SULLIVANS VISIT IRELAND.

“It was a dream that my family has had since the christening of the ship and we felt so incredibly blessed to have had the opportunity to be involved with the festivities.” Those words describe the feelings of Kelly Sullivan Loughren, granddaughter of Albert Sullivan, one of the Fighting Sullivans. Her father, James, is the son of Albert, the only one of the five brothers who married.  He and his four brothers from Waterloo, Iowa perished when their ship, the USS Juneau, was torpedoed and sunk during the sea battle for Guadalcanal in 1942. “My brother John and I made a promise eight years ago that we would go to Ireland if the ship ever made it there,” she said. Thomas Sullivan, Loughren’s great-grandfather, left Trafrask, Adrigole, Co. Cork, in 1849. Accompanying him during An Gorta Morta, the Great Hunger, was his wife Bridget Agnes and his brother Owen.

Both Gunner's Mate George Sullivan, 27, and Coxswain Francis Sullivan, 25, had four years of prior Navy service. Joe (Red), 23, Matt, 22 and Al., 19, became seamen, second class, when they enlisted and were assigned to the new $13,000,000 light cruiser, Juneau, the first American war ship commissioned in camouflage. Nine months later, during the Battle of Guadalcanal, near the Solomon Islands, she was steaming toward base when an explosion sent her to the bottom.

"It just happened all at once and the Juneau was gone, reported an officer who witnessed it from another ship. One of the most extraordinary tragedies that have ever been met by any family in the United States, spoke Henry A. Wallace, Vice President of the United States, referring to the sinking. The Navy issued a statement: "Loss of the five Sullivan brothers ranks as the greatest single blow suffered by any one family since Pearl Harbor and probably in American Naval history. Even though the Navy has alleged that in  wartime it had been Navy policy to separate members of the same family, no evidence of that policy existis. Presence of the five Sullivans aboard the USS Juneau was supposedly, according to the Navy, at the insistence of the brothers themselves and in contradiction to the repeated recommendations of the ship's executive officer. Serving together had been one condition of their enlistment. The lads were the sons of Thomas F. and Aletta Sullivan, 98 Adams Street. Mr. Sullivan was born on a farm in Taylor Township, Allamakee County, Iowa, near Harpers Ferry, Iowa.

On April 17, 1997 Kelly Ann Sullivan Loughren and John Sullivan, grandchildren of Albert and the daughter of James and Sally Sullivan, were present at Stapleton Pier, Staten Island New York for the formal commissioning into the US Navy of the second The Sullivans (DDG68). Kelly is a schoolteacher in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The Arleigh Burke Class destroyer, with a crew of 26 officers and 315 sailors, is commanded by Richard A. Brown. The DDG68 visited Ireland this year for the O’Sullivan clan reunion and festivities. Loughren and her brother John stood on the shore to watch the ship come in. According to Loughren the locals welcomed the crew with open arms and made sure they experienced a taste of Irish culture.

"As a member of the crew of USS THE SULLIVANS (DDG 68), it was great to be part of this historic trip to Ireland,” said U.S. Navy Petty Officer Ed Flynn of Boston.  “Additionally, to be on a ship named after the five Irish-American Sullivan brothers from Waterloo, Iowa, was an honor."Flynn described the symbolism of the ship's Shield, dark blue and gold representing the sea and excellence. They are also the Navy's tradition colors. Red is emblematic of courage and sacrifice. The five interlaced swords honor the five brothers killed in action and commemorate their spirit of teamwork and patriotism. The upright points of the swords allude to the present ship's combat readiness and its missile system. The boarder reflects unity and the eleven stars represent the battle stars earned by the first USS THE SULLIVANS; nine for WW II and two for the Korean War.  The trident, symbol of sea prowess, symbolizes DDG 68's modern warfare capabilities; the AEGIS and vertical launch system. The fireball underscores the fierce battle of Guadalcanal where the five brothers courageously fought and died together and highlights its firepower of the past and present USS THE SULLIVANS. The inverted wreath, a traditional symbol of the ultimate sacrifice, is in memory of the brothers. The shamrock recalls the Irish heritage. The arms on the Seal are blazoned in full color upon a white oval enclosed by a dark blue collar edged on the outside with a gold rope and bearing the name "USS THE SULLIVANS" at the top and "DDG 68" in the base in gold.

A reception for the family was held on board the ship. Lougren said she felt like a proud mother when she saw the officers and crew at their best. “Overall, it was an experience of a lifetime, so amazing that it is difficult to explain in words.  I only wish that I could bottle the feeling I get every time I'm on the ship! We were so honored to take part in this history making event for the best ship in the Navy.”

The ships crew met all the Sullivans from Castletownbere. Flynn said the people of Ireland and County Cork were “very warm and genuine to all of the ship’s crew. “It was a trip of a lifetime, and to be an Irish-American and visit Ireland on a US Navy ship – is something you could only dream of.”  Flynn described his feelings for the World War II heroes. “The Sullivan brothers were courageous and loyal. Our country and the world itself is a better place because of this outstanding family.  The motto of our ship is We Stick Together. It was also the motto of the Sullivan brothers. That is something we are all proud of."

JC Sullivan is an Irish-American writer residing in northeast Ohio. He witnessed the commissioning of the ship at Staten Island, New York.