The Sullivan Brother: five siblings who all perished when ship was torpedoed

The Sullivan Brother: five siblings who all perished when ship was torpedoed

Their names: George Thomas Sullivan, 27, Gunner's Mate Second Class; Francis Henry 'Frank' Sullivan, 26, Coxswain; Joseph Eugene 'Joe' Sullivan, 24, Seaman Second Class; Madison Abel 'Matt' Sullivan, 23, Seaman Second Class; and Albert Leo 'Al' Sullivan, 20, Seaman Second Class. The five Sullivan brothers were sailors during WWII of Irish-American descent who, serving together on the light cruiser USS Juneau, all perished when their ship sank on 13 November 1942. A torpedo from the Japanese submarine I-26 hit the ammunition magazines. The ship exploded and quickly sank.

The Sullivans enlisted in the US Navy on 3 January 1942, with the stipulation that they would serve together. The Navy had a policy of separating siblings, but this was not strictly enforced. George and Frank had served in the Navy before, but their brothers had not. All five were assigned to the light cruiser USS Juneau. As a direct result of the Sullivans' deaths (and the deaths of four of the Borgstrom brothers within a few months of each other two years later), the U.S. War Department adopted the Sole Survivor Policy; a policy that is designed to protect members of a family from the draft or combat duty, if they have already lost family members in military service. The Navy named two destroyers 'The Sullivans' to honour the brothers: USS The Sullivans (DD-537) and USS The Sullivans (DDG-68). The motto for both ships was/is 'We stick together'. The brothers left their sister, Genevieve (1917–1975), behind. Al was survived by his wife Katherine Mary and son Jimmy. Joe left a fiancée named Margaret Jaros, while Matt left behind a fiancée named Beatrice Imperato. The 'Fighting Sullivan Brothers' became national heroes. President Roosevelt sent a letter of condolence to their parents. Pope Pius XII sent a silver religious medal and rosary with his message of regret. The Iowa Senate and House adopted a formal resolution of tribute to the Sullivan brothers.

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