New sign honors Neche, N.D., resident Private First Class Henry Gurke's sacrifice in WWII

Posted 9/30/25 (Tue)

By Delaney Otto

September 27, 2025 

NECHE, N.D. — There were shivers down Roy Paton’s spine when he and his wife drove by new signs on the highway from the junction of Highway 5 to the Canada border.

The signs, purchased by the Gainer-McAndrew American Legion Post No. 242, bear the name of a man from Neche that gave his life to save others during World War II — Private First Class Henry Gurke.

“I think it’s something that possibly should have been done a long time ago,” Paton said.

A celebration of the signs and remembrance of Gurke is planned for 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at the Neche fire hall. The North Dakota Legislature made the highway designation, signed into law by Gov. Kelly Armstrong on March 3. Paton expects about 35 to 40 relatives of Gurke’s to attend, along with some individuals who served on the Navy destroyer USS Gurke DD-783, named in honor of Gurke. Paton said that someone like Gurke having a ship named after him is amazing.

“Normally, ships are named after presidents, generals, a prominent person or state,” he said. “Henry was a PFC. There are only two ranks lower than a PFC, it’s a private and a civilian. To have a private first class have a Navy destroyer named after him is just amazing in my mind.”

Gurke and his brother Tom joined the army following high school, followed by Gurke enlisting in the Marine Corps. He was assigned overseas with the 3rd Marine Raiders Battalion, a press release about the event said, and was deployed to Guadalcanal. On Nov. 9, 1943, a grenade fell into the foxhole Gurke was sharing with another marine. Gurke smothered the explosion with his body so his fellow marine could continue firing, the release said, sacrificing himself.

In recognition of his sacrifice, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the first North Dakotan in WWII to do so. President Franklin D. Roosevelt presented the award to Gurke’s mother, Hulda Gurke, on May 2, 1944. The USS Gurke was christened and sponsored by her on Feb. 15, 1945, the release said. The ship was part of the occupation of Japan and participated in the Inchon Assault in September 1950.

Neche’s park will also have a monument with the builder’s plaque from the ship, and the Legion is working to put a Talking Trails sign at the location for people to learn more.

Paton was approached by Eric Dietrich of Cavalier a little over a year ago to have something done for Gurke, he said, inspired by bridges in the area that have been named after veterans. Gurke got in contact with Rep. David Monson, R-Osnabrock, to get the dedication through the Legislature. The Legion chose to pay for the signs, around $800, though Paton was sure the state would have paid for them.

“(We did it) just because I thought we should,” he said. “I just felt that our post should contribute something, so we did.”

The signs went up Aug. 1, the same day as new speed limit signs for North Dakota’s updated 80 mph speed limit. Paton said he’s impressed by the North Dakota Department of Transportation employees that put up the signs at the same time they were changing hundreds of others. He and his wife were driving back from Grand Forks the Sunday after the change when he decided to check out Gurke’s signs. They gave him goosebumps, he said.

There will be cakes, cupcakes, coffee and lemonade served at the celebration, with pictures of Gurke, the USS Gurke, Hulda Gurke receiving the Medal of Honor and others during the event. A flag flown on the ship and other memorabilia will also be displayed. Gurke’s nephew, retired Capt. O-6 Lee Gurke, and great niece, retired Lt. Col. Jennifer Erlendson, will both be speaking at the event.

Medal of Honor awarded to Pfc. Henry Gurke, the first North Dakotan in World War II to receive the nation’s highest military decoration, now preserved in the State Historical Society of North Dakota’s collection.