Gurke (DD 783) - Naval Cruise Book

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to qualify in NGFS. After qualifying GURKE pulled into Subic Bay for a short two day upkeep. Setting sail from Subic on the 28th, GURKE proceeded to the Gulf of Tonkin for special operations with the USS HANCOCK QCVA 195. During the next two weeks GURKE served as the HANCOCK's escort earning this praise from the HANCOCK's Commanding Of- ficer: The quiet excellence displayed in the perfor- mance of your duties as HANCOCK's escort during the period 29 August to 11 September reflects directly on the competence and professional job done by your crew. lt has been a distinct pleasure working with you. Departing the Gulf of Tonkin on 11 September GURKE headed for Kaohsuing and four days liberty to be followed by four additional days in Keelung. After eight days liberty in Taiwan, GURKE headed for home arriving in late September. October and November were spent in an upkeep period broken by several short periods at sea with USS MIDWAY QCVA 415 who had just arrived in her new homeport of Yokosuka, Japan. On one of these occassions GURKE proved her value as a SAR unit. Late one evening two aircraft from MIDWAY suddenly disappeared off the radar scope. GURKE was im- mediately sent to investigate and upon arriving on the scene found a large fuel slick. GURKE's crew vigorously performed their SAR duties earning this praise from the Task Group Commander: Your per- formance as an escort during this at sea period has been exceptionally outstanding. The professional and seamanlike manner in which you assisted the Task Group Commander during the night of the aircraft ac- cident demonstrated beyond any doubt your im- mediate response capability, aggressive spirit, can do attitude and knowledge of SAR destroyer duties. GURKE meticulously searched the area recovering much debris enabling the task Group Commander to positively identify that a crash of an EA-6 and an A7 had in fact taken place. Originator looks forward to more assignments with GURKE. GURKE set sail once more on 1 December to transit to the Gulf of Tonkin with a brief stop for fuel in Buckner Bay, Okinawa. During this period GURKE served as plane guard for the MIDWAY QCVA 413. After leaving the Gulf, GURKE proceeded to Subic Bay, R.P. for a short two day upkeep and then proceeded on to Yokosuka and a holiday stand down. GURKE got underway again with USS MIDWAY, CVA 41 on 11 Jan, for a weeks escort duty and then had another week of upkeep. On 28 Jan. GURKE set sail with DESRON 15 and the MIDWAY for a group sail to the Subic Opareas participating in various ASW, Gunnery, Communications, and Electronic Warfare Exercises, with the other ships in the task force. GURKE arrived in Subic Bay, Phillipines fortwo days of upkeep on the 13th of Feb. Upon switching from ship's power, GURKE's after switchboard shore power breaker exploded and caught fire burning EM3 Laven and EM1 Vedder very seriously. EM3 Laven died a week later from his burns in Okinawa. GURKE left Subic Bay on 20 Feb. with the USS MIDWAY CVA 41 and USS ANDERSON DD 786 for six well earned days of liberty in Hong Kong from 1 thru 6 March. Following this port visit she returned to Yokosuka for a short upkeep period of two weeks. From 22 to 26 March GURKE visited Hokodate, in Hokkaido, Japan, first American ship to visit there in one year. Following this GURKE rendezvoused with USS MIDWAY CVA 41, USS PARSONS DDG 33, and USS ANDERSON DD 786 in the Yokosuka Oparea for a group transit to the sea of Japan. The task force later rendezvoused with USS WORDEN DDG 18 and took part in exercise Commando Jade . Upon com- pletion of this exercise GURKE returned to Yokosuka for pre-insurv upkeep on 5 April. During the week of 15 thru 19 April GURKE underwent lnsurv inspection and was well complemented for the overall condition of the ship and the attitude exhibited by GURKE per- sonnel throughout the inspection. Captain Finke, COMDESRON 15, passed the following on to GURKE from the leader of the lnsurv Board: Captain Kouth advised overall excellent condition of weapons and sensor systems. Engineering discrepencies were well documented and plant ran well to full power Q31 kts.l. Leadership, enthusiasm, and seamenship skills noted with pleasure.

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OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES JANUARY 73 APRIL 74 New Years Day 1973 found USS GURKE QDD 783i in a holiday standdownfupkeep period in Yokosuka Japan On 15 January GURKE set sail with DESRON 15 for the Gulf of Tonkin On the trip down GURKE received the joyous news that the President had signed a peace treaty with North Viet nam After 10 days in Sublc Bay R P for emergency repairs GURKE sailed for Bangkok Thailand Follow ing an enchanting 5 days in the capital city of Thailand the GURKE set sail once again this time to Singapore and 5 more days of fascinating liberty On 17 February GURKE got underway for the transit to the Gulf of Tonkin eagerly looking forward to any assign ment that might be given her But first GURKE follow ed the time worn tradition of crossing the equator after leaving Singapore and more than 150 slimy polywogs were duly initiated into the order of the trus ty shellbacks For 9 days GURKE conducted special operations in the Gulf of Tonkln including PIRAZ and iDLG 33l and USS REEVES QDLG 241 and plane guard duties with USS CONSTELLATION QCVA 645 During this period GURKE received word that she had been awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation for her contribution to the war effort in Southeast Asia during the period 10 December to 30 August 1972 ln early March GURKE turned toward home and an up keep period in Yokosuka The 20th of March was a proud day for a proud ship On that day RADM Woods Commander Cruiser Destroyer Force Pacific Fleet presented GURKE with her Meritorious Unit Citation and CDR Holland with a Bronze Star for his service in South Vietnam during 1972 After completing her upkeep GURKE set sail on 26 March for Okinawa to par ticipate in the amphibious exercise Golden Dragon with CAPT G S GROVE COMDESRON 13 em barked After rendezvousing in Okinawa the task force headed for the coast of the republic of Korea During the transit GURKE served as the screen com manders flagship earning the following praise from CAPT GROVE Appreciated your highly professional performance as flagship At sea evolutlons were handled smartly support of the flag was ac complished in the finest fashion Hope to serve with you again GURKE took time off on 5 April to participate in the graduation ceremonies the Korean Naval Academy at Chinhae Korea After completion of Golden Dragon GURKE spent three days in Pusan, Korea before transiting to Sasebo Japan for a two day availability Departing Sasebo on the 14th GURKE sailed for Hong Kong BC.C. and a long awaited visit Arriving on the 17th GURKE spent seven days in the captivating British Crown Colony before heading for home in late April. On 28 April GURKE began her READIMP up- keep period to be broken only by a short excursion to Shimoda Japan for the Black Ship Festival. GURKE and USS BAUSELL iDD845l attended the Festival in beautiful Shimoda from 16 to 18 May commemorating Commodore Perry s visit to Japan During this period the crew participated in a parade sporting events and crew brought this well done from COMDESRON 15, The smartness in appearance with the outstanding decorum of the crews can be described in no other way than superb GURKE then returned to Yokosuka to continue her READIMP upkeep period completing it on 24 July Getting underway on the following day, GURKE participated in a joint JMSDFXUSN midshipmen ex- change cruise with USS PARSONS QDDG 33l and USS COOK KDE 1083i for the next six days allowing the midshipmen to see how both navies operate in an at sea environment During the exchange cruise GURKE visited Eta Jima Kure and Sasebo, Japan. On the first of August GURKE sailed for Chinhae, Korea with COMDESRON 15 embarked to par- ticipate in the ASW exercise TAE KWON DO I with several units of the navies of the U.S. and the Republic of Korea After completion of the exercise GURKE and COOK pulled into Chinhae for four days of liberty. While there the crews of both ships were treated to a visit by Miss America 1973 Miss Terry Ann Newhause and seven members of her court On the 14th of August GURKE departed for Subic Bay, R.P. in order 7 7 North SAR mutual support ship duties with USS FOX fireworks displays. The attitude ,and behavior of the

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