Five brothers, who wished to serve together aboard a U.S. Navy ship, were granted their request and assigned to a new light cruiser, the USS Juneau (CL-52). Here, the Sullivan brothers are seen aboard the Juneau during her commissioning ceremonies at the New York Navy Yard (on the 14th of February, 1942).
The brothers are (from left to right): Joseph, Francis, Albert, Madison and George Sullivan.
The U.S. Naval Historical Center provides a short biography for each of the Sullivans, who were all lost during (or after) the Juneau's explosion on the 13th of November, 1942:
Joseph Eugene Sullivan - Seaman Second Class, V-6, USNR
Place of birth: Waterloo, Iowa
Date of birth: August 28, 1918
1- 3-1942 - Enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve, Class V-6, as Apprentice Seaman to serve for two (2) years at the Naval Recruiting Station, Des Moines, Iowa.
1-3-1942 - Transferred to the Naval Training Station. Great Lakes, Illinois.
2-3-1942 - Transferred to the receiving ship, New York, for duty in the USS Juneau detail and on board when commissioned.
5-3-1942 - Rating changed to Seaman second class.
11-14-1942 - Reported missing in action.
Francis Henry Sullivan - Coxswain, V-6, USNR
Place of birth: Waterloo, Iowa
Date of birth: February 18, 1916
5-11-1937 - Enlisted in the U.S. Navy as Apprentice Seaman, to serve for four (4) years at the Navy Recruiting Station, Des Moines, Iowa and transferred to the Naval Training Station, San Diego, California, for recruit training.
9-11-1937 - Rating changed to Seaman second class.
9-15-1937 - Transferred to the USS Hovey.
3-25-1938 - Transferred to the U.S. Naval Hospital, Navy Yard, Mare Island, California, for treatment.
4- 9-1938 - Transferred to the USS Hovey.
2-16-1939 - Transferred to the USS Melville for temporary duty involving medical treatment.
4-22-1939 - Transferred to the USS Hovey.
5-13-1941 - Transferred to the USS Dunlap for transportation to the West Coast and further transfer to the Receiving Ship on that coast for discharge.
5-20-1941 - Received at the Receiving Station, San Diego, California.
5-27-1941 - Issued an honorable discharge by reason of expiration of enlistment.
1- 3-1942 - Enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve, Class V-6, as Coxswain to serve for two (2) years at the Naval Recruiting Station, Des Moines, Iowa.
1- 3-1942 - Transferred to the Naval Training Station. Great Lakes, Illinois.
2- 3-1942 - Transferred to the receiving ship, New York, for duty in the USS Juneau detail and on board when commissioned.
11-14-1942 - Reported missing in action.
Albert Leo Sullivan - Seaman Second Class, V-6, USNR
Place of birth: Waterloo, Iowa
Date of birth: July 8, 1922
1- 3-1942 - Enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve, Class V-6, as Apprentice Seaman to serve for two (2) years at the Naval Recruiting Station, Des Moines, Iowa.
1- 3-1942 - Transferred to the Naval Training Station. Great Lakes, Illinois.
2- 3-1942 - Transferred to the receiving ship, New York, for duty in USS Juneau detail and on board when commissioned.
5- 3-1942 - Rating changed to Seaman second class.
11-14-1942 - Reported missing in action.
Madison Abel Sullivan - Seaman Second Class, V-6, USNR
Place of birth: Waterloo, Iowa
Date of birth: November 8, 1919
1- 3-1942 - Enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve, Class V-6, as Apprentice Seaman to serve for two (2) years at the Naval Recruiting Station, Des Moines, Iowa.
1- 3-1942 - Transferred to the Naval Training Station. Great Lakes, Illinois.
2- 3-1942 - Transferred to the receiving ship, New York, for duty in the USS Juneau detail and on board when commissioned.
5- 3-1942 - Rating changed to Seaman second class.
11-14-1942 - Reported missing in action
George Thomas Sullivan - Gunner's Mate Second Class, V-6, USNR
Place of birth: Waterloo, Iowa
Date of birth: December 14, 1914
5-11-1937 - Enlisted in the U.S. Navy as Apprentice Seaman, to serve for four (4) years at the Navy Recruiting Station, Des Moines, Iowa and transferred to the Naval Training Station, San Diego, California, for recruit training.
9-11-1937 - Rating changed to Seaman second class.
9-15-1937 - Transferred to the USS Hovey.
10-11-1937 - Transferred to the USS Melville for treatment.
10-15-1937 - Transferred to the USS Hovey for duty.
10-16-1939 - Rating changed to Seaman first class.
2-16-1941 - Rating changed to Gunner's Mate third class.
4-22-1941 - Transferred to the USS Santee for transportation to the West Coast and further transfer to the Receiving Ship, San Diego, California, for discharge.
4-30-1941 - Received at the Receiving Ship, San Diego, California.
5-16-1941 - Issued an honorable discharge by reason of expiration of enlistment.
1- 3-1942 - Enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve, Class V-6, as Gunner's Mate second class to serve for two (2) years at the Naval Recruiting Station, Des Moines, Iowa.
1- 3-1942 - Transferred to the Naval Training Station. Great Lakes, Illinois.
2- 3-1942 - Transferred to the receiving ship, New York, for duty in the USS Juneau detail and on board when commissioned.
11-14-1942 - Reported missing in action.
Click on the image for a better view.
Credits
Photo online, courtesy Naval Historical Center - Photo #: NH 52362.
Biographical information, quoted above, from the U.S. Naval Historical Center.
