The Sullivan brothers were five brothers from Waterloo, Iowa who served together on the light cruiser USS Juneau. They were all killed in action during and shortly after its sinking around November 13, 1942.
The Sullivan brothers on board the cruiser USS Juneau at her commissioning: Joe, Frank, Al, Matt, and George (14 February 1942)
Wartime poster featuring the Sullivan brothers
Manila American Cemetery and Memorial listing the five Sullivan brothers
A memorial placed on the cruise ship docks of Juneau, Alaska, to the crew of USS Juneau, including the five Sullivan brothers
USS Juneau (CL-52) was a United States Navy Atlanta-class light cruiser torpedoed and sunk at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on 13 November 1942. In total, 687 officers and sailors, including the five Sullivan brothers, were killed in action as a result of her sinking. Only 10 survivors were rescued after eight days in the water. To honor the five Sullivan brothers and Juneau, the U.S. Navy has since commissioned two ships named USS The Sullivans and two ships named USS Juneau. On 17 March 2018, Paul Allen's research crew on board RV Petrel located the wreck of Juneau at a depth of about 4,200 m (13,800 ft) off the Solomon Islands.
USS Juneau in February 1942.
The Sullivan brothers on board the Juneau on her commissioning date. From left to right: Joseph, Francis, Albert, Madison, and George Sullivan
USS Juneau in June 1942
Juneau underway during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, 26 October 1942
