USS Juneau (CL-52)

"I have some news for you about your boys."

"Which one?"

"I'm sorry. All five."

George, Frank, Joe, Matt and Al Sullivan all joined the Navy together(George and Frank had previously served as well) on January 3, 1942, with the stipulation that they be allowed to serve together. The Navy had a policy of separating siblings, but it was not strictly enforced. All five Sullivan Brothers were accepted and assigned to the USS Juneau.

They served during all actions that the Juneau took part in, including Santa Cruz and Guadalcanal. The ship earned four battle stars. It was during the Battle of Guadalcanal that disaster struck the Juneau. During the incredible, point blank (for Naval battle standards) battle, the Juneau was hit by a torpedo and started to list badly enough to have to withdraw from the battle. As she and two other ships, the USS Helena (CL-50) and USS San Francisco (CA-38) steamed toward Espirito Santo in Vanuatu for repairs, the Juneau was hit by a second torpedo and almost immediately broke in half and sank. The other two ships, damaged and fearing further attack, radioed to report the sinking, but negated to stop and search for any survivors, of which there were more than 100. The rescuers didn't arrive for eight days. By that time, only ten survivors remained.

All five of the Sullivan Brothers perished. This is an incredible tragedy for the family for sure, but also for a nation. It became a huge story and has since become a widely told one.

As tragic as the loss of the Sullivan's was, we must also remember that there were 682 others who died in those days. We lost 687 men on the USS Juneau. All of them had families that had to hear the terrible news of their passing, just the same way that Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan, their sister, Genevieve, and Albert's wife and son had to hear it. Devastating for each and every one of them.

While the Sullivan story is undeniably heartbreaking, we must never forget that each and every person that has made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country has a story as well. Each one of them leaves someone behind who loves them, who sees them as a very dear part of life and who will forever be changed by the loss. I can't imagine losing five at the same time, largely, because I can't imagine losing just one of my boys.

Abraham Lincoln's (debate about the veracity not needed) letter to Lydia Bixby during the Civil War is as poignant now as it was then. It could very easily be intended for the family of ANY single service member lost.

The Bixby letter reads:

Dear Madam,

I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle. I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save. I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.

Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,

A. Lincoln

Let us never forget ANY of them.

L-R- Joe, Frank, Al, Matt, and George Sullivan