Gurke Newsletter

A newsletter for the sailors of the USS GURKE (DD-783) GURKE NEWSLETTER

Volume 1 Issue 2 August 2007 OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE USS GURKE (DD-873)

Special Points of Interest A TALE OF THE SEA • Do you remember your first By Byron Lott, FT3 (1960-61) cruise? Byron Lott does. Read What’s it like to be a mesmerized by the ballet of Should they hold on to that his account in young seamen aboard a US men shouting orders, others line from fear, from just hav- the cover story. destroyer partaking in his hauling hoses, shot lines being something to hang on first cruise to WestPac? ing fired, men scurrying to to, or whatever, their hands • Be sure to read Well, for this young 19 year and fro, and finally the con- and arms would ultimately Ed Ellis’ column old having just come aboard nection of the hose to the be dragged through the on page two. two weeks ago, fresh from ship’s fuel intake. Equally block with catastrophic con- There is some FT “A” school, and right off captivating was the action of sequences.. Lose your grip important infor- mation for you. the farm before that, it was a large wave as it snaked be- and be swept down the to be an adventure. The tween the two ships buffeting deck and possibly over the • Please welcome year was 1960 and the USS first one and then the other. side, or hang on for dear life the five newly Gurke, DD783, was at sea On the destroyer, having a and risk major injury. For located shipmates refueling from a tanker lower deck than the tanker, me, the scene was hypnotic under Welcome named the Hauseompa (sic). the wave would come rushing in its ability to command my Mat on page I had been assigned to the aboard and wipe the men complete attention. The three. bridge as a port lookout dur- hauling on the line off their moment passed and all ing refueling. It was one of feet, and for a few moments I were safe - until the next • Memorable those beautiful days for smiled as they resembled a wave came aboard. Then Events and Char- which the Pacific is noted; no stringer of fish madly sloshing came the order to discon- acters begin on clouds, azure blue sky, and this way and that. But this nect, and a new scenario page three. Some highlights are: temperature in the 80’s. I ballet was fraught with danger emerged that I was to wit- trips to Tijuana, faced the wind and occa- as the men below fought to ness far too many times. Gurke sailors sionally was greeted by a regain their balance and con- After numerous transfers of who comman- spray of sea water flung up trol of the line to which they messages over the head deered a Japa- by the bow. What a sight – so desperately clung. This sets, numerous gestures nese train, the where was my camera? particular line ran from one back and forth by crewmen, great food on the What a life! Since we were ship to the other and the roll- there came the signals from Gurke, George refueling on the port side I ing of the ships would cause both ships to stop pumping, Dewey Nelson, had a bird’s eye view of all them to be dragged, cursing, to blow out the hose with Capt. Radel, Capt Edgerton, and an that was taking place below wriggling, stumbling, unre- air, and to prepare to dis- E-3 who had me, and I was somewhat lentingly toward a deck block. (Continued on page 2) many medals. Volume 1 Issue 2 USS GURKE NEWSLETTER Page 2

(Continued from page 1) into the churning blades of two high- connect. Then came the order to speed propellers. I had witnessed it COORDINATOR’S disconnect. At once a member of the all! I had had the best seat in the black gang released the connecting house – front row center. Oh glori- COLUMN ring that held the hose to the inlet ous day, oh the joy! If this was to be BY ED ELLIS, PRESIDENT pipe and away the hose flew like a my life in the Navy where I was to black viper spewing its black venom, claim a kinship with those mates of Greetings from hot, steamy Ne- gooey fuel oil, all along our side and yore who hauled yardarms aloft, braska, down the main deck into the sea. climbed rigging to loosen sails, stood I hope everyone enjoyed the first The main deck, now covered with on the fore mast top yardarm and edition of “The Gurke Pepco” and will licorice colored oil, had become im- waved their arms to the sky with the want to continue receiving it. My last possible to stand on and men let go wind whistling in their face, then let sentence contains one problem and of their line and with sometimes gro- me sign now my shipping-over pa- one solicitation. First, there seems to tesque and sometimes gymnastic pers to stay for life in this wondrous be a dispute among various crew- contortions they tried to grab anything called the Navy. members about using the name thing – a stanchion, a fire hose, a ______“Pepco”, so until a vote on the official buddy- anything, before they would name is taken at the 2008 business be swept overboard by that relent- meeting in San Diego, we are simply less wave. It was pandemonium as going to call it “The Gurke Newslet- the men on the deck struggled for 2008 USS GURKE ter.” Secondly, this will be the last their lives, the black gang members issue sent to all Gurke crewmem- yelling obscenities and shaking their REUNION bers. This is due to rising costs of fists, gesturing with their hands to the publication and distribution fees. If men on the tanker, our officers show- you wish to continue receiving the ing their frustration as they shouted APRIL 3—6 Newsletter and have not paid your to their counterparts across the short dues yet, you need to get those distance between the ships. Slowly SAN DIEGO, CA dues sent in. The dues are $10 a order was restored and wet, bat- year or $50 for lifetime. Send you tered, and weary men retired to their checks to: quarters to clean themselves and or Frank Hickam, 25 Harleck Dr, Wil- put on clean clothing. A vain attempt RESPOND TO STORIES mington, DE 19807-2507and was made to wash as much of the After you read the “Most Memo- PLEASE make your checks out to fuel oil stain off the ship as possible, rable Events and Characters” on USS Gurke DD-783 Reunion Assoc., but the oil had become almost a liv- pages three thru six, please send us Inc. ing thing as it congealed into a mass any recollections that they may trig- We should give Frank Hickam a and dared the bosons to wash it over ger for you. Do you remember any of round of applause for finally getting the side with their hoses. The bos- the people or events mentioned in the Reunion Association incorpo- ons attacked with a fury. This was the stories? If so, please send your rated as a nonprofit organization. We their ship and the oil was an unin- stories to the e-mail address now have official by-laws and are the vited intruder that would eat through [email protected] real deal. Now no one can steal or paint, leave a stain, make them ap- or to the mailing address below. misrepresent our name. pear, for all to see, to be slackers. Keep those stories coming! I hope you all have responded to High pressure water slammed into Karen Hoyle’s request for memora- the congealed mass of oil which ble characters or events and any promptly shattered into a million rain- Published by: special items you wish to share. Will bow colored bubbles and recombine Military Locator & Reunion Service, Inc make for very interesting reading and somewhere else. The slippery resi- PO Drawer 11399 memories. Please fill out the ques- due would take up residence along Hickory, NC 28603-6402 tionnaire about the tours you are in- the deck waiting for an unwary sailor terested in taking at San Diego and who would tread along its glistening 828-256-6008 (voice) send them in. This will help MLRS deck. Unwary until he saw his feet get the upcoming reunion in order so 828-256-6559 (Fax) we can have as much fun as we did go flying skyward, and slamming onto the deck on his back he sud- [email protected] in Colorado Springs. denly became a pinball bouncing off [email protected] Looking forward to seeing every- stanchions, deck hatches, and bulk- one in San Diego and hope you like heads twirling round and round with www.mlrsinc.com/gurke our changes and we get many new arms flailing against the sky in an subscribers to our Newsletter and attempt to stop his mad rush toward Our Reunions Work So You Don’t Have attendees at the 2008 reunion. the fantail and possibly over the side To. ______Volume 1 Issue 2 USS GURKE NEWSLETTER Page 3

our other buddy for our beach time was Aaron Work, radioman or rather signalman, from Rapid City, SD. We always went skating together, unless Aaron got on the re- WELCOME MAT TAPS stricted list, which was often. Meat was still rationed in the states, and The USS GURKE takes great The Gurke Newsletter was in- because I had a good friend who pleasure in announcing that the fol- formed of the deaths of the follow- ran a "wildcat" taxi service to LA lowing shipmates have been located ing former crewmembers since the etc, I usually has access to a 1941 since the last newsletter. Welcome beginning of 2007. Although not all Chevy to use on the beach. We Aboard! We hope to see you at the deaths are recent, they were just often went to Tijuana for the eve- next reunion and that you will be- learned of. The entire crew extends ning and could get a nice steak come active in the association. our deepest sympathy to the fami- meal for less than two dollars lies and friends of the deceased. apiece. We had steady girl friends-- Marshal Wraders in fact Dale married his and they (1970-71) James (Jack) Niernberger would have celebrated 60 years 757-461-2155 (1959-61) QM3 (E-4) OPS together this past June. Our typical Died May 10, 2007 liberty consisted of picking up the Anado Parian girls in Pacific Beach and going to (DK1, Supply) Gerald Deer Mission Beach for Roller Skating, 619-690-1872 Died June 19, 2007 then catching a bus back to the foot of Broadway and catch a water taxi George Kresin Gene Wiegman back to buoy 21 and some rack (1955) Ops Ofcr (1946-48) F1EM E Div time. We often (once a week) 604 Kings Way Died February 19, 2007 would go out for birddog duty-- Naples, FL 34104 chasing flat tops around to pick up 239-435-0923 Robert Krause pilot trainees who missed their land- (1952-56) 2nd Div ings or takeoffs and went for a George Kaspar Date of death not reported swim!!!!!!!!! We went out one day (1958-60) GMSN 1st Div to some firing at a towed target raft- 15807 210th St Anyone learning of the death of a -the purpose was for a training film Milack, MN 56353 former crewmember is requested to on near misses, but the word didn't 320-983-6121 notify the newsletter so their pass- get to us properly, and our first ing can be acknowledged in TAPS slavo eliminated the target raft, and Jim Gordon and also on the Honor Roll at the we had to run around in circles till Lt(jg) Sup Ofcr reunion memorial service. they brought out another one. We 14243 180th Ave NE ______also did some refueling under way Woodinville, WA 98072 from flat tops--had some awful close 425-451-3327 calls on that one too. The McKean, ______a sister ship, wasn't so lucky, got too close and came up under the overhanging structure on the flat MOST MEMORABLE EVENTS AND top, smashed the 40mm gun mount up on the bridge, and snuck back CHARACTERS into port with a tarp covering the damages, then went to Long Beach Editor’s Note: Thank you to all who aboard on the 12th of Jan in '46, (in for repairs, and was still there when responded to the request for stories Okinawa--I had served in the Sea- I left in July. I never heard much in for this issue. I hope others will re- Bees, and had gone in on the fifth the way of complaints about the spond in the future, as we will al- wave of the invasion) and served chow on the Gurke. In about May, ways need material for the newslet- under Mr. White, Chief Engineer I was offered 3rd class if I would ter. until Jul 2, 1946. I believe I had a reenlist, but I said no thank you--I'm unique duty session--never stood a heading for Vermont. By: Norm Gassett F1c watch in 6 months aboard--I took ______My term on the Gurke was short, over as Logroom Yeoman. Dale I was one of the first, if not the first Strine SK2c was a very close friend Financial Report: The cost of this new addition to the crew after the (he passed away in the past year in issue is $539.39, mailed to 439 original "plank" crew. I came San Diego)--he was a plankowner-- members without e-mail addresses. Volume 1 Issue 2 USS GURKE NEWSLETTER Page 4

By: Ed Ellis all the disbursing work, the General or wheat bread and soft and hard One incident always comes to Mess, all the supplies, the Ship’s rolls; fresh white milk (most general mind when I think back about my Store, the laundry and other duties, messes used powdered milk—we days on the Gurke and makes me including being the Cryptographic used canned whole milk and had it laugh. There was a group of Gurke Officer. stuffed in every locker on the ship sailors who commandeered a Japa- To tell you the truth, the General that wasn’t full. We never ran out.); nese train in Yokosuka, relieving the Mess on Gurke when I arrived was hot coffee; assorted desserts. engineer of his duties, and going not too good. I remembered Ba- These Sunday meals ran from from station to station, pausing a little doeng Strait and what the Warrant 0600 until 1300 and any man could way from the normal boarding area Officer had done with the same food go back through the line anytime so passengers in their clogs would and the same cooks, and I set out to during those hours to get refills. clatter after it and then they’d back bring ours up to perfection. Our Mess We still had a Sunday evening up and watch them clatter back. was “led” by an aging Chief Petty meal which was lighter, but with Then they would move on to the next Officer who had a big stash of booze several choices of good food. station. They did this all the way to hidden somewhere, and he was We had a good Wardroom crew Sasebo where around 200 SP’s and worthless. I told him to stay away that prepared the Officer’s meals, Captain Rydal were waiting for them. from the Mess unless he shaped up, but I would invite one or two of the Thanks to Captain Rydal’s informing and, in general, he did stay away. I officers at a time to eat in the Gen- the SP’s, he would take custody of enlisted the help of a First Class eral Mess. Invariably they asked me this group, see that they paid for all Cook, whose name was Saegert. I when I would invite them again. The damages and make sure that got told him of my experiences on the Captain was invited several times what they deserved when they re- “Bing Ding,” as we called it, and how and praised the Cooks to the skies. turned to the ship. He gave them a it was changed over night. Saegert I had put a sign up at the place lecture and can’t remember much agreed to a plan to bring our mess where the crew dumped their trays. else happening. up to the same condition, and off we The sign read: “Take All You Want, ______went. First thing, I went to the Cap- But EAT What You Take.” We only tain (Norton) and told him I wanted to had so much food and couldn’t af- By: Clark Wright, 1957-60 Supply spend about $600 (a lot of money in ford to waste it, so the fish were Officer 1957) to buy the Naval Menu Ser- feeding better off the other three When I was sailing on Badoeng vice. I had eaten a meal based on destroyers and the carrier we were Strait in 1955 as a 3rd Class Avia- that service which was unbeatable. It escorting. tion Storekeeper, the food was as came in a couple of really thick I know Saegert had more food close to being inedible as you could books, but the saving feature was than we were allotted, but I never imagine. I skipped several meals that each menu had its own plasti- questioned him and we never got a going from San Diego to Pearl Har- cized cards with the recipes for eve- reprimand from the Fleet Offices in bor because they were so bad. rything, so the cooks could read the San Diego when we sent in our re- When we arrived at Pearl, the Com- cards as they prepared the meal. ports. missary Officer was relieved and There were several hundred meals in On one cruise we were out for returned to the States. I don’t recall the Service Manuals, all from excel- 43 days, a long time to be at sea. the name of his replacement, but lent restaurants and hotels around The other three destroyers ran out starting with the very first meal the the country plus some foreign ones. of nearly all their food and we fed food looked and tasted like it had I am writing this background be- them for three days until the Supply come from the Waldorf Astoria. This cause I am praising Saegert as the Ship and Reefer showed up to re- was the same food that was inedi- person who was responsible for our plenish us. ble before he boarded, but suddenly success. He worked extremely hard I cannot say enough for Saegert, became delicious. I vowed then that and long hours. We added a meal for how well he did his job and how he if I ever was in charge of a General the watch change at 2400 hours and got the other cooks to join in and Mess, I would make it work like this it was much appreciated. On Sun- embrace the program. new man did. Through the years days we had a menu that went In closing, I will admit a major this man, a Commissioned Warrant something like this: mistake that I made and I must say Officer, won more awards than you Choice of orange; grapefruit or Saegert warned me about it. It went can believe. I believe he won “Best apple juice; eggs to order: fried, like this: Thanksgiving, Christmas Mess,” a Navy contest, three years scrambled with or without ham and New Year’s Day have a stan- in a row while at Miramar Air Station squares, soft and hard-boiled eggs; dard meal of turkey and ham and all a few years later. Now, back to the beef steaks cooked to order: rare, the fixings. I told Saegert that I Gurke… medium or well-done; hot bacon; wanted him to go through the meat There is only one Supply Corps sliced ham; hash-brown and/or cases and come up with 160 of the Officer on a destroyer, and he does French fried potatoes; blueberry pan- finest steaks on board. He told me cakes, apple pancakes, fresh white (Continued on page 5) Volume 1 Issue 2 USS GURKE NEWSLETTER Page 5

(Continued from page 4) and was at Goat Island in the San And the next supply officer, the crew wouldn’t like that, but I Francisco harbor before it was Winfrey—sold the ship several thought they would, just after Christ- named Treasure Island. He came (hundred?) cases of a drink con- mas and Thanksgiving’s Ham and back into the Navy for WWII and I centrate. On a bet, Radarman Don Turkey. Well, when the chow line think served in Astoria, WA. Not sat- Schultz drank a bottle of it undi- opened, lots of sailors were already isfied, he managed to get back onto luted—damn near killed him. It was in line. We had cooks on the serving active duty for the Korean War. He awful stuff—finally used it for line to fix the steaks “to order.” We loved the Navy that much. He looked cleaning the decks. It was a great had a fine meal topped off with ice old because he was old, and quite a paint remover. What about Travis cream. I was appalled. All I heard contrast to the youthful crew of that Turbeville or Ensign McFee—all from the chow line were remarks era. He had a wonderful attitude, a con men to be sure. which made it clear that the crew devotion to duty, but he didn’t smell And there was Radioman thought they had been cheated out too good. With a shaggy moustache, Landrum who would freeze every of their turkey and ham. Saegert’s an ash-laden cigarette always dan- time a message came in ad- only comment was, “What did I tell gling from his lips, needing a shave, dressed to NTSY—Gurke’s call you?” he was a friend to all. The “S” divi- sign. He was working a radio mes- In 1960 I left Gurke and con- sion quarters were in the most for- senger when he lost the Classified vinced my relief to continue the work ward of compartment of the ship, but Message board. When we found it Saegert and I had started. I don’t some of the crew had a problem with in the after fire room, he explained know if they did or not. the “B.O.” and told me about it. I that they had the best coffee on I had a great division on that ship. can’t remember if I told George to the ship. He is the guy who went Two Shipservicemen made Chief shower more often, but I am sure over to the El Dorado and got a while I was aboard and we over- some of the crew did. But he was so work crew to bring several cases of hauled the Ship’s Store so that it likeable, it was hard for anyone to be Teletype paper back to the Gurke contained more of what the men mad at him. when we were copying on anything wanted. One of these men, Walter ______that we could get through the ma- Libby, just died. I found that out from chine. the last newsletter. He was a really By: Carroll Briggs Speaking of Radiomen, there good guy, as was Trent, the other You want a story about the most was J. W. Chambless who single- Shipserviceman. memorable character? Hell, they handed took first place for Gurke in I think we had a good wardroom were all unforgettable, starting right a frequency drill in San Diego. It except for one man, and the crew at the top with Capt. Radel. I swear, was a lazy Saturday afternoon and was exceptionally talented. We had he must have been at least in part most of the crew were off on leave some good cruises and thoroughly the model for Captain DeVries, Willie or at schools. “I can handle it,” he enjoyed our “recreational” stops in Keith’s first Captain aboard the told us in his soft Georgia accent Japan and when we were assigned Caine. I will never forget being called and very casually, he did as I “Station Ship” in Hong Kong over the to his in port cabin late one evening watched in amazement. Christmas Holidays. These station in San Diego. He sat on the edge of What about Chief Signalman ships transacted all the Navy’s busi- his bunk in his underwear glistening Walter Scott? He would sit up all ness in Hong Kong inasmuch as with sweat. “Mr. Garland has left the night in the Radio Shack or Crypto. there was no U.S. naval presence ship. Move your things to his cabin. He refused to go down to the there. It was a very good port of call The combination to the safe is on his Chief’s quarters in the bow after at the time. desk.” dark because there were so many Have a happy reunion. I don’t Then, almost at the bottom, there floating mines. travel much any more—can’t get was Abie, fresh aboard from boot There were ROK observers, around very well, but wish I could be camp. They sent him up to the bow most often sour, unfriendly guys, there. to watch for the Mail Buoy off the but not Ensign Ro. He laughed a ______coast at Songjin. Within five minutes lot and was as good a friend as he spotted it. Captain Foote gave you could ask for. By: Jim Frisbie– 1952-54, LTJG, him five bucks on the spot for report- There are just a few that came SC, USNR ing a floating mine. immediately to mind. There are My most memorable character And, what about Casimir Mesh many more, each a memorable was George Dewey Nelson, CS1. He RM2? He was just about the only character with his own unique filled the slot of Chief Commissary- guy aboard who could copy George aura. John Hern, Chief Boe, man (although he was a chief) for Fox at 70 wpm. His hands broke out Matheson and Battenberg, the CIC much of my tour. No one could have in big sores when the ship returned Con men, Marlen Keinbaum...I a more nautical name then George, from WESTPAC. Claimed he was called him “George” one day and or nautical background. George allergic to the ink on the US money, after that so did everyone. Gerber, served in the Navy in World War I, “Never had a problem with scrip.” (Continued on page 6) Volume 1 Issue 2 USS GURKE NEWSLETTER Page 6

(Continued from page 5) flight ops when the carrier changes By: John Logie, LT, USNR-R 1962- a banty rooster RM1 who wanted to course. We had to go flank speed 64 go to Crytpo repair but Mr. Diehl into heavy seas to get on the cor- As a new Ensign in Gurke in 1962, wouldn’t let him—then Mr. Diehl went rect station. The ship is going thru I met an E-3 black Steward who had on leave and Gerber went to school. very heavy green water over the joined the Navy in 1944 and, when he We had the only guy in the division bow and the XO is screaming, go up in his dress Seaman First Class who was a qualified teletype repair- “Must change course!”. The Captain uniform, had an impressive array of man. is screaming, “Must get on station!” medals and 4 gold stripes on his left Oh, and I wanted to mention Per- The ship is shaking like crazy, then, sleeve. None of us could understand shing Wilson, the Exec—who kept a “FLOODING MT 1, FLOODING why he was not some kind of Petty chunk of Plastic explosive on his desk CHIEF’S QUARTERS,” etc. The Officer. Shortly after I arrived and to intimidate visitors. front of Mt 1 had collapsed under went into the Operations Department Remember the ET’s repairing the the water and had come off its roller (Ass’t CIC Officer and Ship’s Secre- burned out SG1b console on the deck path. That fiasco was worth a few tary), we got a new Supply Officer. He in CIC? They had it up and running weeks in Subic. and I reviewed this man’s personnel again in 36 hours. Two of them with Fourthly, the Admiral’s inspec- record, which had nothing but stellar the book with the littlest guy in the tion in Subic: we all were there in reports. It was obvious he knew his gang sitting inside the console solder- dress whites, and the Admiral starts rating very well. But the Supply Officer ing where they told him to. walking. He stops a few minutes didn’t stop there. By carefully watch- I could go on and really don’t want later and says, “All Officers to the ing him, the officer finally came and to leave out a whole bunch more, but wardroom.” The Admiral tells the told me that he thought the sailor that is enough to get you started. Capt in front of us that if the ship couldn’t read. He had taken the 3rd ______isn’t A-1 in 24 hours he will replace Class PO exam again and again, and the Captain. The Admiral leaves flunked every time. By: Jon Fox, 1959-62 Gun Boss and all hell breaks loose. We didn’t We went to the Captain, to get per- Assume all have heard stories of paint, but rather dumped paint buck- mission to READ the exam to him and Capt Stuart Edgerton (1959-61). He ets and used swabs. Who cared allow him to answer orally. BuPers was quite a guy! First, he was a coin about cigarette butts, just paint. was slow to agree, but finally did. Be- collector, so that when we would Next day all was fine, but it took us cause the Supply Officer was his De- weave back to the ship in the wee months to undo the damage caused partment Head, I got the job of read- hours with a little too much fruit of the by that crash program. ing him his exam, and my 1st Class vine, we would be advised at the Cute story: When approaching a Personnelman (who knew shorthand) quarter deck that our presence was port we would send out logistical took down his answers. When the requested in the ward room. Upon requests. A. Water, B. Fuel, C. exam results were finally published in entering we would find a balance of ammo, etc. On the way into Bris- the ALNAV, the Steward not only ship’s officers sorting thru rolls of bane, Australia we requested 500 passed, he got the highest score ever coins looking for rare dates. Then lbs of charcoal for Sunday cook recorded. We had an in-port cere- they would proceed to check thru rolls outs and also 50 gallons of ice mony in San Diego to award him is till we passed out. cream. Upon arrival, the truck pulls 3rd Class PO patches. His family, and Secondly, he loved snakes. We up with 50 lbs of charcoal and 500 most of the crew, were in attendance. flew the Revolutionary War flag with lbs of ice cream. We tell the truck He said it was the proudest day of his the snake “Don’t Tread on Me.” When driver the order is backwards, but life. In the dark days of 1944, the arriving at islands in the Pacific the he could care less, so all comes Navy was not strictly following its ad- local commander often made a gift to aboard. Finding storage for charcoal mission standards and he not only got him of a bag of snakes. They would is a no brainer, but ice cream poses in, but hid his disability for all the crawl around the pilot house and all a problem. Then school kids come years that followed. Because he was over the bridge. Signalmen made a aboard for tours and you guessed good at what he did (including at his cage for them with holes in the sides it—down to the mess decks where combat duty station), and increasingly and a clear plastic top. Every so often the kids were eating quarts and embarrassed about his lack of reading I would see a foot push the cage into quarts and quarts. I assume those ability, he was always ashamed, and the sun. After a few minutes—baked kids are now in their 50s and are didn’t want his kids to know. But it snake—replaced in the next port of still talking about the generous was still a fine day to be a crew mem- call. Having my messenger stick a Gurke. ber in Gurke. I’m sorry to have to say, snake in my face halfway into a slow I don’t know what happened to the names of both the Steward and hot midwatch was not my idea of fun. the Gurke, but somehow I know the Supply Officer, the true heroes of Thirdly, he was a great ship han- she’s still at sea with a great crew this story, have slipped my 45 years’ dler. He really was, but once he got on board in a typhoon laughing all older memory. his priorities screwed up. We were the the time. ______night plane guard with a carrier during ______