Sullivan, Albert Leo “Al”.

Sullivan, Albert Leo “Al”, born 08-07-1922, in Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa, USA to Thomas Francis Sullivan ( 1883–1965) and his wife  Alleta May, born Abel Sullivan ( 1895–1972). George Thomas Sullivan (born George Thomas Sullivan, 27 (born 14-12-1914), Gunnert’s Mate Second Class (Georg had been previously discharged in May 1941 as Gunner’s Mate Third Class). Francis Henry “Frank”26 (born 18-02-1916) Coxswain (Frank had been previously discharged in May 1941 as Seaman First Class). Joseph Eugene “Joe Sullivan, 24 (born 28-08-1918) Seaman Second Classs and Madison Abel “Matt”Sullivan 23 (born 08-11-1919) Seaman Second Class.  The brothers left a sister, Genevieve (1917–1975), who served in the WAVES. She was the girlfriend of Bill Ball, whose death while serving on the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor prompted her brothers to join the Navy to avenge him. Al was survived by his wife Katherine Mary and son Jimmy. Joe left a fiancée named Margaret Jaros, while Matt left behind a fiancée named Beatrice Imperato.Al Sullivan’s son served on board the first USS The Sullivans. His grandmother christened the first ship. The second USS The Sullivans was christened by Al’s granddaughter Kelly Ann Sullivan Loughren.

Albert enlisted in the United States Navy in January 1942, joining brothers George, Frank, Joseph, and Madison in the service under the stipulation that they serve together. While the United States Navy had no policy obligating it to such a request, it was honored, and all five were assigned to the Atlanta-class light cruiser “USS Juneau” (CL-52). The ship and her crew participated in the Guadalcanal Campaign in the South Pacific. The Guadalcanal campaign, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal and codenamed Operation Watchtower by American forces, was a military campaign fought between 7 August 1942 and 9 February 1943 on and around the island of Guadalcanal in the Pacific theater of World War II. On 13–11-1942, the “Juneau” was struck by two Japanese torpedoes, one of which struck near the vessel’s ammunition magazine, causing a huge explosion that sank the ship within minutes. All five Sullivans became casualties – Frank, Joseph, and Madison in the explosion, Albert by drowning the next day, George a few days later after he slipped into the water while floating with other survivors and never returned. Due to the fact that the campaign was ongoing, Naval secrecy kept the parents of the Sullivan brothers from being notified of their sacrifices until the next January. The five brothers soon were hailed as heroes, and became known in popular memory as the “Fighting Sullivan Brothers.” Their parents were notified of their deaths on 12-01-1943. “I have some news for you about your boys,” the attending naval officer said. “Which one?” asked the father. “I’m sorry,” the officer replied. “All five.”  In April 1943, a Fletcher-class destroyer was named “USS The Sullivans” (DD-537) in their honor – the first United States Navy vessel named for more than one person. In 1944, a Hollywood version of their story was told in the motion picture “The Fighting Sullivans.” As a direct result of the death of the five siblings in one action, the United States Military adopted the “Sole Survivor” policy in 1948. Each brother has a memorial cenotaph for them in Arlington National Cemetery, and their names are inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila City, Philippines.

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