Flusser was operating with the Lexington task force put of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and took part in the effort to intercept the retiring Jap forces.

The destroyer went to the Southwest Pacific in the Spring of 1942 on convoy duty, and joined action with the enemy at Lae, New Guinea. Later, in the invasion of Finschafen, Flusser, in a half-hour night action, destroyed two troop-laden enemy barges by gunfire and a third by ramming.

On December 27, 1943, during the landing at Cape Gloucester, New Britain, the Flusser and Mahan proceeded into Borgan Bay ahead of the formation, laid buoys to mark the reefs and conducted and effective shore bombardment.

During these months, Flusser took part in the landings at Arawe, New Britain; Saidor, New Guinea, and the Admiralty Islands.

The destroyer was damaged once by enemy fire. This occurred while patrolling near Wotje Atoll in the Marshall Islands, when shore batteries found the range, inflicting light damage. Nine men were wounded.

After supporting the Leyte landings in October, 1944, Flusser was assigned to a force covering the landing of the 77th Division at Ormoc Bay, Leyte. The formation was subjected to repeated Kamikaze and bombing attacks. When Lamson, patrolling near Flusser, was hit by a suicide plane, Flusser's small boat crew rescued a large number of survivors. Flusser stood by during a ten-hour attack by approximately 50 Japanese suicide planes, permitting salvage of Lamson.

After the invasion of Luzon, in Lingayen Gulf, in January, 1945, Flusser participated in the numerous thrusts which finally dislodged the Jap garrisons from the central and Southern Philippine Islands and Borneo.

The Flusser is credited with shooting down four suicide planes and an assist in downing a heavy bomber.

The Legion of Merit medal, three Bronze Star medals and one commendation ribbon were awarded men and officers of the Flusser during the war.

The destroyer was built in the yards of the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Kearny, New Jersey, and was commissioned October 1, 1936.

Source: Navy Department press release regarding Operation Crossroads, 24 January 1945.