Adm. Fluckey wrote a great book "Thunder below" about his service during WWII.

Mr Marriott Shame on you for releasing this blog, it surprises me that you run an international organisation, but yet still feel the need to talk about such horrific things like "In the war against Japan, Fluckey fired the first missiles from a submarine, sank more tonnage than any other U.S. marine skipper, including an aircraft carrier, a cruiser and a destroyer and even blew up a train after landing submarines turned saboteurs on mainland Japan in 1945." Has it ever crossed your mind how many fathers and grandfathers that "Fluckey" killed while he "fired the first missiles"; you talk about this like it is a computer game giving no consequence to those outside the USA and whose life is still heavily affected by this, don't forget that the Japanese armymen did not have a choice to enter this war due to the political regime that was in power at the time.
What I find shocking if not more so disappointing is the fact you praise him and yet take no real philosophical meaning away from this war apart from the fact he fired deadly weapons and caused tons of damage.
Shame on a well traveled man that your education does not show you that this blog is highly upsetting to those who are impartial to both American and Japanese.

Mr. Marriott - Wonderful piece! Part of what made Admiral Fluckey so great was the care and respect he showed toward his seamen. He was both admired and adored by all - both up and down the chain. And, as the old maxim goes, behind every great man is a great woman. A lot of people may not know this, but Admiral Fluckey's mother, Lucille "Lulu" Snowden Fluckey was a local DC china painter. She ran an art school in DC for many years. In a private conversation with a member of my family, Admiral Fluckey relayed that he acted as a "runner" for his mother, picking up unpainted slipware and delivering finished pieces to the lucky recipients. He even painted a piece himself, but I suppose that piece is long gone. Lulu died on June 9, 1934, of injuries she received in an automobile accident after visiting Eugene at the Naval Academy in Annapolis. I'm not related to the Fluckey's but I do collect Lulu's artwork. So if you were considering a tribute to the Fluckeys, I would be happy to lend you pieces of Lulu's beautiful hand-painted china from my collection to use as a display. If you still have that china cabinet in the main entry of Westfields, it would be a perfect place to display it along with a photo of Admiral Fluckey her son - a man who lead with a brilliance, kindness, and affection.

Great post. the president's message is probably the best advice one can get. Agree

Thanks again, Mr, Marriott, for another thought-provoking leadership piece. This is some of the best leadership development!

Well, the president's message is probably the best advice one can get. Thought just keep going helps me through tough times while trying to raise my little start-up to the next level. So, Mr. Marriott, stay determined and bring us more good stories!
Cordially,
Stjepan

Thanks for the great rememberance. I regret to inform your readers that Adm Fluckey passed away this summer at the age of 93. His obituary is can be seen at http://www.boston.com/news/globe/obituaries/articles/2007/07/02/eugene_fluckey_iconic_admiral_credited_with_daring_sub_raids/?page=1
Brett Peloquin, Loyal Marriott traveler and US Naval Academy class of 1981

Admiral Eugene had the true and superb honor of defending his nation; a service that any decent officer or general will grant to his nation without delay. However this reminded me of my own war that I had to fight and due to the rough circumstances forced on us by the Gulf War. If it wasn't for great amounts of persistence and determination my elder sister and I wouldn't have achieved what we have achieved so far. After my father lost his investment and money in Kuwait it was obvious to both of us that the household expenses and our three younger sibling's education would be our priority, and so it was. Only the Lord knows what both of us had to sacrifice and go through in order to put food on the table for our aging parents and siblings, pay off my siblings school expenses, and even tutor them when there be need to. Leading such a life our days past quickly and quietly, a technique that only time uses with us to deceive us into maturing more. There were rough days and soft days, the happy and the sad. But before long my sister and I hung our first medallion of honor on our chest when we saw my younger sister graduate with a bachelor's degree and with honors in Music. After that in two years the second medallion of honor came when my younger brother graduated with honors also from university having majored in the banking field. My third brother is still a student studying Industrial Engineering at a fine university and who is also showing much talent. In another two years my sister and I will have a third dear medallion hanging on our chest when he graduates and thanks to those two dear weapons that you discussed on your website and with our Lord's blessings, we are winning our war. Wish us Luck.