At des moines, iowa, on 3 january 1942, george and francisaccompanied by their younger brothers joseph eugene 28 august 1918, madison abel. Feb 21, 2018 news of the deaths of all five brothers became a rallying point for the war effort, with posters and speeches honoring their sacrifice. Juneau dd537, were all killed in action on its sinking around november, 1942. In february 1942, the sullivan brothers were assigned to uss juneau, a newly commissioned cruiser in new york city bound for the pacific. The sullivans 1944 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. These are the real brothers that inspired saving private. Normal protocol during wartime required siblings be assigned to different units to prevent one family from having to endure such a hardship should tragedy strike. The story follows the lives of the five irishamerican sullivan brothers, who.
The five sullivan brothers were world war ii sailors who, serving together on the light cruiser uss juneau, were all killed in action on its sinking around november, 1942 the five brothers, the sons of thomas 18831965 and alleta sullivan 18951972 of waterloo, iowa, were. Ap the five sullivan brothers of waterloo, iowa, died together at the battle of guadalcanal in 1942. Even then, the brothers enjoyed a celebrity status for being the only five members of a family serving simultaneously in one vessel. Dec 19, 2015 simon templar thomas sullivan was a first generation american and he worked as a train conductor for the illinois central railroad. This is a great movie about 5 brothers that serviced in the u. Who were the sullivan brothers brothers who died in wwii. The five sullivan brothers, missing in action off the. Sunken wwii cruiser carrying the 5 sullivan brothers has been. The united states navy honored the sullivan brothers by naming two destroyers uss the sullivans. The five brothers, the sons of thomas 18831965 and alleta sullivan 18951972 of waterloo, iowa, were. The five sullivan brothers hailed from waterloo, iowa. The five brave sullivan brothers who died in wwii serving the us navy the uss juneau sunk on november, 1942, a year after being commissioned, killing 687 men on board including the. These are the real brothers that inspired saving private ryan.
This 40,000 square foot center features meeting and exhibition space, and hosts events for up to 2,000 people. George thomas born 14 december 1914 and francis henry sullivan 18 february 1916, the two oldest, enlisted in the navy on 11 may 1937 and served in the destroyer hovey dd208 into june 1941. Records help tell story of uss juneau, sullivan brothers. Navy, but, they all wanted to be stationed on the same ship together, true brotherly love. The five brothers, the sons of thomas 18831965 and alleta sullivan 18951972 of waterloo, iowa, were, george. Joseph eugene sullivan, francis henry sullivan, albert leo sullivan, madison abel. Post 518 march veteran of the month the five sullivan brothers. The fighting sullivans 2008 cast and crew moviefone. The lives of a closeknit group of brothers growing up in iowa during the days of the great depression and of world war ii and their eventual deaths in action in the pacific theater are chronicled in this film based on a true story. George and francis had been in the navy before, so they all decided to again choose the navy.
In this dramatization of a true story, five brothers from iowa james cardwell, john campbell, george offerman jr. Mcfarland is the widow of albert sullivan, youngest of the five sullivan brothers killed. Based on a true story, this gripping ww iiera war drama chronicles the courage of five brothers who bravely fought to save the battleship juneau after it was fatally torpedoed at gaudalcanal. While much of the movie is a fictional account, the premise behind capt. The sullivan brothers have been memorialized with a museum wing, a school and two navy ships. Many memorial efforts have honored the five brothers. The five sullivan brothers and their sister genevieve, or gen, grew up with little parental guidance, according to interviews conducted soon after the disaster and in the years that followed. On september 30, 1943, the navy commissioned the sullivans and mrs. Joseph, francis, albert, madison and george sullivan. The juneau was sunk on november, 1942, off the island of guadalcanal by japanese submarine i26. The movie implies that the five brothers died at the same time. The fighting sullivans 2008 in this dramatization of a true story, five brothers from iowa james cardwell, john campbell, george offerman jr.
Ages of all five sullivan brothers at the time of death there was a sevenyear gap between george, 27, the eldest brother and albert or al, who was the youngest at 20. The sullivan brothers grew up looking out for each other and continued doing so when they went off to war w. Joseph, francis, albert, madison and george pose onboard the uss juneau at the time of her commissioning ceremonies at the new york navy yard. All five were killed when their ship was sunk by a japanese sub. The sullivan brothers and the assignment of family members. It is a myth that following the five sullivan brothers deaths, the us government enacted the sullivan act, an act made to prevent siblings serving together on. Sullivan brothers iowa veterans museum iowa museum.
Six family members were among those who gathered aboard uss. The fighting sullivans, originally released as the sullivans, is a 1944 american biographical war film directed by lloyd bacon and written by edward doherty, mary c. It was nominated for a nowdiscontinued academy award for best story. Wreck of the juneau is found, 76 years after 5 brothers. The sullivans were common men who made an uncommon sacrifice, said kelly loughren sullivan, granddaughter of albert, the only one of the five brothers to marry. Sunken wwii cruiser carrying the 5 sullivan brothers has. The uss juneau, which sank during world war ii, was discovered by an expedition funded by microsoft cofounder paul ryan. The five sullivan brothers of waterloo, iowa were serving together aboard the light cruiser uss juneau cl52. Five brothers died after their ship, the juneau, was blasted apart by a torpedo on nov. Locals repeatedly told investigators that their father, tom, was a physically abusive alcoholic who went on benders whenever he had a couple days. Wreck of the uss juneau, famous for the deaths of the 5. Their story, which attracted widespread attention, was depicted in the.
George thomas sullivan, 27 born december 14, 1914, gunners mate second class george had been previously. As a direct result of the five sullivan brothers fatalities, the united states war department developed and initiated the sole survivor policy. The sullivans were not the only brother sailors on board the ship. The five sullivan brothers george, francis, joseph, madison and albert of waterloo, ia enlisted together in the u. Alleta sullivan, mother of the five sullivan brothers, sponsored and christened the destroyer which served the navy until its final decommissioning on january 7, 1965. War department to adopt the sole survivor policy so it would never happen again.
It is a myth that following the five sullivan brothers deaths, the us government enacted the sullivan act, an act made to prevent siblings serving together on the same boat. Joseph eugene sullivan, francis henry sullivan, albert leo sullivan, madison abel sullivan, and george thomas sullivan. Nov 11, 2012 her late first husband and his brothers would have wanted it that way. Wwiis sullivan brothers remembered at mayport florida news. The brothers have been remembered in many forms over the years. Joseph, francis, albert, madison and george pose onboard the uss juneau at the time of her commissioning ceremonies at the. The truly heartbreaking story of the 5 sullivan brothers. The sullivan brothers were five siblings who all died during the same attack in.
The deaths of these 5 sailors changed how us manned military. The brothers hometown of waterloo, iowa, has a convention center named the five sullivan brothers convention center, and the town also renamed a street and set aside a public park in their honor. The sullivan brothers were five siblings who all died during the same incident in world war ii, the sinking of the light cruiser uss juneau cl52, the vessel on which they all served. The five sullivan brothers were world war ii sailors who, serving together on the uss. The former was the first american navy vessel ever to be named after more than one person. Mar 22, 2018 five brothers died after their ship, the juneau, was blasted apart by a torpedo on nov. A fletcherclass destroyer ship was named in honor of all five brothers, uss the sullivans. The 1998 movie saving private ryan is one of the alltime great war movies. Wwiis sullivan brothers remembered at mayport florida. Only widow of five sullivan brothers passes away at age 93. Navy on 3 january 1942, motivated to avenge the death of a friend killed on the uss arizona at pearl harbor. Since their loss much confusion has resulted from the many myths surrounding both the sullivan brothers and the navys policy regarding family members serving. And the brothers deaths led to sole survivor policies, which exempt people who have lost a. Mar 29, 2018 five brothers from waterloo, iowaalbert, francis, george, joseph, and madison sullivanall served as shipmates on the uss juneau.
In reality, uss juneau survivors reported that joe, matt and frank died when the torpedo struck the ship, al died of drowning the next day whilst george actually lived for four to five days after the attack. Wwii shipwreck where 5 brothers died 76 years ago finally. During world war two five sullivan brothers from waterloo in iowa, u. The lives of a closeknit group of brothers growing up in iowa during the days of the great depression and of world war ii and their eventual deaths in action in the pacific theater are chronicled in. Their legacy includes legislation like the sole survivor policy which seeks to limit a familys loss during times of war. The deaths of these 5 sailors changed how us manned. Today the widow of one of those brothers has died at the age of 93. Its really quite cheesy and fluffy for the most partuntil all five brothers determine they are going to help put a quick end to the war after pearl harbor. The bulk of the movie is spent letting you get to know the sullivan familyan irish family full of scrappers. Katherine mcfarland was the world war two widow of albert sullivan, the youngest of the five sullivan brothers who were all killed during world war two. As katherine sullivan, she was married to al sullivan and was the only widow of the five sullivan brothers when a torpedo hit the uss juneau in 1942, killing 687 men, including all five brothers.
The death of the five sullivan brothers was impossible to imagine. Nov, 2019 ages of all five sullivan brothers at the time of death there was a sevenyear gap between george, 27, the eldest brother and albert or al, who was the youngest at 20. The five sullivan brothers were world war ii sailors who, serving together on the light cruiser uss juneau, were all killed in action on its sinking around november, 1942. On friday, november, the juneau along with a number of other u. The five brothers, the sons of thomas 18831965 and alleta sullivan 18951972. With anne baxter, thomas mitchell, selena royle, edward ryan.
Five brothers from waterloo, iowaalbert, francis, george, joseph, and madison sullivanall served as shipmates on the uss juneau. The first describes the life and story of the sullivan brothers, and the second shows the letters that were sent but never delivered to the sullivan boys. Post 518 march veteran of the month the five sullivan. An expedition backed by microsoft cofounder and philanthropist paul allen. News of the deaths of all five brothers became a rallying point for the war effort, with posters and speeches honoring their sacrifice. Remembering waterloos five sullivan brothers on the. It is the only naval ship to be named after more than one person. That is the story of the niland brothers edward, preston, robert, and frederick from tonawanda, new york. Her late first husband and his brothers would have wanted it that way. Five brothers from the sullivan family were famously lost on the uss juneau.
After the deaths of the five sullivan brothers, the united states navy named two ships after them. The five sullivan brothers albert, francis, george, joseph, and madison served together as shipmates aboard the cruiser u. Navy uniforms, standing behind a bulkhead door, with blue service stars above each head. Hundreds died, including the five sullivan brothers from waterloo, iowa, whose story was chronicled in a 1944 movie. Mar 20, 2018 the sullivan brothers have been memorialized with a museum wing, a school and two navy ships. Normal protocol during wartime required siblings be assigned to different units to prevent one family from having to. Mar 21, 2018 the five sullivan brothers from left to right. The five sullivan brothers were lost when the ship to which all five were assigned, uss juneau cl52 was sunk on november 1942 during the battle of guadalcanal. Juneau after requesting special permission from the secretary of the navy. Five sullivan brothers convention center experience waterloo. The story follows the lives of the five irishamerican sullivan brothers, who grew up in iowa during the days of the great depression and served together in the united states navy during world war ii. Ii all five brothers, albert, francis, george, joseph, and madison joined the navy with the stipulation that they all serve on the same ship.
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