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Neche Union Cemetery

Born:  November 06, 1922 at Neche, ND

Entered Service in the US Marine Corps from North Dakota

Earned the Medal of Honor during World War II For heroism November 09, 1943 at Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville, Philippine Islands

During action against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands Private First Class Gurke's platoon was engaged in the defense of a vital road block near Empress Augusta Bay on Bougainville Island. Private First Class Gurke, in company with another Marine, was delivering a fierce stream of fire against the main vanguard of the Japanese. Concluding from the increasing ferocity of grenade barrages that the enemy was determined to annihilate their small, two-man foxhole, he resorted to a bold and desperate measure for holding out despite the torrential hail of shells. When a Japanese grenade dropped squarely into the foxhole, Private First Class Gurke, mindful that his companion manned an automatic weapon of superior fire power and therefore could provide more effective resistance, thrust him roughly aside and flung his own body over the missile to smother the explosion.