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The Story of Honor
The five Sullivan Brothers were lost when the ship to which all five were
assigned, USS Juneau (CL-52) was sunk on 13 November 1942. Many memorial efforts have honored the five brothers. Since their
loss much confusion has resulted from the many myths surrounding both the Sullivan brothers and the Navy's policy regarding
family members serving together at sea, shown during commissioning ceremonies of USS Juneau (CL 52) at the Brooklyn Navy Yard,
14 February 1942. (left to right) Joseph, Francis, Albert, Madison, George Sullivan. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer's
Mate (SW) John Gay. In the aftermath of Juneau's loss, the Navy notified Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Sullivan of
Waterloo, Iowa, that all five of their sons were missing in action. Two of the brothers had served previous four-year enlistments
in the Navy and so, when all five brothers enlisted together on 3 January 1942, the Navy was the obvious choice. They had
also insisted on serving together on the same ship. Although the accepted Navy policy was to separate family members, the
brothers had persisted and their request was approved.
It was later learned, through survivors'
accounts, that four of the brothers died in the initial explosion. The fifth, George Thomas, despite being wounded the night
before, made it onto a raft where he survived for five days before succumbing either to wounds and exhaustion or a shark attack.
The brothers received the Purple Heart Medal posthumously and were entitled to the American Defense
Service Medal, Fleet Clasp; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four engagement stars and the World War II Victory Medal.
They had also earned the Good Conduct Medal.
They were survived by their parents, Mr. Thomas
F. Sullivan and Mrs. Alleta Sullivan, a sister, Genevieve Sullivan, and by Albert Leo Sullivan's wife, Katherine Mary
Sullivan. Their son, James Thomas, was twenty-two months old at the time of his father's death.
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The Legacy
THE SULLIVANS (DDG-68) is named to honor five brothers from Waterloo, Iowa who
served together on the USS JUNEAU during World War II. The Sullivan brothers: George, 28; Francis, 27; Joseph, 24; Madison,
23; and Albert, 20; lost their lives during the Battle of Guadalcanal on November 13, 1942. They were adamant about serving
together in spite of the Navy wartime policy to separate family members. Surviving the brothers were their parents, Thomas
and Alleta, their sister Genevieve, and the youngest brothers wife, Katherine, and their son, James. The family today includes
two grandchildren of Albert Sullivan: Kelly Ann Sullivan Loughren and John Sullivan.
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USS The Sullivans (DDG-68) Command Philosophy
Coming Soon
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