USS The Sullivans
Encyclopedia
Two ships of the United States Navy
have borne the name USS The Sullivans, named in honor of the five Sullivan brothers
who lost their lives when their ship, USS Juneau
(CL-52), was sunk in November 1942. This was the greatest loss by any one family during World War II.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
have borne the name USS The Sullivans, named in honor of the five Sullivan brothers
Sullivan brothers
The Sullivan brothers were five siblings who were all killed in action during or shortly after the sinking of the light cruiser USS Juneau , the vessel on which they all served, on November 13, 1942, in World War II....
who lost their lives when their ship, USS Juneau
USS Juneau (CL-52)
The first USS Juneau was a United States Navy Atlanta-class light cruiser sunk at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in November 1942. In total 687 men, including the five Sullivan brothers, were killed in action as a result of its sinking....
(CL-52), was sunk in November 1942. This was the greatest loss by any one family during World War II.
- The first, , was a Fletcher-classFletcher class destroyerThe Fletcher class were a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. The class was designed in 1939 as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types...
destroyerDestroyerIn naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
, launched in 1943. In 1977, she was processed for donation to the city of Buffalo, N.Y.Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, where she now serves as a memorial. The Niland brothersNiland BrothersThe Niland brothers were four American brothers from Tonawanda, New York, serving in the military during World War II. Of the four, two survived the war, but for a time it was believed that only one, Frederick Niland, had survived...
family, which endured the second greatest loss by any one family during the war (made famous by the loosely adapted film "Saving Private Ryan"), was from the Buffalo suburb of Tonawanda, New YorkTonawanda, New YorkTonawanda may refer to:*Glacial Lake Tonawanda*North Tonawanda, New York, a city in Niagara County, north across Tonawanda Creek from the City and Town*Tonawanda , New York, consisting of the Town of Tonawanda less the Village of Kenmore...
and their similar loss to the Sullivan family played a role in the decision to place The Sullivans as a museum ship in Buffalo instead of elsewhere.
- The second, , is an Arleigh Burke-classArleigh Burke class destroyerThe Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers is the United States Navy's first class of destroyer built around the Aegis combat system and the SPY-1D multi-function phased array radar. The class is named for Admiral Arleigh "31-Knot" Burke, the most famous American destroyer officer of...
destroyer, launched in 1995. As of 2011, she is still active in service.