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USS Pasadena Deploys with "The Galloping Ghost"

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS071108-06
Release Date: 11/8/2007 3:26:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Luciano Marano, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- USS Pasadena (SSN 752) departed from Naval Station Pearl Harbor for a regularly scheduled six-month deployment to the Western Pacific Oct. 31.

Though the deployment is a routine one, Pasadena is traveling with history. A portion of the cremains of decorated retired Rear Adm. Eugene B. Fluckey was brought on board Pasadena moments before departure.

The cremains will make the journey with Pasadena to the Western Pacific, where a ceremonial burial at sea will take place at an undisclosed location. While a portion of the cremains travel with the sub, as per Fluckey's wishes, the rest of his ashes were entombed at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

The retired rear admiral passed away June 28, 2007 at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Maryland. He was 93 years old.

Fluckey, a Washington, D.C. native, was a highly decorated and world-renowned submarine commander also known as "Lucky Fluckey" and "The Galloping Ghost of the China Coast."

He is credited as being the skipper who sunk the most enemy tonnage during World War II -- some say 17 ships, others say as many as 29.

Fluckey received the Medal of Honor, four Navy Crosses, the Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory medal and numerous other awards and decorations throughout his illustrious career.

Fluckey retired from active duty in 1972 at the rank of rear admiral. He served as president of the Naval Board of Inspection; commander of Submarine Pacific Force, Pacific Fleet; Chief of Military Assistance Advisory Group, Portugal and the Director of Naval Intelligence.

Fluckey was also one of only six men in history to be awarded both Eagle Scout and the Medal of Honor.

Chief of the Boat, Master Chief Missile Technician Jim Lyle carried the cremains onto the sub.

"I'm honored," said Lyle of his involvement in this historic event. "I had goose bumps."

Despite the revered atmosphere surrounding the presence of the admiral, the general mood of the deployment is one of excitement and good humor.

"I'm supremely proud," said Pasadena Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Douglas Perry. "These guys have executed superbly. They are the hallmark of their trade."

"Solutions, not problems," was Fluckey's life-long philosophy both in his military career and endeavors undertaken after his retirement.

"Over the next six months, as we conduct mission tasking in support of national, Pacific Command and Command Sub Group 7 theater objectives, Pasadena will strive to emulate Adm. Fluckey's courageous call to action," said Perry.

Tradition and history are alive and well in the naval submariner community, with the heroes of the past never far from the minds of today's warriors.

"I pinned Silver Dolphins on Machinist Mate (Nuclear) Leary on the bridge as we headed west from Oahu on 31 October," said Perry. "As tradition, we commemorated the pinning with a reading from World War II submarine exploits and chose a special reading. We read an excerpt from Gene Fluckey's book, 'Thunder Below!', [whiched] described the raid on the railroad bridge – a perfectly fitting way to kick off the deployment."

The crew has been preparing for the deployment for the last 12 months, and Perry feels that they are truly operating at the top of their game.

"They enjoy being good," Perry said. "They know it's not easy and it's never convenient. I'm honored to work with them."