Eugene Bennett Fluckey was born in Washington, D.C. back in 1913. He graduated from Wester High School when he was 15. He was a member of the Boy Scouts achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. He prepared for the Naval Academy at Columbian Preparatory School in Washington. He entered the United States Naval Academy in 1931, graduating as an Ensign in 1935.
His first tour of duty was aboard the battleship USS Nevada. He reported for instruction at the Submarine School, New London, Connecticut in December of 1938, in just of 1941 he was assigned to the submarine USS Bonita.
In 1944, he reported to the Commander Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet. He established himself as one of the greatest submarine skippers, credited with the most tonnage sunk by a U.S. Naval skipper of World War II: 17 ships including a carrier, cruiser and frigate. He served from 1935-72. He died in 2007, he was 93.
What you may not know about Real Admiral Fluckey is that he sent a landing party ashore to set demolition charges on a coastal railway line, destroying a 16-car train. This was the sold landing by U.S. military forces on the Japanese home islands during World War II. He was awarded the Medal of Honor, four Navy Crosses and many others. The only medal not received by any of him men was the Purple Heart.
NW Arkansas, come for a visit, stay for a lifetime.
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