Date: 1 January 1998
Name: John Henson
Where are you from?: Lubbock, Texas
Years aboard Gurke: None
Comments: My brother Dean Henson served as a sonarman aboard Gurke during the early 50's. I remember going aboard her when I was about 12 years old. Later in the mid 60's while serving aboard the Coral Sea CVA 43, I happened to see Gurke in the yard at Hunter's Point. I don't remember what was being done to her but she wasn't there too long.

My brother and I occasionally sit around swaping sea stories and other lies and it is obvious he has fond memories of his duty as a Tin Can sailor and a crewmember of the Gurke. His wife doesn't know what to think of us though.

Your website is an excellent one. It's a pleasure to check in every so often to see the updates. Just wish there was one for Coral Sea.

Date: 25 December 1997
Name: JAMES (JIM) E. HARLOW
Where are you from?: MEXICO , MO.
Years aboard Gurke: 1957-1959
Comments: THIS IS FOR MY FATHER. HE DOES NOT HAVE A COMPUTER ..YET. HE WANTED ME TO TRY AND LOOK UP HIS OLD SHIP. I FOUND A GOLD MINE !!!!!!!!!

HE CAN BE REACHED AT THE ABOVE E-MAIL ADDRESS OR MAIL TO 326 N.CRAIG ST. MEXICO,MO. 65265 HE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM ANY OLD SHIPMATES THANKS FOR THE SITE.

DAVID HARLOW

Date: 18 December 1998
Name: Carroll G. Briggs
Where are you from?: San Juan Bautista, California
Years aboard Gurke: 15 March 1952 to 12 December 1953
Comments: I came aboard in Yokosuka fresh out of OCS. I enlisted as an ET and went through boot camp at San Diego. After boot camp, I spent five weeks on general detail at NTC then another five weeks at TI before I got into school. Just before first phase ended, I got orders to OCS so I was an SA for almost a year before I got commissioned. Perhaps this is why I had such a different perspective?

Shortly after I came aboard, I was named Communicator to replace Bill Cooper. I held that job for about a year then went to CIC. Captain Foote qualified me as OPS officer before I left the ship but I never served in that capacity. After I left GURKE, I went to Washington DC for an intense two week training in Security (in the midst of the McCarthy flap) and then to Naval Biological Laboratory at NSC Oakland as assistant Officer-in-Charge. Shortly after I arrived, The Captain left for a retirement physical and I was Acting OIC until October when I was relieved by another Captain.

I spent a number of two-week training exercises aboard ships including other DD's after I was released from active duty, but NONE of the ships I was aboard ever had the pure PIZZAZZ of GURKE. When I look back at my time aboard GURKE, I am amazed at the things I did without a second thought.

By the way, I DO Remember you. You were part of "my" team at Mount 43 when I first came aboard. Those were cold miserable moments shrouded in STACK-GAS.

Date: 8 December 1997
Name: Kim Shiver Towson
Where are you from?: Tifton, GA
Years aboard Gurke: 1954-1956
Comments: My Dad, Randall Shiver, was on the Gurke from roughly 1954 - 1956. It was the first ship he was on after he enlisted. I am his daughter and will be happy to forward any e-mail to him.

Date: 6 December 1997
Name: William M. Poole MMC
Where are you from?: Darlington, Maryland
Years aboard Gurke: July 1950 - December 1951
Comments: (25 December 1997) Hi Tom-----Sorry I'm so long getting back to you with my Gurke comments. We've been on a trip and I'm just now getting back in swing of things.

I was an MM1 in the fwd. eng. rm.. The one thing I remember most is the day we took the hits up at Inchon and the round that came across the midships passageway and into the sick bay. It knocked loose paint from the overhead and it looked like it was snowing down there. We all thought it came into the eng. rm. You could hear it going through the metal as it came across. The spent round ended up by the inboard hatch of the fwd. eng. rm..LT. Simmons , the chief enginer, picked it up and kept it , as far as I know.

Also, there was a real skinny Chief Water Tender that had retired from the navy and was called back to active duty. His GQ station was in the after fire rm. Up at Inchon, when we were at GQ, he chose to stay up in the fore and aft passage way by the fire room hatch. In fact, he dogged the hatch down by the hand wheel ( must of had a bad experience in the fire room during WWII). Just as he stood up, a round came through the after stack and a piece splintered off and went straight down into the fore and aft passage way and hit the hatch he was sitting on .Later,he said if he had still been sitting there it would have entered the top of his head and come out his "you know what". He was still shaking and white as a ghost.

My comments are probably too long. If so, edit them to fit your page.I still have more!------I was really impressed with the GURKE home page. Made cold chills up and down my back when it first flashed up on the screen. Had no idea anything like it existed. You are to be congratulated.---- I'ts just about time for old Santa so will close wishing you a HAPPY HOLIDAYS
-Bill-

Date: 30 November 1997
Name: Dick Bruno
Where are you from?: Fountain Valley, California
Years aboard Gurke: 1955 to 1957
Comments: Served as Electricians Mate while on board the Gurke. Attended my first reunion in San Diego in 1997; had a great time.

Date: 30 November 1997
Name: Harold Balser
Homepage: THE PIN RAIL FORUM
Where are you from?: Pamona, CA
Years aboard Gurke: 1952 to 1956
Comments: Went aboard in early 1952 as a MMFA. Worked in the aft engine room. Left some time in 1956 for shore duty as MM 2nd. But I can say I served aboard the BEST DAMN TIN CAN THE US NAVY EVER HAD.

Date: 28 November 1997
Name: Herbert G. Roach
Where are you from?: Odon, IN
Years aboard Gurke: 1948-1949
Comments: There were about 20 "boots" fresh out of several service schools who reported to the Squadron ships (782, 783, 784 and 785) when they were in drydock/shipyard in Bremerton, Wash. I do not recall the name of the yeoman who selected me to be the new Log Room yeoman, but since I was already a designated striker in the Engineering rates, I was selected. I do remember a first class in the Fwd. engine room named Grounds. He taught me not to be seasick and I thanked him for it the rest of my naval career. We ran aground in San Diego and wrapped up a new 4 bladed screw, and then went to Long Beach and got another. Seems like maybe we tore a boat davit off the Toledo when we went alongside. I was transfered to the F. B. Parks (DD-884) because she was undermanned and was going to WesPac right after Operation Miki. I think every ship in the fleet made that attack on Hawaii. The Sub Sailors ate our lunch for us. We must have really stunk. I never saw so damn many flares coming out of the ocean. I think a couple actually landed on the deck of one of the carriers. When it was over most of the fleet went home, we went to Japan

Date: 25 November 1997
Name: David Perrin
Where are you from?: Hubbell, MI
Years aboard Gurke: 1973-1974
Comments: Was aboard the Gurke a couple of times TAD from NSD Yokosuka. Made many friends that unfortunatly I didnt keep in touch with. I hope this site can help.

Date: 21 November 1997
Name: Joe Chappell
Where are you from?: Simpsonville, SC
Years aboard Gurke: 1968-1969
Comments: