Gurke (DD 783) - Naval Cruise Book

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HI TGRY OF USS GURKE KDD-7835 Named for Congressional Medal of Honor winner PFC HENRY GURKE, USMC, of Neche, North Dakota who was killed in action on Bougan- ville Island in November of 1943. 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 and anti-submarine weapons. During the invasion of lnchon 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 1 V I , 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 dur- ing 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 QFRAMJ 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.

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USS GURKE QDD-7831 is commanded by CDR Joe L. Holland, USN. GURKE is a unit of Destroyer Squadron 15, Cruiser-Destroyer Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet and is forward deployed to the Seventh Fleet, operating from Yokosuka, Japan. GURKE'S primary mission is to operate with Strike Forces, Hunter!KllIer Groups, in support of amphibious assault operations and screen support forces and convoys against submarine, air and surface threats. GURKE is authorized a crew of 15 officers and 283 enlisted per- sonnel. CONTENTS Hisronv ................. 2-3 1 oPEnArioNs a Acrivmes . . . 4-5 oEolcATioN .............. 6-7 NAMESAKE ............ . . . . . a COMMANDING OFFICER ..... 9-10 EXECUTIVE OFFICER .......... ll f :QM-A K-ON-G . . if

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On 20 October 1971, GURKE departed San Diego for an extended deployment in the Western Pacific. 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. ln November of 1971, GURKE participated in sea of Japan Operations for which she was award- ed 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 Cam- paign, and on 1 April 1972 she began a series of Naval Gunfire missions in support of troops in Viet- nam during the North Vietnamese offensive. Dur- ing both of these operations, GURKE received very high praise and numberous commendations for her actions. - 71 :nil-i'1nf,.f ' 4 -4 .2 -i,, . ' ,F-f ' f,Li,., . bv -. 54'-bk. ' lf- '.'1 ' X W' -rhflfffr H 'F 7754- missing. L A ,X-.Aa..u. sf V' ii' -rr. --4, :T-15-1 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 and the Meritorious Unit Citation 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. From August 1972 to November 1972, GURKE again underwent a major overhaul, receiving the latest in modern weapons, and electronic detection equipment.