The five Sullivan brothers, George, Francis, Joseph, Madison, and Albert aboard the Atlanta-class light cruiser USS Juneau (CL-52). Tragically, all five brothers were killed in action when their ship was hit by torpedoes and sank on November 13, 1943 [1078×899]
>… a set of regulations in the Military of the United States that are designed to protect members of a family from the draft or from combat duty if they have already lost family members in military service.
>
>This policy protects "only sons/daughters", "the last son/daughter to carry the family name", and "sole surviving sons/daughters" only during peacetime.
The US has also named two ships "The Sullivans" in honour of them, the most recent being a destroyer in active service.
allmushroomsaremagic
If you told me the second from left was their dad, I would believe it.
thenutspoon
The oldest George was 27. I assume he is the one that looks 58.
They actually died in 1942. They asked to serve together.
MONKEH1142
Imagine their parents, they’ve raised five sons and a daughter. One of them has started a family and two of them are about to. The future is getting old to the sound of grandkids. Big six-family christmases. Barbecues out in the yard. Plenty of help, care and love as they grow old together. Then someone shows up one day at the door and all of that is gone.
RogerEpsilonDelta
Caroline spine wrote a great song about these amazing men. It’s called Sullivan, great tune always makes me cry.
YouestYouYouCanBe
There’s a “ghost story” of sorts about them too.
“USS The Sullivans is supposedly haunted. Visitors have reported seeing flickering lights, strange voices and radar equipment turning on by itself with no power. Other visitors said they can feel a stranger’s presence. It’s almost as if someone was following them. But the creepiest story involves a portrait of the five brothers that hangs in the ship.
Supposedly, if you take a picture of the portrait, you will only capture four of the brothers. Seemingly, George doesn’t want his picture taken because cameras cannot capture his picture. Whenever anyone tries to take his picture, a light blocks the image.”
dr___fil
Sibilings should never serve together precisely for this !
gdjeff
There is a B&W movie about them – The Fighting Sullivans.
jpbazzano
Each one is a hero. Tragic story my dad always tells me about how World War 2 taught us much more than we can ever fathom. Having 3 brothers I can’t imagine the grief my parents would have if all 4 were killed at once
BoozeIsFoods
Thought this sounded familiar, looked it up, and had to chalk it up to urban legend.
"Several misconceptions, common during World War II and after, continue to circulate about the Sullivan brothers and the assignment of family members to U.S. Navy ships.
Reference to a "Sullivan Act" in connection with family members serving in the same ship/unit is a popular misconception. The Sullivan Law of 29 May 1911 is a New York State Law dealing with firearms. Although proposed after the death of the five Sullivan Brothers, no "Sullivan Act" was ever enacted by Congress related to family members serving together. Similarly, no President has ever issued any executive order forbidding assignment of family members to the same ship/unit."
![The five Sullivan brothers, George, Francis, Joseph, Madison, and Albert aboard the Atlanta-class light cruiser USS Juneau (CL-52). Tragically, all five brothers were killed in action when their ship was hit by torpedoes and sank on November 13, 1943 [1078×899]](https://i.redd.it/839g67kte0061.jpg)
10owich
I can’t imagine having to write the letter to the family that all their sons are dead.
mleeharris
They have a ship named after them now. And their deaths resulted in changes in how siblings are stationed in the military.
arunphilip
Their tragic demise brought about the US DoD’s Sole Survivor Policy:
>… a set of regulations in the Military of the United States that are designed to protect members of a family from the draft or from combat duty if they have already lost family members in military service.
>
>This policy protects "only sons/daughters", "the last son/daughter to carry the family name", and "sole surviving sons/daughters" only during peacetime.
The US has also named two ships "The Sullivans" in honour of them, the most recent being a destroyer in active service.
allmushroomsaremagic
If you told me the second from left was their dad, I would believe it.
thenutspoon
The oldest George was 27. I assume he is the one that looks 58.
They actually died in 1942. They asked to serve together.
MONKEH1142
Imagine their parents, they’ve raised five sons and a daughter. One of them has started a family and two of them are about to. The future is getting old to the sound of grandkids. Big six-family christmases. Barbecues out in the yard. Plenty of help, care and love as they grow old together. Then someone shows up one day at the door and all of that is gone.
RogerEpsilonDelta
Caroline spine wrote a great song about these amazing men. It’s called Sullivan, great tune always makes me cry.
YouestYouYouCanBe
There’s a “ghost story” of sorts about them too.
“USS The Sullivans is supposedly haunted. Visitors have reported seeing flickering lights, strange voices and radar equipment turning on by itself with no power. Other visitors said they can feel a stranger’s presence. It’s almost as if someone was following them. But the creepiest story involves a portrait of the five brothers that hangs in the ship.
Supposedly, if you take a picture of the portrait, you will only capture four of the brothers. Seemingly, George doesn’t want his picture taken because cameras cannot capture his picture. Whenever anyone tries to take his picture, a light blocks the image.”
dr___fil
Sibilings should never serve together precisely for this !
gdjeff
There is a B&W movie about them – The Fighting Sullivans.
jpbazzano
Each one is a hero. Tragic story my dad always tells me about how World War 2 taught us much more than we can ever fathom. Having 3 brothers I can’t imagine the grief my parents would have if all 4 were killed at once
BoozeIsFoods
Thought this sounded familiar, looked it up, and had to chalk it up to urban legend.
"Several misconceptions, common during World War II and after, continue to circulate about the Sullivan brothers and the assignment of family members to U.S. Navy ships.
Reference to a "Sullivan Act" in connection with family members serving in the same ship/unit is a popular misconception. The Sullivan Law of 29 May 1911 is a New York State Law dealing with firearms. Although proposed after the death of the five Sullivan Brothers, no "Sullivan Act" was ever enacted by Congress related to family members serving together. Similarly, no President has ever issued any executive order forbidding assignment of family members to the same ship/unit."
https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/disasters-and-phenomena/the-sullivan-brothers-and-the-assignment-of-family-members/sullivan-brothers-policy-family-members.html
MildlyAgreeable
This is referenced in Saving Private Ryan IIRC.
MrDibbin
The USS Sullivan, which was named after the brothers, is currently docked in Buffalo I believe.
Meatman_Mace
The inspiration for the film Saving Private Ryan