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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J n l ,,,' K imma... SA PETER A. RICHARDS 5,-,, .1 . A 5 ' ,gy - . - EM3 DAVID D. LAVEN Peter A Richards was 'born in Washington D C on May 31 1954 the fifth child of Paul and Rita Richards He spent all of his life in Takoma Park Maryland He attend ed Carole Highlands Elementary School Roll ang Crest Jr High School and High Point High School While in school he liked manual train ing printing and shooting pool Upon graduation from high school ln 1971 he enlisted in the Navy He came to the GURKE shortly aftenlvards and was well liked in WD Division. He died of acute Leukemia on April 29, 1973 at the age of 20. David Dane Laven was born on October 16th 1951 the first child of Dale and Barbara Laven and grew up in Torrance California At the age of 14 he became the first Eagle Scout from his Boy Scout Troop ln 1967 he became a member of the River Rats by go ing down the Colorado River on a raft He graduated from South Torrance Hugh School In June of 1969 and subsequently attended El Camino College in Torrance and the Universn June 1971 In the Navy David Laven was selected honor man from his electricians mate school by maintaining the highest grades in his class He reported to the GURKE on September 25th 1973 from Naval Air Station Whllbey Island Oak Harbor Wa As a Third Class Electncuals Mate he died from burns sustained in an electrical fire in the GURKE S after engine room in Okinawa on 26 February 1974. ty of New Mexico before joining the Navy in , . . .