USS "THE SULLIVANS"

Vanity ^ | 12/2005 | Dick Bachert

[Dick Bachert]

As we gather our loved ones around us to celebrate July 4th, we should all say a silent prayer for all those who paid the final price so that we might -- albeit imperfectly and hopefully more perfectly in the future -- continue the unique experiment in human freedom we call America.

I awoke one morning during a September, 2005 cruise as we pulled into Nassau and looked out the porthole to see two US Arleigh Burke class destroyers next to us.  After breakfast, I strolled out onto deck 7 and got goose bumps when I noticed the shamrock on the stack of one of them.  Walked aft to catch a view of the transom of that boat.  It was the USS “THE SULLIVANS!"  The goose bumps intensified as I recalled the story of the five Sullivan brothers who INSISTED that they be allowed to serve together and, persisting in the face of a naval reg prohibiting it, were assigned to the USS Juneau when she was sunk on November 13, 1942 at Guadalcanal.  4 boys died instantly and the 5th son died at sea either from his injuries, a shark attack or exposure.  

THEIR MOTHER RECEIVED ALL 5 TELEGRAMS FROM THE NAVY ON THE SAME DAY!!!! 

I related the story to several of those on deck with me who were also checking out the destroyers.  I was greeted with BLANK STARES of disinterest.  I wanted to grab one guy by the stacking swivel, hoist him off the deck and scream that it was men and ships such as that which make it possible for A**HOLES like him to enjoy a peaceful cruise around the Caribbean. Not wishing to spend the rest of the voyage in the brig, I contented myself with muttering "a**hole" as he wandered off in search of another buffet.

And in a sign of the times, both ships had armed sentries posted fore and aft in Nassau, an ostensibly friendly and safe port.  But then, Aden was also considered safe at the time the USS Cole (also a Burke class destroyer) was attacked.  And I believe that, unlike the guards on the Cole -- and the Marine sentries in Beirut years earlier -- THESE guys were locked and loaded with orders to fire for effect!

[babygene]

“IIRC There was a father and son killed in the fire on the Forrestal (sp).”

Yes I know. Another brother was on the USS Forrestal when it blew.

[Joe 6-pack]

"I remember a story of WWI. At that time the British Army would let guys from the same town all serve together. I think it probably had something to do with morale."

In WWI when the US Army was going to a formalized combined arms division structure a many of the new divisions were formed from troops from the same state and a lot of national guard unit patches still reflect this regionalism (i.e. 28th Infantry Division being a Pennsylvania Keystone).

A bunch of "leftovers" from all 48 states were combined into another division which was the 82nd Infantry Division which of course, became the 82nd Airborne Division in the early days of WWII. Because of its early constitution of soldiers from all over the country, the unit became known as the "All American" Division which is still reflected in the "AA" on the unit patch...

[garandgal]

I read your Uncle’s account of his experience. How absolutely amazing that he made it through.

[willk]

Thanks for that link on your uncle’s experience. They could have made an exciting movie just on his story of survival. Unbelievable!

[Rodamala]

My Old Man and his step-brother were on the WARRINGTON in the early 60s.

[Daffynition]

Ordinary men, doing extraordinary things.

Our Veterans endure many events that change them and history. Holidays, such as this are to remember them, and their valor. God have Mercy on their souls.

[Daffynition]

Well, I was just a child, when he visited the east coast...and he appeared to little me to be just an ordinary guy. But his stories kept us kiddos spellbound. I'm glad someone recorded his oral story.

His daughter wrote:

Hi Paul, Thank you for all of the work you have done to assure these heroes be remembered. It has been huge task, I'm sure, and please know how tremendously your efforts are appreciated. I have attached a photo [above]of my mother and father taken in Nov 1941. The photo was taken on the farm in Connecticut where she was born and raised. She and dad were married in march of 1942 and moved to California in 1950 after the Port Chicago, CA disastrous explosion. Dad taught classes to Navy personnel there and they decided to settle here and raised 5 children. He died of leukemia in Dec 1981 and mom will be 85 this June. His remains were cremated and sprinkled at sea as he wished. He said he wanted to rest with his buddies and "maybe kick the sh_ _ out of some sharks". Gratefully, Dona Hartney

[AFret.]

I remember a story of WWI. At that time the British Army would let guys from the same town all serve together. I think it probably had something to do with morale.

The problem was that some towns had their entire population of young men wiped out in some battles.

---

Read the “Bedford Boys”..19 young men from one small town in Virginia died together in the first wave at Omaha.

[garandgal]

My Great Uncle was wounded & captured at Anzio. He rarely talked about it, BUT when he first returned home after the War was over he was interviewed by the local paper...thankfully, my Grandmother kept a copy.

After he was taken prisoner, he and others were eventually put on a train to be taken to a German camp. As they traveled through Italy, sympathetic women would hand them food through the open windows. Of course, the young men eagerly reached out to take it. Until a guard shot a woman point blank in the head to “teach them a lesson.”

Later, as prisoners, they were given gruel and potatoes...barely enough to sustain them, of course. However, a couple of the younger guards who were on duty at night would bring them chickens.

I always found it fascinating that the two things he specifically mentioned had to do with food...similar to your Uncle mentioning how hungry they were rather often in his account. Puts things into perspective as we all plan our picnics for later today does it not?

[Nailbiter]

bflr

[Jacquerie]

IIRC from Neptune's Inferno, the commodore over the Juneau, another cruiser and a couple destroyers got reamed and officially disciplined for not detaching the destroyers to pick up survivors. There's no telling how many men suffered horrible shipwreck deaths in the sea battles of Guadalcanal.

[Daffynition]

Exerpt:

If something prevented aid from being dispatched to us (and we could not know at that time that another great battle was forming off Savo Island that prevented any ship or plane from being released to search for survivors) I could reach the Island and send help back for the others. At least, I could find water and on dry land, I could do something to assist Lt. Wang.

A bit more about the desertion of the Juneau: http://jgburdette.wordpress.com/2012/11/22/deserted-uss-juneau/

[Daffynition]

The Sullivans weren’t the only set of brothers who were sadly lost on the Juneau:

It was customary to spread families around on different ships so that in the event of an accident the whole family would not be lost. In this case, on 13 November 1942 the Juneau carried three sets of brothers. The two Coombs brother, five Sullivan brothers and two of four Rogers brothers. The other two Rogers had previously been part of the Juneau’s crew.

[AU72]

You never saw Ol’ Yeller?

Actually I never did.

[Daffynition]

>>Puts things into perspective as we all plan our picnics for later today does it not?<<

It sure does Gal. It sure does. I love this Holiday and all the men who gave so much. Bless them all.

[rktman]

That would have been #2 where you cried. LOL! Have a safe 4th.

[Dick Bachert]

Thank you for that sad reminder.

While we can debate the “Why?” of WWII, it was probably the last such conflict having SOME moral justification.

Unfortunately, we are now sending our kids across the globe to fight OTHER PEOPLES’ wars, wars THEY have been waging on one another for centuries and which will resume the moment our last trooper is wheels up!