Eugene Bennett Fluckey | |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | Lucky |
Born | Washington, D.C. | October 5, 1913
Died | June 28, 2007 Annapolis, Maryland | (aged 93)
Place of burial | |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/ | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1935–1972 |
Rank | Rear admiral |
Commands held |
|
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Medal of Honor Navy Cross (4) Navy Distinguished Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (2) |
Other work | Orphanage Director, Portugal |
Eugene Bennett Fluckey (October 5, 1913 – June 28, 2007), nicknamed "Lucky Fluckey",[1] was a United States Navy rear admiral who received the Medal of Honor and four Navy Crosses during his service as a submarine commander in World War II.
Fluckey was born in Washington, D.C., on October 5, 1913. He graduated from Western High School in Washington at age 15. He was too young to go to college, so his father sent him to the Mercersburg Academy in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. He also was a member of the Boy Scouts, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. He prepared for the Naval Academy at Columbian Preparatory School, Washington.
After he retired from the Navy in 1972, he and his wife, Marjorie, started running an orphanage in Portugal in 1974. Marjorie died in 1979, after 42 years of marriage. He married his second wife, Margaret, in 1980 and they continued to run the orphanage together until it closed in 1982. He has one daughter, Barbara.
His book, Thunder Below! published in 1992, depicts the exploits of his beloved Barb. "Though the tally shows more shells, bombs, and depth charges fired at Barb, no one received the Purple Heart and Barb came back alive, eager, and ready to fight again."[4]
Fluckey died at age 93, from complications of Alzheimer's disease,[7] at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis, Maryland, on June 28, 2007.[8][9] He is buried at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery.
Fluckey's military decorations and awards include:
Submarine Warfare Insignia | ||||||||||||||||
1st Row | Medal of Honor | |||||||||||||||
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2nd Row | Navy Cross with three 5⁄16 gold stars | Navy Distinguished Service Medal with one 5⁄16 gold star | Legion of Merit with one 5⁄16 gold star | |||||||||||||
3rd Row | Presidential Unit Citation with one 3⁄16 bronze star | Navy Unit Commendation with one 3⁄16 bronze star | American Defense Service Medal with fleet clasp (3⁄16 bronze star) | |||||||||||||
4th Row | American Campaign Medal | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with seven 3⁄16 bronze stars | World War II Victory Medal | |||||||||||||
5th Row | National Defense Service Medal with one 3⁄16 bronze star |
Philippine Liberation Medal | Navy Pistol Marksmanship Medal | |||||||||||||
6th Row | Submarine Combat Patrol Insignia |
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of the U.S.S. Barb during her 11th war patrol along the east coast of China from 19 December 1944 to 15 February 1945. After sinking a large enemy ammunition ship and damaging additional tonnage during a running 2-hour night battle on 8 January, Comdr. Fluckey, in an exceptional feat of brilliant deduction and bold tracking on 25 January, located a concentration of more than 30 enemy ships in the lower reaches of Nankuan Chiang (Mamkwan Harbor). Fully aware that a safe retirement would necessitate an hour's run at full speed through the uncharted, mined, and rock-obstructed waters, he bravely ordered, "Battle station — torpedoes!" In a daring penetration of the heavy enemy screen, and riding in 5 fathoms [9 m] of water, he launched the Barb's last forward torpedoes at 3,000 yard [2.7 km] range. Quickly bringing the ship's stern tubes to bear, he turned loose 4 more torpedoes into the enemy, obtaining 8 direct hits on 6 of the main targets to explode a large ammunition ship and cause inestimable damage by the resultant flying shells and other pyrotechnics. Clearing the treacherous area at high speed, he brought the Barb through to safety and 4 days later sank a large Japanese freighter to complete a record of heroic combat achievement, reflecting the highest credit upon Comdr. Fluckey, his gallant officers and men, and the U.S. Naval Service.
Fluckey was awarded Eagle Scout in 1948.[10] He is one of only eleven known Eagle Scouts who also received the Medal of Honor. The others are Aquilla J. Dyess and Mitchell Paige of the U.S. Marine Corps; Robert Edward Femoyer and Jay Zeamer Jr. of the U.S. Army Air Forces; Leo K. Thorsness[11] of the United States Air Force; Arlo L. Olson,[12] Benjamin L. Salomon, and Walter Joseph Marm Jr. of the United States Army; and Britt K. Slabinski and Thomas R. Norris of the U.S. Navy.
He was an honorary companion of the Maryland Commandery of the Military Order of Foreign Wars.
His book Thunder Below! was winner of the 1993 Samuel Eliot Morison Award for Naval Literature.[13][14]