In the annals of U.S. naval history, few stories resonate as poignantly as that of the Sullivan brothers—five siblings who served and perished together aboard the USS Juneau during World War II.
Their tragic fate has immortalized their name in naval lore, and their legacy endures through vessels christened in their honor, serving as a testament to brotherhood and sacrifice.
On the ill-fated morning of November 13, 1942, the USS Juneau was struck by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine near Guadalcanal, sinking within a mere 42 seconds.
Among the vessel’s crew were the five Sullivan brothers from Waterloo, Iowa—George, Francis, Joseph, Madison, and Albert—who had enlisted together to avenge a friend lost in the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Their unified service aboard the same ship, a decision driven by a pact to stick together, came with a steep price.
The loss of the Sullivan brothers delivered a devastating blow to their family and reverberated across the nation, prompting a change in U.S. military policy regarding the assignment of family members to the same unit.
Their story was one of both bravery and profound loss, underscoring the human cost of war.
To honor the Sullivan brothers, two U.S. Navy ships have borne their name.
The first, USS The Sullivans (DD-537), was a Fletcher-class destroyer launched on September 30, 1943, and sponsored by the brothers’ mother, Alleta Sullivan.
The vessel, which saw extensive service in the Pacific Theater, was decommissioned in 1965 and now resides as a memorial at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park in New York.
The second, USS The Sullivans (DDG-68), an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer commissioned on April 19, 1997, carries the motto “We Stick Together.”
The modern warship is a symbol of the brothers’ unbreakable bond and a beacon of the Navy’s continuing dedication to their memory.
The significance of the Sullivan brothers’ service continues to resonate with their descendants and the families of the Juneau crew.
The discovery of the Juneau wreckage off Guadalcanal in 2018, on St. Patrick’s Day, held particular poignancy for the Sullivan family. Kelly Sullivan, the granddaughter of Albert Sullivan, expressed the mix of emotions felt by many: “For me, it’s like finding my grandfather’s grave.”
The find delivered a semblance of closure for the families and honored the service of those who had sacrificed everything.
Relevant articles:
– The Sullivan Brothers and the Assignment of Family Members, United States Navy (.mil)
– Remembering Waterloo’s five Sullivan brothers, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
– The Sullivans I (DD, United States Navy (.mil)