OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE USS GURKE (DD-783) Volume 7, Issue 2 May 2013

Gurke News

GREAT TIME AT THE 2013 NASHVILLE REUNION Inside this issue: Members of the USS Gurke of the USS Gurke members, pleasant. The tour passed (DD-783) held their annual re- and placed flags in the ome- places such as Tootsie’s Or- 2013 Reunion Wrap Up 1-2 union on May 23-26, 2013, at lets or waffles as a special chid Lounge and Legends the Holiday Inn Nashville Opry- touch. Corner, the brand new Con- land/Airport Hotel in Nashville, vention Center, Fort President’s Message 3 On Friday morning at 9:00 TN. Seventeen crewmen and Nashborough (later changed AM the tour “Experience Mu- thirteen of their guests attended to Nashville) and the Cum- Attendees’ List 3 sic City” left the hotel. This the reunion. Registration began berland River. Our first stop narrated tour featured some midday on Thursday with Dick was at the Country Music of the best highlights of Music Taps 4 McFadden being the first to Hall of Fame and Museum. City, including a driving tour register. As the afternoon wore The building is filled with of the historic downtown area, VA Services 4 on and more crewmen and memorabilia of many shapes Ryman Auditorium (the Grand guests had registered, the hos- and sizes from some of the Ole Opry’s first home), State pitality room came alive with first folks who made country Survey for Reno, Ne- 4-5 Capitol, Bi-Centennial Park vada 2014 the sound of old friends sharing music, right up to today’s laughter and stories from their superstars. The group saw Important news from 6 days at sea. At 5:00 PM the cars and stars and boots Premier Reunions whole group came together for and, well, it was a lot to see! the first official activity—the After listening to stories and welcome reception. Chicken songs, The group spent time salad, tuna salad, fruit salad in the exhibit. A and a relish tray were served lot of memories come to mind as everyone enjoyed the cama- during the visit. The next stop Published by: raderie of old friends. was The Ryman – The Premier Reunion Services Mother Church of Country Friday through Sunday Music. What a great old mornings the group was P.O. Box 11438 building! The stories it could greeted and entertained by Hickory, NC 28603 tell if the walls could talk. Phone: 828-256-6008 Walter, the omelet chef. Walter Some of the group posed on Fax: 828-256-6559 is a character, coordinating his with WWII Memorial, the Par- stage with guitars and a mi- chef hat, apron and pants. He thenon and more. The tour crophone. That makes them [email protected] cracked jokes and let the group started with a drive through famous! (If only in their own [email protected] take his photo, but only if a the streets of Nashville with minds). The last stop was at www.mlrsinc.com/gurke pretty lady was in the picture tour guide Janice and driver the Hermitage House Smor- with him. On Friday he wore a Harry. Janice grew up in gasbord for lunch. What a Our reunions work so you red, white and blue apron and Nashville and Harry is Kenny feast! Meats, salads, vegeta- don’t have to. pants with a sailor hat in honor Roger’s bus driver, so they were both informative and (Continued on page 2) Page 2 Gurke News Volume 7, Issue 2

(Continued from page 1) nan, Joe Sanders, Thomas Stephen- son, James Stuart, Robert Waugh and Don Wilson. After breakfast on Saturday, the annual business meeting was held to decide on the leadership of the group and the location of the next reunion. William “Bill “ Phipps was chosen to again lead the group, and Reno, Ne- vada was selected as the 2014 reunion of the building and have their photo site. Following the business meeting taken by the giant guitar and with the the General Jackson tour was next on cowboy in the white suit. As the group the agenda. This was a great time was waiting for the Opry to begin, they The Hermitage spent with fellow reunion members. watched a video that gave a brief his- The weather was perfect so some of tory of the Opry and pictures of the the group spent time on the upper deck bles and desserts, including their fa- 2010 flood damage. Once the curtain of the General Jackson Showboat be- mous corn fritters sprinkled with con- went up there was two hours of won- ing entertained by a fellow singing fectioners’ sugar. Are they dessert or derful entertainment! The attendees Country Music. Others stayed below a vegetable?! What a great day of got to hear , Billy Dean, John and enjoyed the scenery along the touring Nashville! Conlee, Jeannie Sealy, Cumberland River. Once the group was and Mike Snider to name a few. Mark At 6:30 PM the evening events ushered into the main theatre everyone Wills sang “19 Something” requested began with the social hour and photo dined on a buffet of BBQ chicken, beef by his buddies serving in Afghanistan session and then the banquet at 7:30 tips, vegetable lasagna, mashed pota- so they could hear it as they listened PM. (The banquet was held on Friday toes, vegetables, salad bar and dessert online. One of the most touching parts night because the trip to The Grand bar. “Steve Hall and the Shotgun Red of the show was when told Ole Opry would be on Saturday Show” entertained as the ship cruised everyone how she had lost a son in night.) Suits and ties, ladies dressed along. The band members were tal- Vietnam and sang a song she wrote to up and one full uniform adorned the ented musicians playing the , gui- her other son serving there. The USS members for this event. Wally Post tar, steel guitar, drums and doing im- Gurke reunion group was privileged to wore his uniform and was looking personations. Steve Hall had everyone be present for the premier performance good! During the Social Hour a young guessing how he did tricks with the of Ayla Brown. The former basketball man who was staying at the hotel lights on his fingers. Shotgun Red had player can belt out a tune! Just before helped bring a small table into the everyone laughing at him. The USS she sang the song she had co-written room, and, wanting to show his ap- Gurke was recognized and applauded about females serving in the military, preciation to us, he donated $100 so for their service. It was a fun time for she introduced the soldiers of Ft. that we could have a drink on the all. house. After enjoying the social hour Campbell – all women. Throughout the and having our photos taken, we had show, the military was honored and the our Annual Raffle. Some of the lucky USS Gurke got a special “Thank you” winners were Darlene Struble who when the announcer introduced the won a “Nashville” Photo Frame, Cele- group and had them stand up with the donia Strauner won a USS Gurke Hat spotlight directed on them. An appre- that she proudly wore and Sylvia ciative crowd roared with clapping, Jones got to take home a beautiful hooting and hollering. What a great piece of pottery. Then Charley Bet- night! Upon arriving back at the hotel schart arrived! He brought with him there was apple cobbler awaiting, and several items, including a Mint coin after visiting a while, most said their set that he gave away. We then sat “Goodbyes” before heading off to their down for a dinner of prime rib, baked rooms since many were leaving early potato, mixed vegetables, salad, rolls the next morning for home. Saturday evening started early at and dessert. After dinner we had our On Sunday morning, all who could 4:30 PM, as this was the event every- Memorial Service. Bill Phipps was had breakfast and one last chance to one had been greatly anticipating—the the MC, Craig Smith served as Chap- visit old friends before heading off in visit to The . After build- lain and as he read the names of different directions for another year. ing their own sandwiches and sipping those lost the previous year. Peter Everyone talked about what a great soup at the hotel, everyone was off to Vaselo rang the USS Gurke’s bell. reunion it was and that Nashville had the Grand Ole Opry! Other then being Those remembered at the Memorial proved to be a great choice for the with fellow shipmates, the show was Service are as follows: Thomas Chea- 2013 reunion. Hope to see all of you the highlight of the trip. Some of the tum, Edward Ellis, Don Hallsted, Ted again in Reno next year. Hamrick, David Hawk, Edward Ken- group took time to explore the outside ______Gurke News Volume 7, Issue 2 Page 3

Doug Stauner agreed to take over the Necrology and Membership Lists po- sition. We voted to keep Premier Re- union Services as our reunion coordi- nators since they are doing an excel- lent job. For our next reunion site, we considered San Francisco, San Diego, Long Beach, and Reno, Ne- vada. We decided to hold our 2014 reunion in Reno, Nevada in early REUNION May, 2014, preferably during the week instead of on the weekend. We ATTENDEES PRESIDENT’S also voted to purchase a hat and dark MESSAGE shirt with USS GURKE printed on them for the Gurke Museum in North Tom & Cele Beishuizen Dakota, and to donate $200 to the Tin Charley Betschart By William “Bill” Phipps -Can-Sailors organization. Doug Stau- Mark Coratti & Mark Jr. Gaylord & Karen Daleen This year’s reunion was small, but ner visited the Gurke Museum last Louis & Deborah Froelich busy and fun. Everyone participated year after our reunion and took pic- in all the tours and activities which Frank & Helen Hickam tures that we were going to show, but James & Sylvia Jones made this one of the best reunions I time did not permit. Hopefully, Doug have attended. Lavoy and I arrived a Peggy Keough will bring the museum pictures next Richard & Roberta McFadden little late on Thursday because we year for viewing. During that visit encountered some traffic delays on William & Lavoy Phipps Doug talked to the lady that runs the Waldemar Post Highway 40 in Arkansas. We did get museum and she requested the hat Craig & Jill Smith a sandwich and chips and met with and shirt. Frank Hickam agreed to buy Richard & Alice Snow most of the folks there. the items and have them shipped to Doug & Celedonia Stauner On Friday, we caught the tour bus the museum. Robert & Darlene Struble to the Country Music Hall of Fame & Immediately after the business Sharon Struble Museum. We could have spent three meeting, we met to organize cars and Peter & Alice Vaselo days there and not seen everything. I drivers for our on-again, off-again, on- guess I’m showing my age, but those again General Jackson Showboat Total Members: 17 old songs brought back a lot of Luncheon Cruise. We enjoyed an ex- Guests: 13 memories. We then toured the Ry- cellent meal and country music enter- GRAND TOTAL: 30 man Auditorium Museum, where we tainment for most of the day. had pictures taken on the stage of Saturday evening was spent at the the original Grand Ole Opry. They Grand Ole Opry where entertainers Financial Report: had cut a large hole out of the center like , Steve Wariner, The cost of this issue is $188.74 of the stage and put it in the stage of , and Vince Gill provided mailed to 64 dues paying members the new Grand Ole Opry. It’s pretty excellent country music. You don’t without e-mail addresses. noticeable since it is a different color realize how much country music has and the grain runs opposite of the changed until you revisit the old rest of the stage. That evening we songs. held our banquet since we were go- I thoroughly enjoyed this reunion ing to the Opry on Saturday. Helen and hope to see everyone in Reno Hickam and Jill Smith conducted the next year. Remember to bring a small raffle for the small gifts everyone gift from your state so we can have a brought from their respective states. raffle to support our contributions to Treasurer’s Report Waldemar Post wore his uniform and the Tin-can- Sailors and quarterly looked sharp. After the banquet, we Dues Received—$30.00 newspaper mailings. Newsletter bill—$102.50 held the memorial service with Craig ______Smith as chaplain and Pete Vaselo Bank Balance—$6755.17 ringing the bell. We lost a lot of good people last year and they will be Dues of $10.00 annually or missed. $50.00 lifetime may be sent to Frank Early Saturday morning we held Hickam 25 Harlech Dr, Wilmington, our business meeting where all the DE 19807. Make checks to USS present officers were reelected and Gurke DD-783 Reunion Association. Frank Hickam, Treasurer Page 4 Gurke News Volume 7, Issue 2

RENO, NEVADA FOR 2014

area, and then fill out the survey to the right. This will let us know what you

would like to do at the reunion. We will TAPS use your responses, along with your coordinator’s input, to plan your reunion The Gurke Newsletter was activities. informed of the death of the follow- ing former crewmembers since the

last newsletter. The entire crew Reno City Tour: extends our deepest sympathy to Discover how Reno earned its in- the families and friends of the de- triguing name on this narrated tour ceased. Exciting Reno, Nevada will be the which helps unravel the historical and cultural mysteries of this fascinating city. Edward Keenan site for the 2014 USS GURKE reunion, and we hope a great number of you will You’ll stop at Nevada’s History Mu- (1947-51) EM2 E Div choose to attend this great event. “The seum, see impressive mansions built by Died February 28, 2013 Biggest Little City in the World,” as it great railroad, casino and mining bar- likes to be called, is a somewhat down- ons. See “Divorce Bridge” where thou- Edward Ellis market version of the glitz and glamour sands of newly divorced persons toss (1951-54) RD2 Oper Div of Vegas. Located with the majestic their wedding rings; step back in time to Died March 10, 2012 Sierra Nevada Mountains as a back- see the National Automobile Museum ground, the Truckee River winding where magnificently restored antique Anyone learning of the death of through the center of town and world- autos are on display in their natural set- a former crewmember please no- famous Lake Tahoe nearby, Reno is a ting, 1950 and 1890 streets. There is tify the newsletter so their passing superb setting for a reunion. Reno rests much more to see and do, so you don’t can be acknowledged in TAPS and at a comfortable 4,400 feet above sea want to miss this exciting experience. on the Honor Roll at the reunion level, and gets over 300 sunny days memorial service. each year. The average high tempera- Lake Tahoe Dinner Cruise: ______ture for May (your reunion time table) is a spring-like 73.2 degrees. So if your pleasure is gaming or the outdoors, VA SERVICES Reno has something to offer everyone. Reno is the second largest city in I'm sure there are many out Nevada, after Las Vegas, and serves as the seat of Washoe County. It is a busy there who have on occasion been resort with large gambling casinos, but seen at their local VA Hospital and also is a commercial, distribution and were totally unaware that you can manufacturing center situated in a live- be reimbursed for travel to and from stock-raising and mining region. Its the facility to the tune of 41.5 cents products include building materials, per mile. What appears below is electronic equipment, and metal and from the Providence VA Hospital wood items. It has also gained a reputa- Watch the colors of Lake Tahoe and is verbatim. tion as the divorce capital of the world. change as you enjoy an early evening In order to be eligible to receive Twilight Dinner Cruise on the luxurious The site of present-day Reno was beneficiary travel you must meet the paddlewheel as the sun slowly sets. settled about 1858 and was subse- following requirements: After a beautifully prepared dinner, stroll quently known as Lake’s Crossing. The the decks and enjoy the mountain air, population of the community grew after 1. Be 30% service connected or the beautiful clear water of the lake and a large silver deposit, the Comstock the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountain greater. Lode, was discovered nearby in the late scenery. To enhance your evening, an OR 1850’s. In 1868 the railroad reached interesting narrative and music area is Have an income below $15,000 here and the settlement was renamed also provided. There is an open prome- a year. for Jesse Lee Reno, a Union general in nade, two heated decks, two full service 2. Have a license or utility bill with the American Civil War. The city devel- bars and a galley manned by excellent the same address that is in the oped as a resort after the legalization of chefs. There are numerous deck chairs VA computer system. gambling in Nevada in 1931. and comfortable indoor seating which 3. Go to your appointment first; Please read the following summaries affords magnificent views from every Complete the appointment; and of some of the attractions around the direction. then have the clinic clerk check you out from the appointment. Gurke News Volume 7, Issue 2 Page 5

Virginia City Tour: 2014 USS GURKE REUNION SURVEY

In order to insure we provide the kind of reunion that you want, please take a few minutes to fill out this survey and return it to Premier Reunion Services by July 22, 2013 at this address:

Premier Reunion Services PO Drawer 11438 Hickory, NC 28603

Visit famous Virginia City-circa 1859. You will recall that Virginia City was near the Ponder- Or Fax: osa, where Ben, Adam, Hoss, and Little Joe 828-256-6559 lived. Stroll along the wooden sidewalks, see history come alive with colorful saloons, man- sions, mines, and ghosts. You can’t possibly Reunion format: miss this three hour (approximate) adventure. Would you like breakfast as a group each morning? ____ National Automobile Museum: Or just a farewell breakfast on Sunday? _____

Do you want entertainment after the Saturday night banquet? _____yes _____no

Reunion Agenda

Please check any (or all) of the activities that you would like to see on the Don’t miss “One of America’s Five Great- agenda. est Auto Museums.” The National Automo- bile Museum (The Harrah Collection) has a “Wow” factor you don’t often find in a mu- Reno City tour ____ seum. You’ll see more than 200 eye- popping cars, and authentic street scenes. Lake Tahoe Dinner Cruise _____ The facades bring displays to life; a depart- ment store here, a movie theater there which accompany artifacts from each era. Virginia City Tour _____ You can explore the museum at your own pace. National Automobile Museum _____ Shopping: The Outlets at Legends Sparks Nevada is Shopping _____ sparking the imagination of shoppers across the West. This beautiful shopping, dining and entertainment destination just minutes from (Note the Reno City and Virginia City trips are approximately 3 hours downtown Reno offers top shopping in a fresh, long, leaving plenty of free time for reminiscing. ) upscale outdoor setting bursting with appeal- ing amenities. Find big brand name Outlets from Nike, Adidas, Converse, Gap to Ann Tay- lor, BCBG, Banana Republic, Bath & Body Works, Styles for Less, Lane Bryant, rue21, Forever 21 and Old Navy. Add Scheels, TJ Maxx, Lowe’s and Target, and the result is a legendary shopping destination. ______Page 6 Gurke News Volume 7, Issue 2

IMPPORTANT NEWS FROM STATEMENT OF PUBLICATION PREMIER REUNION SERVICES The Gurke Newsletter is the official publication of the USS GURKE Asso- Please watch your email care- This process is called a “double opt- ciation. From now on it will be pub- fully! If we have an email address for in” subscription. It is designed so that lished quarterly in February, May, Au- you in our database, you will be re- a computer robot can’t just go in and gust and November, subject to receiv- ceiving (if you have not already) an fill out random email addresses in ing sufficient funding. The Newsletter invitation to subscribe to the “USS forms – they want to know a real per- is funded by voluntary contributions GURKE EMAILERS” list. In an effort son is submitting the email address, from the membership. All members to reduce the amount of junk email and that same person really has ac- are encouraged to support the voice that is being sent, there have been cess to that email account. of the GURKE. A financial statement standards established to control the This subscription list is totally inde- appears in each issue of the newslet- way emails are sent to groups of pendent of the database we maintain ter. In the event there is insufficient people. The server that hosts our for your group. If you change your funding for a regularly scheduled is- web site has adopted these stan- email address, you will still need to let sue, all funds received will accumu- dards, and we must abide by them. us know, and you will need to re- late until the next regularly scheduled This means that we can no longer subscribe with your new address. If quarterly issue. Out of sequence is- just copy a list of email addresses you have not ever submitted your sues will not be published merely to out of our database, and paste that email address and would like to, there “catch-up.” list into the “To:” or “BCC:” fields of is a link to the subscription process on The newsletter is intended to be a an email. We can now only send the reunion web site. You will also vehicle for the members to express group emails to recipients who have need to send us an email with your opinions, make suggestions and es- subscribed to a particular email list. email address in order to get it added pecially share experiences. This process involves sending out an to the database. Unless otherwise stated, the views invitation to group members. and opinions printed in the newsletter I experimented with several differ- When you receive the invitation are those of the article’s writer, and do ent email programs before selecting not necessarily represent the opinion you will be asked to click on this particular one. It is the least com- a link within the email that of the Association leadership or the plicated of the ones I tried. Thank you Editor of the Newsletter. takes you to the subscription for your patience as we implement page. All letters and stories submitted will this new procedure. I, for one, get a be considered for publication, except On the subscription page, you ton of junk mail, and would not mind unsigned letters will not be published. fill out your email address, at all if standards like this reduced the Letters requesting the writer’s name and then submit it. amount I have to weed through every be withheld will be honored, but pub- You will then receive another day! lished on a space available basis. email from the DADA Mailing Respectfully, Signed letters with no restrictions will Service confirming that you Dina Coffey be given priority. are the actual owner of the General Manager Letters demeaning to another email address you provided. Premier Reunion Services, LLC shipmate will not be printed; letters www.mlrsinc.com espousing a political position will not When you click on the link in the be printed. confirmation email, you will 828-256-6008 ______The editor reserves the right to edit then be “subscribed”. letters to conform to space limitations and grammar. ML&RS, Inc. is not responsible for the accuracy of articles submitted for Doctor Joke publication. It would be a monumental task to check each story. Therefore, I was performing rounds at the hospital one morning and while checking up we rely on the author to research on a man I asked, “So how’s your breakfast this morning?” each article. “It’s very good except for that Kentucky Jelly. I can’t seem to get used to You are encouraged to actively the taste,” Bob replied. participate in the newsletter family by I then asked to see the jelly and Bob produced a foil packet labeled “KY submitting your stories and sugges- Jelly.” tions. ______