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 li...