Medal of Honor: Eugene Bennett Fluckey – World War II – December 1944 to February 1945

Name: Eugene Bennett Fluckey
Rank: Commander
Organization: U.S. Navy
Command: Commanding Officer, U.S.S. Barb
Place and Dates: Along the coast of China – 19 December 1944 to 15 February 1945
Entered Service At: Illinois
Born: 5 October 1913 – Washington, D.C.
Departed: Survived
Accredited To: Illinois
Other Awards: Navy Cross with three Gold Stars

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Summary of Action

Between December 19, 1944, and February 15, 1945, Commander Eugene B. Fluckey commanded the U.S.S. Barb during her eleventh war patrol along the heavily defended east coast of China. Throughout the patrol, he demonstrated exceptional tactical brilliance, daring, and aggressive leadership.

On January 8, 1945, Barb engaged enemy shipping during a running two-hour night surface battle, sinking a large Japanese ammunition ship and damaging additional enemy vessels. Later in the patrol, on January 25, Fluckey made an extraordinary deduction that led him to locate a concentration of more than thirty enemy ships anchored deep inside Mamkwan Harbor in the lower reaches of the Nankuan Chiang.

Fully aware that any escape would require running for more than an hour at full speed through uncharted, mined, and rock-obstructed waters, Fluckey nevertheless ordered an immediate attack. Penetrating the enemy screen in water barely deep enough to submerge, he launched torpedoes at close range into the packed anchorage.

Using both forward and stern tubes, Barb struck six major targets with eight direct hits, detonating a large ammunition ship and triggering devastating secondary explosions that inflicted catastrophic damage across the harbor. Fluckey then navigated his submarine at high speed through the hazardous coastal waters and brought her safely clear.

Four days later, he added another large Japanese freighter to Barb’s tally, completing one of the most audacious and destructive submarine patrols of the war. His leadership and boldness set a benchmark for undersea warfare and inflicted severe losses on the enemy at a critical stage of the Pacific campaign.

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Medal of Honor Citation

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 of water, he launched the Barb’s last forward torpedoes at 3,000-yard 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.