Between December, 1944 and February, 1945, the submarine USS Barb continued its service along the cost of China, searching for enemy shipping, in what was its 11th war patrol. The skipper, Commander Eugene B. Fluckey, and his executive officer Robert W. McNitt, were puzzled that the number of Japanese convoys offshore seemed to be declining. Fluckey determined that it was likely that the ships were hugging the coast in shallow waters during the day, and hiding up rivers at night. Without charts, and without intelligence on Japanese minefields, Fluckey and McNitt led the Barb into the lower reaches of Mamkwan Harbor, where they, in fact, located over 30 hidden enemy ships at anchor. Fully aware that an escape would require a full hour’s run at top speed through uncharted and likely mined waters, Fluckey ordered his men to their battle stations. The Barb fired six forward torpedoes at the convoy, swung around, and fired four stern tubes, obtaining eight direct hits on six of the main targets. Fluckey then ordered the Barb to race quickly back to the open sea, and safety.

On a later patrol, Fluckey, leading the Barb alongside the Japanese mainland, witnessed an enemy troop train traveling along the coast night after night, bringing fresh troops to a debarkation point to be sent to fight American troops on Okinawa. Determined to stop the train, Fluckey devised a plan to sneak ashore and plant a charge on the tracks, which would explode as the train rolled over it. The raid worked perfectly, as all eight men who went ashore returned safely to the Barb. That night, the troop train was blown to bits as it hit the pressure switch that Fluckey had designed. This was the only time in World War II that American military men set foot on the home islands of Japan.

The USS Barb sunk more enemy tonnage than any other U.S. ship during World War II. For his action in Mamkwan Harbor, Eugene B. Fluckey was awarded the Medal of Honor. He also received four Navy Crosses—a feat unequaled by any other living American, and has received numerous other decorations. Robert W. McNitt was decorated with two Silver Stars and the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. Their exceptional service aboard the USS Barb is unequaled in all of United States Navy history.