“The Navy Department deeply regrets to inform you that your sons Albert, Francis, George, Joseph and Madison Sullivan are missing in action in the South Pacific.”
Memorial Day weekend is a good time to recall five Irish Catholic brothers from Waterloo, Iowa who perished when the USS Juneau went down on November 13, 1942, the first day of the three day Naval Battle of Guadalcanal which ended in a decisive US victory, signaling ultimate victory in the Guadalcanal campaign. (Of the 687 crew of the Juneau only 10 survived. George Sullivan survived on a raft for a time but perished before the raft was rescued.) The Sullivans were not the only brothers aboard the Juneau. At least thirty other sets of brothers were part of the crew.
Their parents received the news stoically, Thomas Sullivan going to work as a train conductor immediately after hearing the news. (It was a tougher and a better time.) The parents would go on warbond tours during the war, and by their example gave comfort to parents who had also lost a son, the comment often being made by gold star parents that if the Sullivan parents could bear their loss, then they could too. Their only sister Genevieve served as a WAVE.
A Destroyer, The Sullivans, was named in their honor. Al’s son Jimmy eventually served on board it.
Go here to read about the Sullivan brothers. Their names will live as long as men honor courage and patriotism.
When I joined the Navy (1952) they wouldn’t assign me to my older brother’s ship because of that Sullivan tragedy.
USS The Sullivans DDG-68:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_The_Sullivans_(DDG-68)
Remembering all sons and daughters who died as a result of injury in battle. May their souls and all those of the faithful departed Rest In Peace.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rrMGco9TySs&pp=ygUidGhlIGZpZ2h0aW5nIHN1bGxpdmFucyBmdWxsIG1vdmllIA%3D%3D
The Sullivan Law was the basis for Saving Private Ryan. No family should end because of war.
One brother served in Viet Nam, the other served in Korea.
The Navy had a policy for a time of not having brothers serve together. Although a popular myth, there is no Sullivan Law.
“The Navy had a policy for a time of not having brothers serve together. Although a popular myth, there is no Sullivan Law.”
Thanks Don.
The Arleigh Burke class DDG The Sullivans is the second ship named after the brothers. The first was a Fletcher Class DD. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_The_Sullivans_(DD-537)
As for the brothers policy of the Navy, that must have been only during the war because both ships I served aboard had at least one set of brothers each onboard during my time in the mid to late eighties.