First Row: R.L. Birdwell, SH3; G.D. Bellefeuille, SN; S.L. Smart, SN; L. Adkins, CS1; H.T. Terencio, TN;
T.A. Caspe, DK1; A.O. Urbano, SK2; D.P. Howard, CS3
Second Row: H. Washington, CSC; F.O. Bennett, SH2; A.S. Balingit, SD3; L.D. Brown, CS3; J.A.
Borden, SK3; B.I. Hart, SK2; P.J. Reeves, SK3; C.M. Glover, SH2; E.W. Murray, DKSN; S.K. Eickhoff,
SN; G.J. Bennett, SK3; R.E. Anderson, SK3; J.F. Hart, SKC.
The Supply Department, comprised of thirty-three persons headed by LTJG Dawson, SKC Hart, and CSC Washington, controls the many services which allow Gurke to remain at sea for long periods of time and maintain as many conveniences as possible. In the "bank", DK1 Caspe and his assistant, DKSN Murray, handle up to $50,000 every two weeks to pay the crew. They are also responsible for the meticulous bookkeeping involved in maintaining the 282 pay records.
The most important service rendered by the department is feeding the crew. Over 800 meals are served in a single day; this requires extremely accurate planning and measuring. Our chefs are CS3 Brown and SN Smith, who cook for one day, and CS3 Brooker and SN Smart, who tend the galley for the next day. Their efforts are coordinated and supervised by CS1 Adkins. These men deserve a great deal of credit for providing quality food for so many. Gurke is also fortunate to have an outstanding baker, CS3 Howard, who bakes over seventy loaves of bread per day, makes cakes, pies, breakfast rolls and many other tasty pastries to supplement the meals.
SN Bellefeuille, the Gurke's "Jack of the Dust", insures the proper kind and quantity of food is available for the "chefs", as he is responsible for the commissary stores inventory and disposition.
LTJG J.C. Dawson
Another service offered the crew is the ship's laundry. Operating around the clock, individuals like SH3 Perkins, SH3 Corwin, and SN Woodard and Narewski insure that the crew's laundry, including bed linens, is properly cleaned and pressed. No small job for 300 persons.
Also along the line of grooming is the barber shop, which is supervised by SH1 Wadkins. Among those who handle the clippers are SH2 Bennett and SN Lopez.
Although the Gurke is only a little longer than a football field and only a quarter its width, it has a ship's store. Operated by SH3 Birdwell, the ship's store conducts monthly sales of approximately $6000. Ten percent of its profits go to the crew's Welfare and Recreation fund, the remainder to the operation of the laundry. The store contains all the necessities required for life at sea and a few luxury items such as watches, jewelry, cameras, radios and perfume. Toilet articles, cigarettes, candy, and writing utensils are just a few of the many stock items always available. Many other articles may be purchased through the ship's store at a great savings.
Providing services for the ship's officers are the Steward's Mates, led by SD2 Cardenas. TN Terencio and Palanca, and TA Ragiles serve meals in the wardroom and keep the staterooms shining, while SD3 Balingit and SD3 Punsalang prepare meals that are often a gourmet's delight.
SH2 Glover, being in charge of the crew's mess decks, insures that all food spaces and personnel handling food are immaculately clean and that the crew is served in an orderly fashion.
Chief Storekeeper J.F. Hart
Last, but most important to the ship's operation, are the storekeepers. These individuals, supervised by SK1 Villarba, manage the ship's quarterly operating allowance, purchase parts and supplies, account for their disposal, and maintain an accurate inventory of these items. Their services are used by all the ship's departments to obtain badly needed parts to repair vital equipment or improve existing equipment. Among those who provide these services are SK1 Urbana, in charge of operating allowance records, SK2 Hart, who controls stock records, SK3 Reeves, in charge of commissary stores records, and SK3 Anderson, Borden, and Bennett, and SN Eichhoff, who maintain the storeroom.
