A career Naval officer, Fluckey served on various ships until April 27, 1943, when he was given command of Barb, a submarine. He became one of the most accomplished submarine skippers of the war, credited with sinking more tonnage than any other U.S. submarine captain during World War II, including a Japanese aircraft carrier, a cruiser, and a frigate.
Fluckey was also responsible for another wartime milestone: he commanded the only landing of U.S. forces on the Japanese Home Islands, sending a landing party ashore to blow up a train line, taking a supply train at the same time. He ordered that the raiders consist of representatives from every division on his submarine (and divided between regular Navy and Reserve sailors) to help spread the credit, and specified that as many of the men as possible be ex-Boy Scouts since he figured they’d be better equipped to find their way in enemy territory.
Fluckey received four Navy Cross Medals for extraordinary heroism, and the Medal of Honor for “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity.” His proudest accomplishment during the war was that all of his men not only survived, but came home without any combat-related injuries. He retired as a Rear Admiral in 1972, and died on June 28. He was 93.