R261539Z JAN 08
TO COMSUBGRU SEVEN
INFO COMSUBFOR NORFOLK VA
COMSUBPAC PEARL HARBOR HI
COMSUBRON SEVEN
COMSUBRON FIFTEEN
BT
UNCLAS PERSONAL FOR RADM MCANENY INFO VADM DONNELY ,CAPT POWERS AND CAPT SAWYER// N 05000 //MSG ID / GEN ADMIN/PASADENA/100/JAN//SUBJ/RADM FLUCKEY BURIAL AT SEA
//RMKS/
1. I HELD A CEREMONY ON 21 JANUARY TOPSIDE ON ALAVA PIER JN SUBIC BAY WITH MY CREW ASSEMBLED IN SUMMER WHITES TO HONOR RADM EUGENE B.FLUCKEY. READING AN EXCERPT FROM THUNDER BELOW THAT DESCRIBED BARB’S ACTION IN SEPTEMBER 1944, MY CHIEF OF THE BOAT IMPRINTED ONTO MINDS OF 150 PASADENA CREWMEMBERS THE IMAGES OF A TWODA Y SOUTH CHINA SEA OPERATION. USS BARB TORPEDOED AND SANK THE TANKER AZURA MARU AND THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER UNYO BY FIRING SIX TORPEDOES IN COMPLETE DARKNESS, THEN SURF ACED JUST HOURS LATER TO RESCUE FOURTEEN AUSTRALIAN AND BRITISH POWS FROM THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AS A TYPHOON ROLLED JN TO STIR WINDS ABOVE SIXTY KNOTS AND SEAS TO OVER TWENTY FEET.
2. JN THE TRADITION OF OUR SILENT SERVICE, I PINNED DOLPHINS ON FOUR JUNIOR OFFICERS AND TWO YOUNG SAILORS AS MY COB READ ON. THE PINNING COMMEMORATED HOW OUR SUBMARINE QUALIFICATIONS TODAY CONTINUE THE TRADITIONS OF PERFORMANCE SET BY CDR GENE FLUCKEY AND HIS USS BARB CREW THROUGH THEIR PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE, PERSONAL DEDICATION, TEAMWORK AND MISSION ACCOMPLISHMENT. SUCH ARE THE TRADITIONS OF THE SUBMARINE FORCE, AND ON THAT DAY SIX MORE JOINED OUR RANKS.
3. THREE DAYS LATER I SURFACED PASADENA AT 20N/115E, THE VERY SAME LOCATION BARB RESCUED THOSE ALLIED POWS OVER SIXTY YEARS AGO. IN A MEMORABLE CEREMONY ON THE BRIDGE I COMMITTED RADM FLUCKEYS REMAINS TO THE DEEP.
4. PASADENA IS HONORED TO HAVE CONDUCTED RADM FLUCKEYS BURIAL AT SEA. SAILING WITH HIM FROM PEARL HARBOR, THROUGHOUT THE SAME WEST PACIFIC WATERS WHICH BARB, WAHOO, PARCHE AND OTHERS PATROLLED, REMINDS ME AND MY CREW OF THE TENETS OF OUR PROFESSION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR DEPLOYMENTS TODAY IN SECURING OUR NATIONAL INTERESTS. NOW WHEN WE READ FROM THUNDER BELOW, MY MEN ARE TRULY INSPIRED TO BE EXPERT SUBMARINERS AND ACHIEVE SUPERIOR W ARFIGHTING READINESS. THEY KNOW THAT WHILE WE HAVE DRAMATICALLY MODERNIZED OUR SUBMARINE PLATFORMS SINCE THE 1940S, IT IS OUR CONTINUOUS TRAINING AND CONSTANT VIGILANCE WHICH ENABLES US TO SAFELY NAVIGATE THE SEAS AND MAINTAIN STEALTH TO ACHIEVE MISSION SUCCESS IN AN UNFORGIVING ENVIRONMENT.
5. THE TRADITIONS AND STANDARDS OUR PREDECESSORS ESTABLISHED IN WARTIME CARRY ON TODAY IN OUR NUCLEAR SUBMARINE FORCE AS WE EXECUTE NATIONAL TASK.ING, JOINT OPERATIONS AND THEATER SECURITY EXERCISES AROUND THE GLOBE ON A DAILY BASIS. IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT THE OFFICERS, SAILORS AND CHIEFS ONBOARD PASADENA UNDERSTAND THEIR MISSION TASKING AND WE ARE INSPIRED BY RADM FLUCKEYS LEGACY TO ACHIEVE MISSION SUCCESS. WE ARE READY.
6. MC2 HIRAYAMA FROM NAVAL FLEET ACTIVITIES YOKOSUKA PUBLIC AFFAIRS CAPTURED THE EVENT ON CAMERA AND IS PREPARING NEWS ARTICLES THAT HE WILL SUBMIT UPON RETURN TO YOKOSUKA. MY CREW AND I ARE PREPARING A PACKAGE WITH AN ANNOTATED CHARTLET, PHOTOS AND VIDEO TO SEND TO THE FLUCKEY FAMILY FROM AN UPCOMING PORT VISIT. MC2 HIRAYAMA DISEMBARKED TODAY WITH FOOT AGE OF RADM FLUCKEYS BURIAL, AND HE WILL PASS MATERIAL TO LCDR KUNTZ WHEN HE RETURNS TO YOKOSUKA.
7. ANYTIME, ANYWHERE.
