Eugene Flukey
(October 5, 1913 – June 28, 2007)

http://www.ussnautilus.org/undersea/fluckey.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Bennett_Fluckey

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer of the USS BARB during her Eleventh War Patrol along the east coast of China from19 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, Commander Fluckey, in an exceptional feat of brilliant deduction and bold tracking on 23 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 of water, he launched the BARBs last forward torpedoes at 3,000-yard range. Quickly bringing the ship's stern tubes to bear, he turned loose four more torpedoes into the enemy, obtaining eight direct hits on six 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 safely and 4 days later sank a large Japanese freighter to complete a record of heroic combat achievement, reflecting the highest credit upon Commander Fluckey, his gallant officers and men, and the United States Naval Service."

From The Times (London):

Rear-Admiral Eugene Fluckey
US submarine captain and wartime scourge of Japanese shipping
One of America’s most astute submarine tacticians of the Second World War, Eugene Fluckey sank a greater tonnage of shipping as captain of USS Barb than any other submarine skipper in the US Navy.

His most spectacular feat was the sinking, on September 17, 1944, of the 21,000-ton Japanese aircraft carrier Unyo and an 11,000-ton tanker with one torpedo salvo. This was achieved in a bold surface attack by night on a Japanese tanker convoy in the straits between Taiwan and Luzon.

Approaching by radar, Lieutenant-Commander Fluckey lined up the escort carrier with an overlap on a large tanker and fired a bow salvo of six torpedoes. Both vessels were hit and subsequently sank.

Fluckey ended the war credited with a total of 95,360 tons of shipping sunk, a figure he always disputed as being too low. Ten years of research after the war led him to the conviction that his “score” had been nearer 145,000 tons. (Britain’s highest scoring submarine ace was Lieutenant-Commander M. D. Wanklyn, of Upholder, who was credited with 133,940 tons of enemy shipping in the Mediterranean.)

A career naval officer, Eugene Ben-ett Fluckey graduated from the Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1935 and after service in the battleship Nevada and the destroyer McCormick volunteered for submarines in 1938. After five war patrols in the Bonita, he was given command of Barb in April 1944.

Fluckey was bold, innovative and unorthodox. He took his submarine into the shallow seas off the Chinese coast and wreaked havoc among Japanese convoys at anchor, firing salvoes from bow and stern torpedo tubes and then retreating at speed through uncharted, mined and rock-obstructed waters.

On one occasion he made innovative use of rockets, launched from Barb in a strike at a Japanese air base and some factories. While operating daringly among the Japanese home islands he sent a landing party ashore to set demolition charges under a coastal railway line. They blew up the line and derailed a freight train as well.

Fluckey received the Navy Cross four times and the Medal of Honour. Barbreceived a Presidential Unit Citation and a Navy Unit Commendation for her performance. But the record that Fluckey was proudest of was that, in spite of the danger of many of their operations, none of his crew received a Purple Heart (for wounds) in 12 war patrols. It was a remarkable record.

After the war, Fluckey commanded a submarine flotilla, an amphibious group and was commander Submarine Force Pacific Fleet in 1964-66. He retired as a rear-admiral in 1972.

"But Fluckey often said that his greatest achievement was that no one under his command ever received another well-known medal: the Purple Heart for being wounded in action. "He was absolutely confident and absolutely fearless, but fearless with good judgment," said a contemporary. "He brought his ship and his people home."

Thought this was about Cal Worthington.

But he wasn't very "silent".

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past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
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'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
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wasn't silent Cal Calivn Coolidge?

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Read the link.

Is that my assignment for the night professor b?

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

You asked the question explained in the link. Didja find the answer?

Wow! He had brass ones!

The Japanese were probably to shocked to react, I bet they never thought that a sub would be crazy enough to get into that harbor!

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I figured you would like that one, Hatt. I read Flukey's book entitled, "Thunder Below!" 10 or 15 years ago. It's mostly from his logbooks and other contemporaneous sources. A good read. Flukey pretty much invented the US commando tactic which became the SEALs. He is the only sailor for whom a Navy building was named in his honor.

Now I have another book on my WW2 reading list!

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

fitting tribute: named his first mongrel dog after pres coolidge! great story.
thanks b
gregg

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0o==o0

James 4:8

"...let us put aside the blindness of mind of those who can conceive of nothing higher than what is known through the senses"
-Saint Gregory Palamas, ---Discourse on the Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ


Centrally located in North East Central Pa.

I like the heroic figure in history and have posted a few obituaries of "great men" to the Shop over the years. But let's not forget the common soldier, sailor, airmen and marine, especially the WWII veterans and increasingly the "lost" veterans of the Korean War. Today they die peaceful, natural deaths, thanks to their efforts and the young men and women who died while they lived. These old guys survived and helped build a nation.

Here's one.

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Jack Caldwell Ketner Sr.
Jack Caldwell Ketner

HICKORY - Jack Caldwell Ketner, Sr., 89, of Hickory, passed away on Monday, March 17, 2008 at Palliative CareCenter and Hospice of Catawba Valley.

Born on October 31, 1918 in Cabarrus County, he was the son of the late Lily Mae Phillips and Archibald Caldwell Ketner.

Mr. Ketner was an active member of St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Hickory.

He was a double retiree, retiring from active duty and reserves after 21 years. A veteran of WWII, he was a Lt. Col. in the US Air Force and participated in D-Day as a C-47 pilot. After retiring from the Air Force he was a teacher and principal for 27 years in the Hickory Public School System before working the last 18 years as a realtor with Thompson & Associates.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Gladys Alley Ketner and brother, Arnold Hugh Ketner.

He is survived by two daughters, Kathy Rihani and husband Fuad of Hickory, Margaret Aycock and husband Mike of Wake Forest; a son, Jack C. Ketner, Jr. and wife Bonnie of Greensboro; two sisters, Melba Ketner Stirewalt and husband Charles, Mary Alice Ketner Carpenter and husband Lowell; a sister-in-law, Helen Ketner, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Service: A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at St. Andrews Lutheran Church with Pastor Richard Fritz officiating. The body will lie-in-state 30 minutes prior to the service. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery.

Visitation: The family will receive friends at the church from 10-11 a.m. in the Newton Hall.