Keeping the blogosphere posted on the goings on of the world of submarines since late 2004... and mocking and belittling general foolishness wherever it may be found. Idaho's first and foremost submarine blog. (If you don't like something on this blog, please E-mail me; don't call me at home.)

Friday, November 09, 2007

An Appropriate Ending...

I got choked up reading the story at the SubPac website about RADM Gene Fluckey's final voyage:
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, the Pasadena is traveling with history.
A portion of the cremains of decorated Navy Rear Adm. (Retired) Eugene Bennet Fluckey was brought on board Pasadena moments before departure. There, the remains will make the journey with the sub 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...
... Chief of the Boat MTCM Jim Lyle carried the cremains onto the sub. “I’m honored”, said Lyle of his involvement in this historic event. “I had goose bumps.”
I'm glad the Submarine Force continues to honor our heroes from the past. I'm just wondering where the "undisclosed location" is they're going to conduct the burial at sea? I propose Namkwan Harbor...

3 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

The perfect end for a truly great
submariner.....Burial at sea....
With a US Navy nuke carrying some of his ashes to their final resting place in the Pacific.
BRAVO ZULU.....

11/10/2007 6:56 AM

 
Blogger MT1(SS) said...

Also fitting for an MTCM to carry the cremains aboard. The RADM was the first to propose, and perform, the launching of missiles from a submarine.

A lifetime of dedication to the Navy and the U.S.... I will certainly stop and pay my respects my next trip through Annapolis.

11/10/2007 10:48 AM

 
Blogger Rick "Doc" MacDonald said...

When I was assigned to the Naval Hospital, Annapolis, I worked part-time at Anne Arundel Medical Center and will now see it in quite a different light. This was a great man who lived at a time when men just like him were needed the most. I'm certain that he would be proud and happy at the way his life ended and the tributes that followed. Fair winds and following seas. Sailor, rest your oar.

11/13/2007 11:34 AM

 

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