Gurke (DD 783) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 13 text:

I I g I Qiy ziiijf 1 H L Williams was born in Moberly .the son of Mr and Mrs. Lewis G He had three brothers one of whom ' Navy also and two sisters His father formerly in the Navy and served aboard U.S S, Oklahoma City in World War ll. He Moberly Public Grammar and High and was a chef at Crossroads Nav H in Moberly before enlisting in the :befcxe e attended school for Commissaryman 6f41971'eZ0't'n9 to. the GURKE, in September Eb Z e lost his life upon returning from F effy In Bangkok, Thailand on February 10, 411973. when he fell as he was boarding a Liberty 'Boat and drowned. l tgp, Els ! '-at 1 -:Ai Lis' 7 a.. 1 . -E '. fl EM3 DAVID D. LAVEN CSSN ALVIN L. WILLIAMS 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- ing 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 in 1971 he enlisted in the Navy. He came to the GURKE shortly afterwards and was well liked in WD Division. He died of acute Leukemia on April 29, 1973 at the age of 20. if David Dane Laven was born on Ociif 16th, 1951, the first child of Dale and Eiairfw Laven, and grew up in Torrance, California. the age of 14 he became the first Eagle from his Boy Scout Troop. ln 1967 . became a member of the River Rats by ing down the Colorado River on a raft. , graduated from South Torrance High Sci. I in June of 1969 and subsequently attenclrni' Camino College in Torrance and the Uniwi. ty of New Mexico before joining the Nav: June, 1971. ln the Navy David Laven selected honor man from his electricirm mate school by maintaining the higiif grades in his class. He reported to 1 GURKE on September 25th, 1973 from . ..Air Station Whilbey Island, Oak Harbor. As a Third Class Electricial's Mate, he tri. from burns sustained in an electrical the GURKE'S after engine room in Okin. on 26 February 1974. i 1nvfu---

Page 12 text:

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 , . . .

Page 14 text:

N Y fl' :H ru Y ' 4 .4v+ f iff l PRIVATE FIRST CLASS HENRY GURKE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS QDECEASEDQ Born in Neche, North Dakota, on 6 November 1922 Private First Class Gurke attended 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 and landed at Apia, Upolu, British Samoa one month later. In September he was transferred to D Com- pany ofthe Third Raider Battalion, and in February of 1943 ac- companied his unit tothe Russell lslands, returning to Espiritu Santos in March 1943. When he was transferred to M Com- pany, 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 Bougainville. 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. 'bi YW! V