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New Gurke Newsletter OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE USS GURKE (DD-783) Volume 5, Issue 4 November 2011 Gurke News LETTER HOME FROM USS GURKE Inside this issue: Editor’s Note: The following port was closed due to Fuji’s silhouette was out- letter is a continuation of severe weather condi- lined against the sky. Letter Home 1-2 the series of letters written tions, so we continued on Upon arrival, the crew by the Commanding officer, towards Yokosuka, Japan, was quite eager to go on President’s Message 2 James F. Murphy, of the USS refueling from an oiler on liberty and see for them- Gurke to the families of the the way. Incidentally, Sun- selves the many fascinat- Treasurer’s Report 2 Gurke sailors. The letters day, December 3, 1967, ing sights of Japan. The were submitted by Bob Al- did not exist for the crew change in weather was the Sailors’ Stories 3 bert., USS Gurke 1967-70. of the GURKE, for we biggest adjustment which crossed the International had to be made, for in Welcome Mat 4 GURKE FAMILYGRAM #2 Date Line and lost a seven days we had gone January 8, 1968 whole day. from the tropical climate Taps 4 The weather improved of Hawaii to the wintery air Dear families and friends, as we headed West until of Japan with tempera- Minneapolis/St. Paul 4 I hope all of you had a we were one day out of tures at night in the low Survey Merry Christmas and a Japan, when it turned 40s which is comparable Happy New Year. A lot has rough again, but we all to San Francisco at this happened since our last knew we would have our time of the year. We re- Familygram, and many miles feet on solid ground soon, mained in Yokosuka one Published by: have been traveled. A total so we didn’t mind. day longer than antici- MILITARY LOCATOR & of 9,450 miles to be exact! Nearing the harbor at pated which gave the crew REUNION SERVICE, INC. On November 29th we Yokosuka there was truly an additional day’s rest to P.O. Drawer 11399 got underway from Pearl a beautiful and unusual prepare for the final leg of Hickory, NC 28603 Harbor, Hawaii, enroute to sight. The strong winds our journey to the South Phone: 828-256-6008 Midway Island to refuel. One had provided us with a China Sea. Fax: 828-256-6559 day out of Hawaii the crystal clear atmosphere Bright and early the [email protected] weather turned against us which enabled one to see 12th of December, we got [email protected] and we pitched and rolled for hundreds of miles. It underway for Subic Bay in www.mlrsinc.com/gurke on a somewhat steady was late in the afternoon the Philippines. The transit Northwestward course. and as the sun set, sur- to Subic was very unevent- Our reunions work so you Upon our arrival at Mid- rounded by a bright or- ful for most of the crew; don’t have to. way Island we found that the ange background, Mount (Continued on page 2) Page 2 Gurke News Volume 5, Issue 4 (Continued from page 1) which was shown to the am sure that everyone Since my last Family- crew on the messdecks. missed being with their gram a few of the crew have even the famous Bashi The Mayor also brought families and friends on been blessed with new arri- Channel located between along some television this day, but we did our vals in their families. Among the islands of Taiwan and cameramen from KFMB- best to make it as cheer- the proud fathers are: LTJG Luzon was relatively calm. TV who made interviews ful an occasion as possi- WILLLIAMS, LTJG LEONARD, Its high currents and winds with various crewmem- ble. The messdecks were Ship’s Serviceman First usually make it very rough, bers. The films taken on gaily decorated with a Class WADKINS, and Sonar but fortunately the wind and board are scheduled to be Christmas tree and vari- Technician Second Class sea were astern of us this shown on KFMB-TV ous seasonal ornaments. MARQUARDT. time. We reached the Subic (Channel 8) in San Diego The Officer’s Wardroom On behalf of the crew, I Bay area early on the morn- on January 14, 1968. was also appropriately would like to thank you for ing of the 16th; however, After a four day inport decorated. On Christmas your cards and letters and carrier flight operations pre- period at Subic Bay, morning, Chaplains from wish you a prosperous and cluded our entering port GURKE was again under- the USS KITTY HAWK Happy New Year. Again I immediately and we finally way; only this time we came aboard to conduct would like to request that moored around three were off to the Gulf of Protestant Divine Services you forward to us any arti- o’clock that afternoon. The Tonkin which is located and say Catholic Mass. cles or news items which weather was a considerable between the coast of We had a very respect- pertain to the GURKE and change from Japan, in fact, North Vietnam and the able turnout for both ser- keep us informed of the the temperature was in the island of Hainan. Our as- vices. The crew also re- news back home. 80s when we arrived. signment thus far has ceived many Christmas While we were in Subic, been to provide escort for cards from various indi- Sincerely, Mayor Curran, the Mayor of the USS KITTY HAWK. viduals throughout the JAMES F. MURPHY San Diego, California, came It is hard for me to de- United States who sent COMMANDER, U.S. NAVY aboard to visit. He brought scribe Christmas Day at their Seasons Greetings COMMANDING OFFICER with him a film clip contain- sea to you because I’m to members of the Armed ___________ ing Seasons Greetings from sure it varied from each Forces. the people of San Diego individual’s viewpoint. I HISTORY OF THE FLANDERS POPPIES Financial Report: The cost of this issue is place in WWI in Flanders That grows on fields Field, Belgium, where in $107.39, mailed to 41 where valor led, the craters left by bombs dues paying members with- and on the mounds of rub- It seems to signal to out e-mail addresses. ble, poppies bloomed eve- the skies rywhere. The high concen- That blood of heroes tration of lime from the never dies.” Throughout history it limestone buildings made has been noted that red perfect conditions for the poppies seem to pop up in poppies to grow. On a visit to the U.S. by Madame E. Guerin heard battlefields and on sol- Around 1920, Moina of the idea of wearing a diers’ graves after a major Michael first wore a poppy Treasurer’s Report poppy and upon returning battle. The reason is that in remembrance of lives to home France, began to poppy seeds lay dormant lost in WWI. Inspired by There have been no re- make homemade poppies in the soil until the ground the poem, “In Flanders ceipts or expenditures and sold them to support is disturbed, then they Fields,” she replied with since the last report. The sprout. Bombing and the children of war. The her own poem: bank balance is $7324.06. grave digging causes the idea quickly spread earth to be churned and around the world, and Frank Hickam activate the germination of “We cherish too, the poppies were sold to bene- Treasurer the poppy seeds. The most Poppy red fit many different veteran detailed of this event took organizations. Gurke News Volume 5, Issue 4 Page 3 STORIES FROM MY GURKE DAYS Editor’s Note: For this is- Sometimes the wake-up ashore so Aussie gave Bikini Atoll. We were asked sue of the newsletter, we man lucked out and RD2 him a baby wallaby— to measure the radioactivity asked for your stories would actually and grog- cutest thing you ever saw. of the area. As we contin- about a Naval Operation in gily wake up (the wake- Captain Kipe swore it into ued on a southwest course, which you took part. Here up man literally on his the Navy, and the crew I think that we were close are your stories: toes ready to dodge the made mini uniforms to a sea-mount that wake up punch or flail). for "Joey." Well, you can erupted under the ocean, From Randy Voepel, E- Sometimes the wake-up imagine it grew by the because we had several nothing 1970 cruise: man candidates would time we reached Pearl on rocks and boulders that Here is one of my sto- argue bitterly as to the way home. Joey came out of the water and ries: "The Wake Up" whose turn it was, other probably stood 2 feet bounced across our On the 1970 Gurke times we would sneakily high. Back to San Diego — deck. These rocks were WESPAC cruise we were switch whose turn it was now maybe 2 1/2 feet kind of a medium to dark off the coast of Vietnam (written in grease pencil high. One night Beeler gray and were as light as a doing Harassment and on a status board), but goes ashore with Joey and feather. I was told that this Interdiction fire, Market most of the time we just gets a little tipsy, gets ar- is the same thing as pum- time patrols and other de- accepted our doom. rested, goes to night ice. Shortly after that we stroyer types of activities.
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