Portrait of Medal of Honor Recipient Unveiled

A portrait of Rear Admiral Eugene Bennett Fluckey ’30 was unveiled May 26—Memorial Day—before an assembled audience of the school community, honored guests, speakers, and emeriti faculty.

Fluckey was a genuine World War II hero and a great naval leader and innovator. A 1935 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he joined the submarine service in 1938 and took command of the USS Barb in April 1944. He received the Medal of Honor (the nation’s highest award for valor) for “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life… as commanding officer of the USS Barb during her 11th war patrol.” He was also the recipient of four Navy Crosses, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, a Presidential Unit Citation, the Navy Unit Commendation, and a host of lesser medals. “He had more medals than anyone else I ever saw,” recalls a USNA classmate.
 
The Fluckey portrait was commissioned and gifted to Mercersburg in memory of Thomas G. Pownall ’40 by his widow, Marilyn, and his family.
    
The portrait will hang temporarily in Ford Hall along with paintings of Mercersburg’s two other Medal of Honor recipients, Lieutenant Ralph Talbot ’16 and Admiral Joel T. Boone ’09, as well as with the portrait of another alumnus and war hero, Wilbert White ’07, who has been repeatedly recommended for the Medal of Honor.

Fluckey died in June 2007 at age 93.

In service to their country, 167 Mercersburg alumni were killed in action during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. "That number is far more than this school's fair share, given our size," said Douglas Hale, head of school, during the ceremony. "But it measures the depth of Mercersburg's belief in duty, honor, and service to country."

"Admiral Fluckey's achievements are enormous, and he is truly a war hero. We are deeply proud of him and of all of our military."

Read more about Rear Admiral Eugene Bennett Fluckey ’30.

Read Head of School Douglas Hale's remarks.