George Thomas Sullivan

From the 1920 federal census, George Thomas Sullivan lived with his mother, father, grandmother, and siblings at Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa. The family at the time consisted of:

• Head Thomas Sullivan 35
• Mother in Law May Able 40
• Wife Alleta Sullivan 24
• Son George Sullivan 5
• Son Frances Sullivan 3 years, 11 months
• Daughter Genevieve Sullivan 2 years, 11 months
• Son Joseph Sullivan 1 year, 4 months
• Son Madison Sullivan 2 months

From the 1930 federal census, George Thomas Sullivan lived with his mother, father, grandmother, and siblings at Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa. The family at the time consisted of:

• Head Thomas F. Sullivan 47
• Mother in Law May Abel 52
• Wife Alleta Sullivan 35
• Son George Sullivan 15
• Son Frances Sullivan 14
• Daughter Genevieve Sullivan 13
• Son Eugene Sullivan 12
• Son Madison Sullivan 10
• Son Albert Sullivan 7

George Thomas Sullivan was a Gunner's Mate Third Class in the late 1930s, and was discharged in May 1941. Upon the beginning of World War II, George and his four brothers enlisted into the United States Navy. At the time of his second enlistment, George was a Gunner's Mate Second Class.

George Thomas Sullivan was a World War II United States Navy Sailor. A native of Waterloo, Iowa, he enlisted in the United States Navy in January 1942, joining brothers Frank, Albert, 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, a conflict that ran from August 1942 to February 1943. On November 13, 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". 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 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. (bio by: Russ Dodge)