Joseph, Francis, Albert, Madison, and George Sullivan are said to be one of the several haunts on a ship that now carries not only their name, but maybe their ghosts.
The brothers fought in the battle of Guadalcanal during WWII. They survived the major fighting and their ship the USS Juneau was ordered back to Eapiritu Santo in the New Hebrides for rest and then on to repair at Pearl Harbor. While on their way out of the battle zone their light cruiser would be struck by a torpedo and they would be sunk along with 700 of their fellow crewmen. Only ten men lived to tell the tail.
Mrs. Sullivan was sent this letter by President Roosevelt upon hearing that her 5 sons were killed in the same military incident:
Dear Mrs. Sullivan:
The knowledge that your five gallant sons are missing in action, against the enemy, inspired me to write you this personal message. I realize full well there is little I can say to assuage your grief.
As the Commander in Chief of the Army and the Navy, I want you to know that the entire nation shares your sorrow. I offer you the condolence and gratitude of our country. We, who remain to carry on the fight, must maintain the spirit in the knowledge that such sacrifice is not in vain. The Navy Department has informed me of the expressed desire of your sons; George Thomas, Francis Henry, Joseph Eugene, Madison Abel, and Albert Leo, to serve on the same ship. I am sure, that we all take pride in the knowledge that they fought side by side. As one of your sons wrote, `We will make a team together that can't be beat.' It is this spirit which in the end must triumph.
Last March, you, Mrs. Sullivan, were designated to sponsor a ship of the Navy in recognition of your patriotism and that of your sons. I am to understand that you are, now, even more determined to carry on as sponsorer. This evidence of unselfishness and courage serves as a real inspiration for me, as I am sure it will for all Americans. Such acts of fate and fortitude in the face of tragedy convince me of the indomitable spirit and will of our people.
I send you my deepest sympathy in your hour of trial and pray that in Almighty God you will find a comfort and help that only He can bring.
Very sincerely yours, /s/ Franklin D. Roosevelt
This letter along with the Sullivan brothers story can be found here. Even more remarkable is that Mrs. Sullivan lost her daughter five months later (Kathleen Mae) to pneumonia.
The US Navy in honor of the brothers commissioned a ship on September 30, 1943. The USS The Sullivans (D-537) built by the Bethlehem Steel Ship Yard in San Francisco it earned 9 battle stars in WWII and 2 during the Korean War. It is also unique in that it is the only Navy ship named as a plural. It also bears a shamrock insignia on the man deck and forward stack. Finally, the name of the ship is painted on the fantail in Kelly Green. No other Navy ship of this style or generation ever had customized features.
The Motto of the ship and its crew is "We Stick Together"... maybe even into the afterlife.
This ship sat in the Philadelphia Naval Ship Yard until 1977 when it was donated to the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park. When I transferred kids up there while working for Kids' Peace I often would stop there and tour the ship.
I have talked to folks who worked at the Philadelphia Naval Ship yard when the boat was struck on December 1, 1974 who noticed strange things happening aboard. When a ship is struck it will never be used for battle again. This ship was made part of the "Mothball Fleet" at that point. In an extreme emergency is could be called back to duty, but it was rare with the development of technology and new modern weapons.
While this ship was "Mothballed" at the Philadelphia Ship Yards the routine checks of the ships would be accompanied by strange occurrences. One electrician was disciplined for refusing a direct order to look over the flooding system of the ship. He said since it was Friday the 13th he was sure the Sullivans would be looking to mess with him while he was working. This electrician stated his ankles were grabbed and he would see shadows walking the ship.
It was also reported lights would flicker on the ship. It was impossible as there was no power to the boat at the time the lights were seen. Tool boxes have been known to go missing and the Navy ordered the ship patrolled in pairs to avoid future problems. This did not end the reports aboard the ship. Mischief and strange occurrences still continued and followed the ship to its current home.
It was often stated that the men that died in the Battle of Guadalcanal can not rest as their Admiral, Daniel J. Callahan, was criticized for his mistakes during the battle. The area where he and the ships went down is known as Ironbottom Sound. Eventually, it has since been written that "mistakes were canceled out by valor." It is said the Sullivan brothers have come back to claim the stolen honor for their beloved Admiral Callahan. The USS The Sullivans has been called the modern "Flying Dutchman". This ship might be doomed to be haunted forever until it can be used to allow the Sullivan brothers to restore the honor of their captain so he can rest in peace.
The 1999 History Channel Documentary talked about the haunting on the ship. It can be read in summary here.
Caroline's Spine wrote a song about the Sullivans. The lyrics are great.
It is amazing their legacy lives on all these years later through the ship, their family, and their ghost stories.
Stephen Barron Jr. - Contributing Writer
