The five brothers who tragically died in World War II were the Sullivan brothers: George Thomas, Francis Henry, Joseph Eugene, Madison Abel, and Albert Leo.
These five siblings, all from Waterloo, Iowa, were killed in action on November 13, 1942, while serving together aboard the USS Juneau (CL-52) during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. Their death represented the most significant loss to any one family in U.S. wartime history.
The Sullivan Brothers: A Collective Sacrifice
The story of the Sullivan brothers is a poignant reminder of the profound personal cost of war. Driven by a desire to avenge the attack on Pearl Harbor, they insisted on serving together. Their request was granted due to the Navy's more lenient policies regarding siblings serving on the same vessel at the time.
The brothers perished when their light cruiser, the USS Juneau, was struck by a Japanese torpedo after being severely damaged in battle the previous day. Of the nearly 700 crew members, only 10 survived the sinking. Among the lost were all five Sullivan brothers.
Brother's Name |
---|
George Thomas |
Francis Henry |
Joseph Eugene |
Madison Abel |
Albert Leo |
Impact and Legacy
The immense grief and public outcry following the deaths of the Sullivan brothers led to significant changes in U.S. military policy. The Navy, and later other branches, instituted the "Sole Survivor Policy" (often referred to as the Sullivan Policy or Family Separation Policy). This policy aims to prevent similar tragedies by generally prohibiting family members from serving together in combat zones or on the same vessel if their deaths would result in the loss of all immediate family members.
Their sacrifice remains a powerful symbol of American dedication and loss in World War II, commemorated through various memorials, including two U.S. Navy destroyers named USS The Sullivans.
For more information on the Sullivan brothers and their impact on U.S. military policy, you can visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website.