft missiles. During the invasion of Inchon in September 1950, GURKE was a member of the Sitting Ducks , remaining close to shore in order to provide gunfire support for the landing troops. She received three hits from enemy shore batteries, but suffered no fatalities. For her performance during this invasion GURKE was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation. During a second patrol in Korea with Carrier Task 77, she received two direct hits from enemy shore batteries and seven fragmentation hits. Again no personnel fatalities resulted, and the enemy gun emplacements were soon silenced. During GURKE ' s Western Pacific operations in the early 60 ' s she visited four Australian ports and the Fiji Islands. She also saw extensive duty with the Joint Task Force at Christmas Island during the nuclear tests. After a period of operating with the First Fleet in the Eastern Pacific, GURKE entered Puget Sound Naval Shipyard at Bremerton Washington in August 1963 for a Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) conversion. During this modernization, older weapons gave way to new anti-submarine weapons systems making GURKE a fast, capable platform from which to launch a wide assortment of weapons tailored to meet current anti-submarine warfare situations. Upon completion of FRAM, GURKE resumed her duties as an active member of the Pacific Fleet operating out of her homeport of San Diego, California. Between then and October 1971, GURKE made five deployments to the Western Pacific area around the Tonkin Gulf and South China Sea. She actively participated in Navy Search and Rescue efforts for downed pilots, shore bombardments, operations with aircraft carriers and defense against attack of high speed PT boats and aircraft. On 20 October 1971, GURKE departed San Diego for an extended deployment in the Western Pacific. After a brief stop in Hawaii for refueling and a little rest and relaxation, GURKE and her sister ships of Destroyer Squadron 15 arrived in Yokosuka, Japan to Join the U.S. Seventh Fleet operating in the Far East Theater. In November of 1971, GURKE participated in sea of Japan Operations for which she was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and twice deployed ahead of schedule to assist the Seventh Fleet in times of crisis. On 27 December 1971, she participated in the Indian Ocean Campaign, and on 1 April 1972 she began a series of Naval Gunfire missions in support of troops in Vietnam during the North Vietnamese offensive. During both of these operations, GURKE received very high praise and numerous commendations for her actions. During the months of April and May GURKE was a very active member of the Freedom Train Raiders, taking part in approximately 50 gunfire strikes on enemy positions. She often received hostile fire, but either ignored it or neutralized it as she singlemindedly accomplished her missions. These actions allowed GURKE to add the Combat Action Ribbon to her list of awards. GURKE ' s final 1972 combat zone deployment was spent on Gunfire Support missions in South Vietnam and counter-insurgency operations in North Vietnamese waters during the month of June. The ship returned to Yokosuka, and on 9 August entered the Naval Shipyard for a major overhaul. Once again the crew was called upon to demonstrate their professionalism, for the installation of new weapons systems, the conversion of the engineering plant to Navy Distrillate Fuel, and the general refurbishing of a 27 year old ship required a high degree of knowledge and skill. Again the crew of the GURKE was up to the task. - 1 M OFHMR. Commander Daniel T. HOLLY, Jr., USN, 583459 1100, was born 23 October 1931 in Ontario, Oregon. He attended Boise Junior College and the College of Idaho, graduating from the latter in 1953 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology. After being commissioned as an Ensign, USNR, upon graduation from Officer Candidate School, Newport, Rhode Island in April 1954, Commander HOLLY attended Naval CIC Officer School in Glenview, ILLINOIS. From October 1954 to March 1957, Commander HOLLY served as CIC Officer in the U.S.S. ALFRED A. CUNNINGHAIV1(DD752). This duty was followed by a twenty-seven month tour as Personnel Officer on the NATO Staff of Commander, Naval Striking and Support Forces Southern Europe, in Naples, Italy. After augmentation to USN and completion of the General Line Course, U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California from August 1959 to 1960, Commander HOLLY was assigned for two years as Executive Officer of the U.S.S. L0CAT0R(AGR6). Following a three year tour as a Chemistry Instructor at the U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY from July 1962 to June 1965, Commander HOLLY was ordered to the U.S.S. PRESTON(DD795) for duty as Executive Officer. From January 1967 to September 1968, Commander HOLLY served as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. SAVAGE(DER386), followed by a twenty-nine month tour as Assistant Naval Operations Officer on the Joint Staff of Commander in Chief Pacific, in Hawaii. He obtained his present rank on 1 December 1967 during that tour. Commander HOLLY was then assigned as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. GURKE(DD783). He will be going to a staff billet in Hawaii, leaving the GURKE in November 1972. Commander HOLLY is married to the former Miss Rita Piraino of Naples, Italy. Commander HOLLY is the recipient of the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V , and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm earned while he was in command of the SAVAGE. EXECUTIVE OFFICER LCDR COOPER CAREER COUNCILER Af MC Carney WEAPONS X ' WD DIVISION WA DIVISION WG DIVISION - TEN ANT LCDR TENANTY Weapons OfFicer ENS HOXIE First LT LT(JG) TURNER Gunnery Officer LT{JG) RICKSECKER ASW Officer BMC SMITH BM-1 SWISTOK BMl WEGER BM-2 MOORE BM-2 TEWS BM-3 HOOE BM-3 HOHENFELDT BM-3 HERSMAN SN MASDEN SN DAY SN KINDLER SA COUSINS SN EULBERG SA SCHRAGE SN REYES SN JOHNSON SA POSKEY SN CISNEROS SN EAKIN ■ S 1 SN CRIMMEL SA STAUNER SA VELAZQUEZ SN WASZAK SR VERROCO SN LABRIE SN LARGE SN SUPPLE SA WRYSINSKI SA FONG SN VAUGHN SA RICHARDS SA PORVER BM-a FERNANDEZ SA VERROCO ROBERTSON SN CASEM YN-3 SOULE STCS PAINTER STG-1 FREDERICKS STG 2 REHBERG GMG-2 FRANK STG-2 FUCHS STG-2 CHAMBLISS t STG-2 SCOTT TM-2 YOUNG STG-3 SPITTLE STG-3 GRUETT STG-3 MILLS STG-3 MITCHELL STG-3 TITUS STGSN McALISTER SN MURPHY m K «5 W lb. iBHI TMSA FERRANTI SN ROMERO STGSA TWINEHAM GMGC CONBOY FTG-1 GIBBS . «i ■ GMG-2 MOLDE GMG-2 MURRY GMG-2 HERNANDEZ - I FTG-2 BROWN FTG-3 WILSON FTG-2 DIBBELL GMG-3 CLUKEY GMGSN BROWN GMGSN YOUNG SN YEAGER 01 DIVISION OE DIVISION OC DIVISION ON DIVISION X OPERATIONS T LT WIGHT Operations Officer ..- LT BROADHURST ENS VISAGE ENS LENGERICH CIC Officer Electronic Material Officer Communications Officer ENS BAKER Navigator RDC JOHNSON RDC GRIGOR RD-1 PENTECOST RD-1 WILSON RD-3 ROBBINS RD-3 BABER RD-3 BRUDERER RD-3 RAINES RD-3 ZWEIG RD-3 SELL RD-3 HAAS RD-3 REITZ RDSN LULL RDSN BRODELL RD-3 GOUKER RD-3 McQUESTEN RD-3 STODDARD k ET-1 ROBERSON EW-2 STEWART ETR-3 DOTSON ETN-3 YOUNG ETR-3 MURATA ETR-3 RUTKA ETSN DAVIS RMC SWARTZ RM-1 JOHNSON RM-1 SPEELMAN SM-1 BERNHARDT RM-2 YETTER RM-2 CHAMBERLAIN RIVI-2 FOSTER SM-2 JOHNSON RM-2 HARMON RM-3 KNESS RM-3 ARMSTRONG RIVI-3 ANDERSON RM-3 EGGERS SM-3 TURK RMSA BRUMMETT RMSA WILSON SMSN VIDAL SMSN ANDREWS PNC DEJESUS HMC WRIGHT YN-1 WHALEN QN-1 BARGER YN-2 KEILMAN QN-2 EKLUND 0 K ■■o ' SK -:: ; ' :,:- QN-3 LONG PC-3 GIBSON HM-3 McHOSE r PN-3 SHOW PN-3 SHOTSBERGER QMSN MUSSO YN-3 BESLOW : B DIVISION M DIVISION R DIVISION r O ' =•5 ENGINEERING M LT CENTER Engineering Officer LT MAHONEY MPA and scheduled to relieve LT Center in October ENS MARKEVICZ Electrical Officer Cruise Book Command Advisor ENS KELSO DCA A. BTC SMITH BT-1 WOOD BT-2 MADDOX BT-2 McMAINS BT-2 FOLEY BT-2 JOHNSON BT-2 McCARIO BT-2 FELLERS BT-3 KONIPACKI BT-3 ARNOLD BT-3 BAUER BT-3 GUERRIN BT-3 HORNUNG BT-3 O ' BRIENT BT-3 DAVIES BT-3 LASSONDE BTFN NORTHCUTT FN ZIMMERMAN BTFN HOGAN BT-3 WALKER nr FN MANCUSO FA WOOD BT-3 NICHOLAS f _ A. FR VEGA FR BUSH BTFN HAYWOOD 1MCM ALDRIDGE IMC PEARSON IVIM-I HARRELL -1 BARTH MM-1 DANIEL MM-2 WHITMOYER MM-2 SIENNIARECKl -2 ALLEY MM-3 GREER IVIM-3 PATRICK MM-3 FLAHARTY MM-3 GOLEMME 1M-3 MONNENS FN MILLHOLLON 1M-3 JOHNSON FN KERR FN LAURELEZ FN KENNELLY MM3 MARSHALL FR LEMONS FN WHITLEY FN HAYS FA LUSH FR ACIERTO FR STRADER FN ZUNIGA FN SANFORD MMCM GRIGONIS HT-1 BARRETT EN-1 KRAFT lR-1 LEEK EM-I BIFFLE HT-2 JONES MM-2 RITARITA MM-2 TRINIMAN EN-2 RAGILES IC-3 BISHOP EN-2 WOOSLEY EM-2 HICKMAN r p ' 1 EI l-2 FINCH MR-a SMITH HT-3 BANKS   I EMFN JOHNSON FN MEARS EM-3 RUSSELL HT-3 MILES FN FORD HT-3 KELLY !• L L FN PERRY FN DONAHUE EMFN LAMPERT ICFN MYRILL ICFA KILDAY I - HT-3 BOYD HTFA VANOSDAL BTFA CRUZ EMFN VYVJALA BT-2 HOCKING FN FORD BT-2 CAIRNS s X SUPPLY LT(JG) GORDON Supply Officer SKC LYNN SD2 ROYAL DK-1 PEREZ SH-1 CARTER CS-1 SIMMS SK-1 HAYES SK-2 MARTINEZ CS-2 AY RAN CS-3 SCHMIDT SK-2 RIDDICK SD-2 COMANDANTE ■n - TW SD-3 BANEZ SK-3 HENDRY TN ASUNCION SK-2 MAURI CS-3 AGUIRRE TN GERONIMO CS-3 RADKE TN NUEVA SH-3 DUNLAP SH2 MERRILL CSSA WILLIAMS SK3 CARTER SA SHOOK CSS WARNER SN ROBERTS wfRft r 5 REPLENISHMENT AT SEA LIBERTY CALL HAWAII J A P A N CI , 11 1 JL, ra i alL H ' ' - 1 i ; TDDflCCC ' ffU ir- -■- - f ; 1 .4ri k S: WS! HONG KONG PHILIPPINES SPORTS i AT SEA THE PITCH THE OUT I THE HIT rr- % ' f IMPORT RAFFLE ACTIVITIES Pan Cake eating contest The Winner Are there any left.. fe- - l mBaosym SHIPS PARTIES J « dr Jf «f . M ■vl S 1 Tj ai: ' i«i ir 4K ' ' 1 L Mi lfi B B iU H Sign your life away... Back in the old Navy... SITREP Look I Weil... I think. What, me worry ? THE TALE OF CTF 74 Listen, my children, and I ' ll tell you more of the cruise of Task Force 74 Hardly a man can forget the commotion We caused when we sailed to the Indian Ocean The world was surprised and the people got mad From Peking to New Delhi, from ! loscow to Vlad In Dacca, Calcutta, and old Singapore They followed the movements of ' 74. Our carriers, auxiliary, and seven small boys Made quite a strong force and caused lots of noise They did not know why we had come to this sea (Nor did they know that neither did we!) They asked many questions, but no one asked more Than the officers and sailors of 74 But there were no answers, no messages of cheer To brighten our Chirstmas or greet the New Year And so we sailed on ' round these far distant lands Doing field days and flight ops and contingency plans We watchecd for supply ships who came out and met us And wondered if one day they might just forget us. The days dragged on by and our own sense of humor Carried us through each discouraging rumor We watched and we watied and hoped for a word To go back in Subic, but nothing was heard. That ' s all there is children, I ' ve no more to say Just write to your sailor and hope that one day The story I ' ve told you will then have an end If the mail ship arrives I will write you again. Cruise Book Staff Command Advisor Editor Photography Layout-Typing Artists Ens. Markevicz RMl Speelman MRl Leek RD3 Raines YN3 Soule FN Ford The Cruise Book Staff would like to take this opportunity to thank those people who contributed the photographs, ideas and ideals which made this book possible. For those Navy Men who have been transferred or discharged, we would like to wish them FAIR WINDS AND FOLLOWING SEAS. The men of the USS GURKE, both past and present, have proven themselves as members of a team. These men are the true PROFESSIONALS. 2 C z [. ' .•.•.•.•. ;••••••.•. ' • ;•:•:•