USS GURKE was named for PFC Henry Gurke, USMC, of Neche, North Dakota, who was killed in action on Bougaineville Island in November, 1943, and was post-houmously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism.
   Commissioned in 1945, GURKE is a 2250 ton general purpose Gearing class destroyer. She is 390 feet long, 40 feet at the beam, and is manned in wartime by over 300 men. Her armament includes 5 inch guns, torpedoes, and anti-submarine weapons.
   She is designed to hunt and kill enemy submarines, screen convoys, shoot down attacking aircraft, bombard enemy shore installations, patrol enemy coasts and any other duties that require a fast, well armed ship.
   Since commissioning in 1945 GURKE has served many tours in the Western Pacific area including three during the occupation of Japan, three during the Korean conflict, seven on the Formosa Patrol with the Seventh Fleet, and two in the South China Sea.
   During the invasion of Inchon in September 1950, GURKE was a member of the "Sitting Ducks", remaining close inshore to provide gunfire support to the landing troops. She received three hits from enemy shore batteries, but suffered no fatalities. For her performance during this invasion GURKE was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation.

   During a second patrol in Korea with Task Force 77 she received two direct hits from enemy shore batteries and seven fragmentation hits. Again no personnel fatalities resulted, and the enemy gun emplacements were soon silenced.
   From March to July of 1962, GURKE saw extensive duty with the Joint Task Force at Christmas Island during the nuclear tests.
   After a period of operating with the First Fleet in the Eastern Pacific, GURKE entered Puget Sound Naval Shipyard at Bremerton, Washington in August, 1963, for a Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) conversion. During this modernization, older weapons gave way to new anti-submarine weapons systems making GURKE a fast, capable platform from which to launch a wide assortment of weapons, tailored to meet current anti-submarine warfare situations. Upon completion of FRAM in May 1964, GURKE underwent an extensive period of underway training. On 25 July, 1964, USS GURKE was pronounced ready for any assignment, and resumed her duties as an active member of the Pacific Fleet.
   GURKE returned from her sixteenth tour in the Western Pacific area on 26 May, 1968. She was an active participant in Yankee Station operations with several aircraft carriers in the Tonkin Gulf.
   GURKE has become a familiar sight in the ports of Japan, Korea, and Formosa during the last 20 years. She has also called at the ports of Manus, Pago Pago, Sydney, Machay, Newcastle, Brisbane, Cairns, Hong Kong, Saigon, Subic Bay, Guam, Kwajalein, Valparaiso, and Acapulco.