Where Were The Sullivan Brothers From

The Sullivan brothers on board the cruiser USS Juneau at her commissioning: Joe, Frank, Al, Matt, and George (14 February 1942) The Sullivan brothers were five brothers from Waterloo, Iowa who served together on the light cruiser USS Juneau. They were all killed in action on November 13, 1942, when Juneau served in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. Juneau was crippled by a torpedo fired from.

The Sullivan brothers on board USS Juneau (CL-52) during its commissioning ceremonies at the New York Navy Yard, 14 February 1942. All five were lost with the ship on 13 November 1942 following the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. The brothers from left to right: Joseph, Francis, Albert, Madison, and George Sullivan (NH 52362).

The Sullivan brothers' early life The Sullivan brothers lived an average middle-class life in Waterloo, Iowa, as their parents, Thomas and Alleta Sullivan, were fortunate to have paying jobs during the Great Depression. The eldest brother, George, was born in December 1914. The Sullivan Brothers: 80 years later, 'people do care, and people do remember' Posted by Pat Kinney on Thursday, November 10, 2022 Note: Pat Kinney, an oral historian with the Grout Museum District, worked as a reporter and editor at the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier from 1984-2018.

Much of this post is from his reporting on Waterloo's five Sullivan brothers throughout his time at the paper. Honoring their sacrifice, the Sullivan brothers were celebrated as national heroes. US President Franklin D Roosevelt personally wrote a letter of condolence to Aletta Sullivan.

Even the Pope sent a silver medal and a rosary to the family as an expression of his sorrow. The Sullivan brothers - Joe, Frank, Al, Matt, and George - had decided to enlist in the Navy after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, which had killed one of their friends. Though U.S.

Navy policy discouraged siblings from serving together, the Sullivan brothers insisted they be stationed on the same ship. The brothers were survived by their parents, their only sister Genevieve, and the youngest brother's wife and son, Katherine Sullivan and Jimmy. There have been two ships named to honor the fallen brothers.

The first, USS The Sullivans (DD-537), was commissioned on September 30, 1943. Her sponsor was the brothers' mother, Alleta. The U.S.

Navy honored the five Sullivan brothers' request to serve together in WWII, and made much of their story. The legacy of the Sullivan Brothers is a complex tapestry of grief, pride, and an unbreakable bond. Their story transcends a mere wartime anecdote, serving as a powerful reminder of the deep personal cost of conflict and the extraordinary courage of those who serve.

The Sullivan Brothers Museum, formally known as the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum, is far more than just a collection of artifacts; it's a profound testament to an extraordinary family and a poignant memorial to the immense sacrifices made by Iowa's service members throughout history. If you're wondering what makes this museum a must-visit, it's the indelible story of five.