Eugene Bennett Fluckey was born in Washington, D.C., on 5 October 1913. Following four years at the U.S. Naval Academy, he graduated with the Class of 1935 and received a commission. Ensign Fluckey's first assignments, as an officer of the battleship Nevada and the destroyer McCormick, were followed in 1938 by instruction at the Submarine School, New London, located at Groton, Connecticut. In December of that year Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Fluckey was assigned to the submarine S-42. He served in USS Bonita in 1941-1942, during which time he was promoted to Lieutenant.
From mid-1942 into early 1944, Fluckey received Naval Engineering instruction and attended Prospective Commanding Officers' School at New London, then went to the Pacific where he made a war patrol as Prospective Commanding Officer of the submarine Barb. Promoted to Lieutenant Commander in May 
1943 and Commander in March 1944, he assumed command of Barb in late April of the latter year. During five war patrols Commander Fluckey's initiative and agressiveness cost the enemy at least sixteen ships, many small craft and facilities ashore, earning a Medal of Honor and four Navy Crosses for himself, and Presidential Unit Citations and the Navy Unit Commendation for Barb.
In August 1945 Commander Fluckey became Prospective Commanding Officer of the new submarine Dogfish, then under construction at Groton, Connecticut. However, this assignment ended after a few months and he began duty in Washington, D.C., first in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy, then at the War Plans Division and, beginning in late 1945, as Personal Aide to the Chief of Naval Operations, Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. In June 1947 he again received a seagoing command, the modernized submarine Halfbeak. In 1949-1950 Commander Fluckey served on the staff of Commander, Submarine Force, Atlantic Fleet and from October 1950 to July 1953 was U.S. Naval Attache at Lisbon, Portugal.
Command of Submarine Division 52 in 1953-1954 was followed, after his promotion to the rank of Captain, by command of the submarine tender Sperry and of Submarine Squadron FIVE. During the later 1950s Captain Fluckey was assigned to the U.S. Naval Academy, attended the National War College and served with the National Security Council. Selection for promotion to Rear Admiral in mid-1960 was followed by tours as Commander Amphibious Group FOUR, presidency of the Board of Inspection and Survey and a temporary assignment as Task Force Director of the Shipyards Appraisal Group. In June 1964 Rear Admiral Fluckey became Commander Submarine Force, Pacific, and in July 1966 he reported as Director of Naval Intelligence. Two years later he became Chief of the Military Assistance Advisory Group, Portugal. Rear Admiral Eugene B. Fluckey retired from active duty at the beginning of August 1972.
Citation:
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 from 19 December 1944 to 15 February 1945. After sinking a large enemy ammunition ship and damaging additional tonnage during a running two hour night battle on 8 January, Cmdr. 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 (Mamkwam 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 stations - torpedoes!" In a daring penetration of the enemy screen, and riding in five fathoms of water, he launched the Barb's last forward torpedoes at 3,000 yard range. Quickly bring 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 caused 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 four days later sank a large Japanese freighter to complete a record of heroic combat achievement, reflecting the highest credit upon Cmdr. Fluckey, his gallant officers and men and the U.S. Naval Service.
Other Navy Awards given to Eugene Fluckey:
Further reading:
Thunder Below! by Rear Admiral Eugene B. Fluckey. The War Patrols of USS Barb.
