Date: 1 September 2002
Name: Herb Roach
Email: hroach@dmrtc.net
Where are you from?: Odon, IN
Years aboard Gurke: 9/10 '48 to 4/49
Comments: I really wasn't on the Gurke long enough to get to know many of the crew. I don't even remember the Skipper or the Chief Engineer, and I was the Log Room Yeoman. I do remember a first Class MM named Grounds, and I thanked him every day of my Naval Career. I caught the ship in Bremerton just after getting out of MM School in Great Lakes. When we got underway for Diego, as I remember we never got outside of land, and we rolled in ground swells the entire way. My first watch was a Mid, and Grounds was top watch in the Fwd. Engineroom. After an hour or so, he noticed that I looked a little peaked and probably rather green. He asked if I felt good, and I replied that I had felt better, but that I thought I could finish the watch OK. He said he had a job for me, and that he thought it would do me more good than anything. He put me on top of the lube oil storage tank under the starboard shaft, and gave me a bucket, a paint scraper, so rags and a wire brush, and told me to clean the area real good. It only took me one heave to figure why I had a bucket, and from then on, going to sea has been a joy, and I loved every minute of it. I transfered to the Floyd B. Parks (DD-884) sometime near the lst of April, and stayed aboard her from April 49 to April 13, 52. I have attended three reunions with the crew of the Parks, and will leave on the 17 of this month for Baton Rouge for the next reunion. After leaving the Parks, I went aboard the USS DIONYSUS (AR-21). For a MM, it was sweet duty. She had a triple expansion uniflow, open crankcase engine, and could make twelve knots ahead or eleven knots in reverse. Those were some good times. For the A Division MMs, she had a mechanical engine order telegraph using bronze wire for straight runs, and bicycle chain to change directions (over pulleys). She was a feeder and we hit a lot of good ports in the Caribean. I wish she had a reunion. How do I go about getting one started? I have several addresses. More later. Herb Roach, ETCS

Date: 31 August 2002
Name: James Weldon Porter
Email: Smokeyxvii@BlackPlanet.com
Where are you from?: Charleston, WV
Years aboard Gurke: 71-73
Comments: Missed seeing all my buddies when I was put off the boat at Okinawaha but, it will be good to get together and talk over times when I was still part of the crew and after. Be Blessed!

Date: 19 August 2002
Name: Alexander R. Rodriguez
Email: garodz@sbcglobal.net
Where are you from?:
Years aboard Gurke: 1950-1953
Comments: Alexander went home June 2002. He served aboard the Gurke during the Korean War. I am not sure exactly what his duties were, but he did serve several months on land. I would like to know any information about his service and adventures. Respectfully submited Gregory Rodriguez ARNG (Son)

Date: 2 August 2002
Name: MARK DIVINE
Email: MARK2DEEP@HOTMAIL.COM
Where are you from?: SAN ANTONIO, TX
Years aboard Gurke: 0
Comments: VERY COOL LOVE NAVY SHIPS.

Date: 23 July 2002
Name: Jesse J. Maiden
Email: jjmaiden@msn.com
Where are you from?: Camden, TN
Years aboard Gurke: Rank/Rate
Comments: Great ship, Great crew. My most memorable tour. I went on to complete over twenty nine years. Left the ship in Subic from yankee station, dropped off at the wharf without tying up. Was commissioned w-1 the next day. I followed M-DIVISION for many years and all the crew met my advancement expectations. Good luck, I'm proud to have served with the way above average.

Date: 20 July 2002
Name: Dave Blanchard
Email: yo4dave@qwest.net
Where are you from?: Scottsdale, AZ
Years aboard Gurke: 1955-1957
Comments: Served two years on board in Engineering.

Date: 19 July 2002
Name: Jim Steitz
Email: jrsteitz@cox.net
Where are you from?: Great Bend, KS
Years aboard Gurke: ???
Comments:

Date: 17 July 2002
Name: Gary W. Rudd
Email: No Email
Where are you from?: Anaheim, CA
Years aboard Gurke: 1965-1968
Comments: I SPENT SOME GOOD YEARS ON BOARD GURKE I Did 20 YEARS AND 2 DAYS. I MADE 1 REUNION IN AZ. BUT I HAVE 5 OTHER SHIPS TOO. I'm NEW AT THIS COMPUTER STUFF. I WOULD LIKE HEAR FROM ANYONE. I WILL TRY AND GET BACK TO YOU. I WENT TO BOOT CAMP SAN DIEGO 9/54 COMP.383. THEN TO USS BLACK [DD 666] 2/55 TO 6/61 CS3.NEXT USNTC GREAT LAKES,ILL. GALLEY 409 7/61 TO 2/64 CS3.THEN TOUSS CHICAGO [CG11]3/64 TO 9/65 CS2. THEN TO USS GURKE [DD783] 9/65 TO 1/68 CS2. NEXT DANANG VIETNAM USS [APL 27]AND [YFU 60]3/68 TO 3/69 CS2.THAN BACK TO ADCOM NTC GREAT LAKES ,ILL. 5/69 TO7/71 CS1.BACK TO SEA AGAIN THIS TIME USS HANSON [DD 832] 8/71 TO 3/73 CS1. MY LAST SHIP WAS THE USS BAINBRIDGE [DLGN 25] 5/73 TO 11/74 RETIRED AT CS1. HOPE TO HEAR FROM ANY OLD CREW MEMBER. GARY RUDD (STEW)

Date: 8 July 2002
Name: Cortese, Vincent L.
Email: vincedd851@aol.com
Where are you from?: Kennewick, WA
Years aboard Gurke: 1952 - Jan. 1954
Comments: Ahoy Shipmtes - Good to be back and aboard. A very Good Web Page. Looking forward to seeing some old shipmates in Monterey next year. Until then Smooth Sailing and may GOD Bless America. Vince

Date: 1 July 2002
Name: Robert Adamisin
Email: Brianpat@core.com
Where are you from?: Interlochen, MI
Years aboard Gurke: 1947-1950
Comments: Hi to all. I remember W.W.Walker, Earl Anglin, Bill Hammond, Edward Keenan. Trips to Japan, Alaska, Hawaii. The captain was Wee Willie Walker. Also, Mr. Symons was eng. officer. Arkie the BT in the after fire room. I also served TAD onboard the Collete (731)for three months. EM3