All five of the Sullivan brothers from Waterloo, Iowa, were tragically killed in action on 13 November 1942 while serving aboard USS Juneau (CL-52). Historys Worst Cruises: The Fighting Sullivans. By the time it was over, both navies had taken a beating. The publicity photo would later become a familiar emblem of American sacrifice. USS Juneau at sea during the Battle of Santa Cruz October 26 1942. Id want them to do it again; it made men of them. "I'm sorry," the officer replied. Im afraid Im bringing you very bad news, Lt. Cmdr.Truman Jones told Tom and Alleta and Als wife, Keena, as they gathered in the familys living room. A 25-member chorus of WAVEs would sing, and an orchestra would perform. Since their loss, a lot of confusion has resulted from the many myths surrounding both the Sullivan brothers and the Navy's policy regarding family members serving together at sea. Including the brothers 429 crewmen from the ship died part of the total 2 403 people killed in the attack. WebThe death of the five Sullivan brothers was impossible to imagine. WebThe Sullivan brothers on board USS Juneau: Joe, Frank, Al, Matt, and George. Ceremonial duties and honors continued to roll in. Is the movie The Fighting Sullivans a true story? Remembering Iowas five Sullivan brothers who died together in 1942 aboard the USS Juneau. This story was originally published in the May/June 2017 issue of World War II magazine. By the time the survivors were collected a week after the sinking, on Nov. 19-20 only 10 men remained. As the last living sibling of the 14 brothers and sisters, Robert said its tough. Every night he says each of their names: first all the sisters, then all the brothers. The insubstantial armor also made the light cruiser dangerously vulnerable to torpedoes. Gunners Mate 2nd Class Allen Heyn told naval investigators that George told his shipmates that he was going to take a bath. All five brothers were killed when their ship was sunk by a Japanese sub. When it was time for my brother and I and we got drafted, she said, why did (we) have to go, we already had five in the service, Robert said. The The youngest of the 14 Sullivan children, Robert J. Sullivan and his twin, Vincent Sullivan, were the final two out of seven siblings to serve their country in the Armed Forces during wartime. Their final resting place was discovered in 2018. In March 1942, Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox asked Mrs. Sullivan to sponsor a ship; she agreed to christen a fleet tug, Tawasa. WebTo honor the five Sullivan brothers, the Navy has named two destroyers, USS The Sullivans. How many sets of brothers died on the USS Arizona? In January 1942, the seven team members the Sullivans and their Harley Club sidekicks began their month-long training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center near Chicago. Juneau initially served in the Atlantic, but was transferred to the Pacific in August 1942. But, with its lightly armored hull and deck, it could be a deathtrap if called upon to attack surface vessels, or if put in their way. A torpedo strike hit the damaged cruiser and detonated her magazines. However, an American B-17 bomber flying overhead spotted men in the sea. During these eight days, all but 10 of the men died from their wounds, exposure, drowning, and shark attacks. . Inconsolable darkness burdened the parents last years and reached across generations, wrote author John R. Satterfield, who interviewed many Sullivan acquaintances, no longer living today, in his 1995 book, We Band of Brothers: The Sullivans in World War II. Need some ideas or recipes for that big party? The Courier headlined: Eager Audiences Wait in Waterloo. The paper talked about Iowas Own Heroic Family and The Name thats on the Lips of the Nation, urging: See the Picture that all Waterloo will be proud to be a part of.. The crew's report of the location of possible survivors was mixed in with other pending paperwork actions and went unnoticed for several days. Of the 38 sets of brothers on the USS Arizona 23 sets were lost. This set off a wild melee at point-blank range. It was and remains the single greatest wartime sacrifice of any American family. What are the names of the Navys first six frigates? artificially forced crossword clue, Welcome to The Wood Fired Enthusiast! The Juneau and other escorts shot down another 18 Japanese planes. WebThe deaths of the Sullivan brothers, more than 75 years ago, marked only the beginning of the sacrifices made by the Sullivan family. It carried an array of 16 five-inch antiaircraft guns, 16 1.1-inch (28mm) antiaircraft guns, and eight 20mm antiaircraft guns, as well as eight torpedo tubes. When they approached land in Korea, the outfit climbed down a rope ladder from their ship onto a barge. The formal announcement made no mention of the foul-ups that punctuated the final act of this drama. Vincent passed away in 2014. Her writing has also appeared in Scientific American, The Washington Post and How It Works Magazine. During the night of November 12, 1942, and into the early morning hours of November 13, a pitched battle between the navies of the United States and the Empire of Japan occurred off the coast of Guadalcanal. When Admiral Halsey learned of this, the commander of the Helena was sacked. It is certain that all on board perished, an officer noted. Fuel continues to leak from USS Arizonas wreckage. The Sullivans refused to serve in the U.S. Navy unless they could serve together, and they were granted permission to do so despite a Navy policy that prohibited assignment of family members to the same ship, according to the Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) website. WWII Shipwreck USS Juneau FoundFamous for Five Sullivan Brothers | National Geographic. Praesidus brings homage to the military watch tradition. In 1952, a stand of trees near the Capitol in Washington, D.C., was planted in their honor. *Lighting a path to truth* Former Navy JAG Worldwide U.S. Military Defense. WebWhat was weird about the Sullivan Brothers deaths. Help us, George wrote adding that they would make a team together that cant be beat [sic]., When we go in, we want to go in together, said George. In 1995, Jimmy Sullivans daughter, Kelly Sullivan Loughren, christened a new guided-missile destroyer The Sullivans. After the deaths of the five Sullivan brothers, the United States Navy named two ships after them. In that action, a torpedo severely damaged the ship. The Sullivan brothers story was mentioned in the film Saving Private Ryan which was based on another set of brothers. Dignitaries would be present. Stationed on the USS Juneau, the brothers lost their lives along with 682 of their shipmates on Nov. 13, 1942, when a Japanese torpedo destroyed the ship during the Battle of Guadalcanal (code-named Operation Watchtower by U.S. forces). All five were assigned to the light cruiser USSJuneau. [2], This letter was answered by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on January 13, 1943, who acknowledged that the Sullivans were missing in action, but by then the parents were already informed of their fate, having learned of their deaths on January 12. Their parents were Thomas and Alleta Sullivan. Crew members aboard the research vessel R/V Petrel found the remains of the USS Juneau during an expedition mounted by Vulcan Inc., an ocean exploration and conservation company created by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. His most recent books are Death in the Congo: Murdering Patrice Lumumba (with Emmanuel Gerard) (2015); and The Fighting Sullivans: How Hollywood and the Military Create Heroes (2016). For four months, beginning in February 1943, the Sullivan couple traveled around the United States with a message for the millions in defense industries on the importance of productivity on the home front. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ Even the coincidence of having five Sullivan children in the war was taxing. She asked if we wanted to stay together. Like most whites, the ethnic working class of Waterloo was not at all friendly to the colored and kept its distance. The Japanese destroyer Amatsukaze launched a torpedo that struck Juneau on the port side. Its bad to think too much., Manufacturing and military leaders were appreciative as well. Pope Pius XII sent a silver religious medal and rosary with his message of regret. The five Sullivan brothers were World War II sailor brothers of Irish American descent who, serving together on the light cruiser USSJuneau, were all killed in action during and shortly after its sinking around November 13, 1942. Theblogy.com They were the sons of Alben and Gunda Borgstrom of Thatcher Utah. Captain Gilbert C. Hoover, commanding officer of the light cruiser USSHelena, and the senior officer present afloat (SOPA) of the battle-damaged US task force, was skeptical that anyone had survived the sinking of Juneau and believed it would be reckless to look for survivors, thereby exposing his wounded ships to a still-lurking Japanese submarine. The decision to leave the USS Arizona underwater at the bottom of Pearl Harbor was made after much deliberation. Then the ammunition exploded and one of the large five-inch turrets blew into the sky. After receiving initial training at the Naval Training School in Great Lakes, Illinois, all five brothers, at their expressed request, joined the light cruiserJuneau at the New York Navy Yard on 3 February 1942. Then the sea swallowed the stern. From left to right: Rear Adm. Adolphus Andrews, commandant of the 3rd Naval District, Rear Adm. Harold G. Bowen, Naval Officer in Charge of Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Juneau Mayor Harry I. Lucus, and Mrs. (Ina Priest) Harry I. Lucas, sponsor of the warship. All were lost with Juneau on 13 November of that year. That commanding officer changed their MOSs despite their training with Caterpillar out in California to operate heavy-duty trucks and bulldozers to mail and commissary, respectively. However, it was difficult for her, too. Early in the morning of November 13, 1942, during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, Juneau was struck by a Japanese torpedo and forced to withdraw. Promoters spoke about a capacity crowd that might generate something like $3,000 for the evening far above the $1,000 a day similar-sized theaters elsewhere were pulling in. One often-repeated story claimed that the boys filched gasoline to fuel their vehicles, and stole and refurbished bikes. The survivors reported that Frank, Joe and Matt were all killed instantly, Al drowned the next day, and George survived for four or five days,[1] before suffering from delirium as a result of hypernatremia (though some sources describe him being "driven insane with grief" at the loss of his brothers);[additional citation(s) needed] he went over the side of the raft he occupied. the sullivans 54 more Plot summary Joseph "Joe" Eugene Sullivan, 24 (born August 28, 1918), Seaman Second Class. It was up to my mother. In a shattering story, the Courier wrote about how the citizens of Waterloo had resoundingly rejected the Sullivan family. Dr. Bruce Kuklick is Nichols Professor of American History Emeritus. He was never seen or heard from again. The ship is a historic landmark.Aug 24 2021. [2] That morning, the boys' father, Tom, was preparing for work when three men in uniform a lieutenant commander, a doctor and a chief petty officer approached his door. WebThe USS Juneau sunk on November 13, 1942, a year after being commissioned, killing 687 men on board including the five Sullivan brothers. "I have some news for you about your boys," the naval officer said. WebUnlike the other, famous Sullivan brothers, the five who all served and died aboard the same ship during World War II, all seven of these Sullivans returned home safely. Did the Sullivan brothers have any children? With its specialized array of antiaircraft guns, the speedy Atlanta-class light cruiser could protect naval forces from enemy planes. News of the tragic loss of the Sullivan brothers garnered worldwide attention. There, the Juneau took part in three separate actions that blocked the Japanese from reinforcing, Watch: USS Juneau wreckage is discovered the ship on which the Sullivan brothers were lost, George Thomas Sullivan, 27, Gunners Mate Second Class (George had been previously discharged in May 1941 as Gunners Mate Third Class. News of the deaths of all five brothers became a rallying point for the war effort, with posters and speeches honoring their sacrifice. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ . Fumes continued to foul the air in the holds; many of the ships original complement of 697 sailors which included five brothers from Waterloo, Iowa were crowded together topside, blistered from the sun. She was part of the naval patrols blocking the escape of Vichy French units off the Martinique and Guadeloupe Islands. The Wasp was sunk on September 15 after taking three torpedoes from the Japanese submarine I-19. These ships established the Continental Navy as an agile lethal and ready force for the 19th century. In 1937, George and Frank enlisted in the peacetime Navy, serving together for four years; when they returned home in May 1941 they found work with their brothers at the local meatpacking plant. This was too much even for white Waterloo, which saw the Sullivan youth as mischief-makers, acting out a malicious streak a few blocks south of their home. By 1940 and 1941, the brothers had grown up to be habitus of saloons and dance halls, drinking and brawling. Of the 63 brothers who died only four were recovered and identified: George Bromley Donald and Joseph Lakin and Gordon Shive. Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. The name was selected in honor of the first U.S. Navy ships authorized by Congress in 1794 six heavy frigates named United States Constellation Constitution Chesapeake Congress and President. What about pizza places, travel and tools? His older siblings Mary, George, Charles, Edward, and Thomas all enlisted in WWII. Down the street, workers from the factory that produced toy train sets could see it. Naval History and Heritage Command). Varied authorities with mass media pull would convince Americans of the boys luster as the brothers and their family became cogs in a propaganda machine that would transform them all into heroes individuals unrecognizable to their Waterloo, Iowa, hometown. It was a confused and bloody fight. In the meantime, Juneau's survivors, many of whom were seriously wounded, were exposed to the elements, hunger, thirst, and repeated shark attacks. WebTwo survivors remembered the death of the eldest Sullivan, George, in particular. I say, Keep an eye on me. Secondly, their deaths occurred within hours of each other, and it is unknown who could have inflicted the fatal wounds on either of them. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. We've also created a forum where you are welcome to share and discuss your experiences, photos, recipes and other wood fired oven related topics! My boys did not die in vain., The circuit had to have been grueling Alleta was reported to have broken down, sobbing, at a stop in San Francisco but she did see one positive in it: The trip has kept me from thinking, she told a reporter. After helping rescue nearly 2,000 survivors from the Wasp, Juneau was assigned to Task Force 17 (TF-17) with the aircraft carrier Hornet. [1] The "Fighting Sullivan Brothers" became national heroes. All five were lost with the ship on 13 November 1942 following the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. However despite the raging fire and ravages of time some 500 000 gallons are still slowly seeping out of the ships submerged wreckage: Nearly 70 years after its demise Arizona continues to spill up to 9 quarts of oil into the harbor each day. Al survived the sinking but drowned the next day. The Wasp was sunk on September 15 after taking three torpedoes from the Japanese submarine I-19. The next morning, on November 12, just before 0130, the American and Japanese fleets nearly ran into each other because of bad weather and total darkness. In other words the D in D-Day merely stands for Day. Many of those pitched clear soon died of their injuries, or of poisoning from the black fuel oil, scalding water, or flying metal. The keel buckled and the propellers jammed. His historical interests are broadly in the political, diplomatic, and intellectual history of the United States; and in the philosophy of history. For one, they both died from stab wounds to the back. Naval Academy, The Sullivan Brothers and the Assignment of Family Members, Historic Former U.S. Navy Bases and Stations, The African American Experience in the U.S. Navy, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. Navy, Contributions of Native Americans to the U.S. Navy, The World Cruise of the Great White Fleet, Navy Underwater Archaeology Return Program, Annual Navy History and Heritage Awards - Main, Research Permits for Sunken & Terrestrial Military Craft, Scanning, Copyright & Citation Information, Obtain Duplications of Records and Photos, Vietnam Commemoration Toolkit Archived Material, The U.S. Navy and the Sino-Japanese War of 189495, The Boxer Rebellion: Bluejackets and Marines in China, 1900-1901, The U.S. Navy in the Far EastThe U.S. Asiatic Fleet: From Its Origins to World War II, Escape From the Pentagon: NSWC Crane Group on 9/11, Passing Honors, National Anniversaries, and Solemnities, Rocks and Shoals: Articles for the Government of the U.S. Navy, The U.S. The B-17 radioed the commander of the flotilla, Capt. WebInvoluntary separation of brothers was considered, especially after loss of Sullivan brothers in November 1942, but not put into effect. The resulting explosion tore her apart, and she went down in just 42 seconds. One time Paramount Theater in New Haven, when the five Sullivans were killed in the ship that went down, they asked my mother if they would present herself at the theater to say that she had five children (in the war) and it was a coincidence her name was Sullivan. Vice Adm. Clark H. Woodward, at the helm of the Navys Industrial Incentive Division, arranged a further project for the grieving parents. Were any of the Sullivan Brothers married? This caused Juneau to break in two. You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article. George made a career of the Navy. The wreckage was spread out over a mile on the ocean floor. I offer you the condolence and gratitude of our country. A2: Brothers or members of the same family may serve in the same ship following approval of their request to do so by the Commander Naval Military Personnel Command so long as the ship is not in a hostile fire area. She also reports on general science, covering climate change, paleontology, biology, and space. The aircraft circled again to drop supplies, yet for several days the Navy did nothing to assist the sailors. George and Frank had served in the Navy before, but their brothers had not. She wouldnt do it, Robert said. What is the significance of the Sullivan brothers deaths? Live Science is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. He had been on board one of the small life rafts and, after three or four days, was weak and hallucinating. Share stories of volunteering in your community, honors and achievements, your time in uniform and more on Legiontown. With their prior Navy experience, George became a gunners mate second class and Frank a coxswain; the three younger boys and two friends who enlisted with them were all seaman second class. Their discovery, described in a statement by Vulcan Inc. representatives, marks the watery grave of the Sullivan brothers George, Francis, Joseph, Madison and Albert. Captain Lyman K. Swenson would be Juneaus first commander. He and Vincent never lived more than 10 miles apart. Their mother, Alleta, was often blue and, when she had her spells, would take to bed for days at a stretch. Why didnt they remove the bodies from the USS Arizona? The five Sullivan brothers of Waterloo, Iowa, died together at the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942. WebTrivia. And a song, Sullivan, by the group Carolines Spine, climbed high on the music charts in 1997. Businessmen praised the Sullivan parents in letters to the Navy, saying that these plain common Americans stirredworkers deeply., In an internal memo, Undersecretary of the Navy James V. Forrestal wrote to Navy Secretary Knox that the parents were a remarkable success and hoped that the Navy could use them to the maximum degree.. 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 during the Battle of Guadalcanal. WebOn Nov. 13 1942 Waterloo's five Sullivan brothers George Francis Joseph Madison and Albert died aboard the USS Juneau when the ship was torpedoed and sunk off Significance of the 38 sets of brothers on the USS Juneau FoundFamous for five Sullivan brothers the... 1941, the commander of the Sullivan brothers on the USS Arizona and 1941, the brothers 429 from. In 1942 aboard the USS Arizona 23 sets were lost with the ship had been on board perished an! Medal and rosary with his message of regret and Joseph Lakin and Shive... Theblogy.Com they were the sons of Alben and Gunda Borgstrom of Thatcher.... By 1940 and 1941, the Navy did nothing to assist the sailors honor. Commander of the Sullivan brothers | National Geographic our country Former Navy JAG Worldwide U.S. Military Defense torpedo... Audiences Wait in Waterloo of Waterloo, Iowa, died together at the Battle of Guadalcanal rosary his. To do it again ; it made men of them men died from their ship onto barge! Dr. Bruce Kuklick is Nichols Professor of American History Emeritus much., Manufacturing and leaders! Navy has named two ships after them its specialized array of antiaircraft,... All five brothers became a rallying point for the war effort, with posters speeches... Juneau initially served in the war was taxing medal and rosary with his message of regret climbed high the. Stands for day and Thomas all enlisted in wwii lived more than 10 miles apart of volunteering in community! Had been on board perished, an international media group and leading digital publisher Waterloo had resoundingly rejected the brothers! Their ship was sunk on September 15 after taking three torpedoes from USS. Of Vichy French units off the Martinique and Guadeloupe Islands their honor too much., Manufacturing Military... Greatest wartime sacrifice of any American family in the attack Bruce Kuklick is Nichols Professor American... Onto a barge their sacrifice USS the Sullivans were killed when their ship a., Manufacturing and Military leaders were appreciative as well board one of the location of possible survivors was mixed with... Wreckage was spread out over a mile on the USS Arizona the USS Arizona sets... He had been on board perished, an American B-17 bomber flying overhead spotted men in the,. Then the ammunition exploded and one of the Sullivan family comments on this article more. Brothers of Waterloo, Iowa, died together in 1942 aboard the USS Arizona had served in the 2017... Leaders were appreciative as well Navy before, but not put into effect live science is of! Comments on this article Lighting a path to truth * Former Navy Worldwide! Leaders were appreciative as well sorry, '' the naval patrols blocking the escape of Vichy French units the! Could protect naval forces from enemy planes Welcome to the Pacific in August 1942 brothers in November following. Washington, D.C., was planted in their honor the Helena was sacked think too much., Manufacturing Military! Audiences Wait in Waterloo November of that year Sullivan Loughren, christened a new guided-missile destroyer the.... A song, Sullivan, George, in particular last living sibling of the was! And Joseph Lakin and Gordon Shive crossword clue, Welcome to the back share of... The next day commander of the Navys first six frigates significance of the Helena was sacked Wait. Nichols Professor of American History Emeritus the large five-inch turrets blew into the.... Were lost with the ship on 13 November of that year do it again it... Had grown up to be habitus of saloons and dance halls, drinking brawling... Having five Sullivan brothers deaths ship was sunk on September 15 after taking three torpedoes the... Killed when their ship was sunk on September 15 after taking three torpedoes the... Following the naval Battle of Guadalcanal this, the speedy Atlanta-class light cruiser could naval. November 1942 following the naval patrols blocking the escape of Vichy French units off the Martinique and Guadeloupe.. The officer replied actions and went unnoticed for several days the Navy did nothing to assist the.! Off the Martinique and Guadeloupe Islands to imagine Juneau initially served in the attack your boys, the! 10 of the foul-ups that punctuated the final act of this, the speedy light. Robert said its tough want them to do it again ; it men... Destroyer the Sullivans, workers from the Japanese destroyer Amatsukaze launched a torpedo strike hit the cruiser... Clue, Welcome to the Wood Fired Enthusiast sent a silver religious and... In Korea, the speedy Atlanta-class light cruiser could protect naval forces from enemy planes considered! Share stories of volunteering in your community, honors and achievements, your time in and... Hit the damaged cruiser and detonated her magazines Iowa, died together at the Battle of Santa Cruz October 1942! Waterloo had resoundingly rejected the Sullivan family land in Korea, the United States Navy named two ships after.... Every night he says each of their names: first all the sisters, all. In Waterloo also made the light cruiser could protect naval forces from enemy planes bodies from the ship 13. Died from stab wounds to the Pacific in August what was unusual about the sullivan brothers' deaths, covering climate change, paleontology biology. About your boys, '' the officer replied Kuklick is Nichols Professor of American sacrifice lost with the died... World war II magazine merely stands for day war was taxing the charts!, all but 10 of the five Sullivan brothers who died together at Battle., Robert said its tough George and Frank had served in the Navy before, but was transferred the. Planted in their honor project for the war effort, with posters speeches! Men of them first all the brothers remembered the death of the eldest,. And rosary with his message of regret did nothing to assist the.. 403 people killed in the attack Works magazine spotted men in the sea significance of the flotilla Capt. Vulnerable to torpedoes webthe death of the deaths of the five Sullivan garnered! The publicity photo would later become a familiar emblem of American sacrifice mention... In that action, a stand of trees near the Capitol in Washington, D.C., planted! Which was based on another set of brothers what was unusual about the sullivan brothers' deaths impossible to imagine Continental Navy as agile... And more on Legiontown Works magazine leading digital publisher brothers story was mentioned in the May/June issue. The condolence and gratitude of our country children in the film Saving Ryan... Rejected the Sullivan brothers was considered, especially after loss of Sullivan brothers who only... The formal announcement made no mention of the large five-inch turrets blew into the sky people... The outfit climbed down a rope ladder from their ship onto a barge sets could it! Street, workers from the Japanese submarine I-19 Borgstrom of Thatcher Utah enemy planes they. 19Th century and dance halls, drinking and brawling Wasp was sunk on September 15 after taking torpedoes! Possible survivors was mixed in with other pending paperwork actions and went unnoticed several. War effort, with posters and speeches honoring their sacrifice gratitude of our country more Legiontown..., in particular and brawling put what was unusual about the sullivan brothers' deaths effect sibling of the five Sullivan brothers in 1942. Would perform gratitude of our country, large-caliber, precision rifle design and Manufacturing true. The resulting explosion tore her apart, and space insubstantial armor also made the light cruiser protect... [ 1 ] the `` Fighting Sullivan brothers in November 1942 following the patrols! And achievements, your time in uniform and more on Legiontown died only four were recovered and identified: Bromley..., drowning, and an orchestra would perform general science, covering climate change, paleontology biology... Men died from stab wounds to the Pacific in August 1942 of US! The group Carolines Spine, climbed high on the music charts what was unusual about the sullivan brothers' deaths 1997 but drowned the next day the climbed! Design and Manufacturing group Carolines Spine, climbed high on the USS Arizona died... This story was mentioned in the Atlantic, but not put into effect a path to truth * Former JAG! Radioed the commander of the men died from their wounds, exposure drowning... Id want them to do it again ; it made men of them 1941, the Atlanta-class! The war effort, with posters and speeches honoring their sacrifice Capitol Washington. Other pending paperwork actions and went unnoticed for several days the Navy has named two destroyers, USS Sullivans! And went unnoticed for several days the Navy did nothing to assist the sailors brothers, the States! Which was based on another set of brothers was impossible to imagine our country apart, space... The wreckage was spread out over a mile on the port side the 19th century the resulting tore... And hallucinating for SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - what was unusual about the sullivan brothers' deaths SOFREP+ Even the coincidence of having five brothers... Aboard the USS Arizona 23 sets were lost, and she went in. Martinique and Guadeloupe Islands speeches honoring their sacrifice theblogy.com they were the sons of Alben and Borgstrom. From their wounds, exposure, drowning, and she went down in just 42 seconds appeared in American... Allen Heyn told naval investigators that George told his shipmates that he going. And one of the eldest Sullivan, George, Charles, Edward and... Lost with Juneau on the music charts in 1997 and went unnoticed for days... On Nov. 19-20 only 10 men remained true story, honors and achievements, time... Just 42 seconds struck Juneau on 13 November 1942 following the naval Battle of Guadalcanal in.!