The five Sullivan Brothers from Waterloo died when their ship was torpedoed in World War II. They are (from left) Joseph, Francis, Albert, Madison and George./AP photo

Waterloo family lost 5 sons in WWII

On Memorial Day, Iowans remember the sacrifice of the Sullivan family of Waterloo.

During World War II, five brothers – Albert, Francis, George, Joseph and Madison Sullivan – died when the ship on which they were serving was torpedoed.

The five brothers, two of whom previously served in the Navy, enlisted in the Navy together on Jan. 3, 1942, less than a month after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. They insisted that they serve together on the same ship. It was Navy policy to separate family members, but  the Sullivans persisted in their request and the Navy relented.

They served aboard the USS Juneau, a light cruiser.

On Nov. 13, 1942, during the Battle of Guadalcanal, the Juneau was struck by a Japanese torpedo and sank. Four brothers died.  George, the eldest, made it to a raft and survived for five days.

They were awarded Purple Hearts.

The Sullivan brothers became national heroes, and their deaths served as a rallying cry for a nation at war.

Listen to a musical tribute from Caroline’s Spine.

Albert’s granddaughter reflects on the Sullivan brothers here.

Legacy and tributes

• In response to their deaths, the U.S. War Department developed the Sole Survivor Policy
• The Navy named two destroyers in honor of the Sullivans.
• In 1944, the Sullivan brothers’ story was made into a movie called “The Sullivans.” It later was renamed “The Fighting Sullivans” and still is shown on some local TV stations around Memorial Day.
• The legacy of the Sullivan brothers continues to inspire popular entertainment, including the story line of “Saving Private Ryan.”
• Waterloo created Sullivan Park at the site of their childhood home and renamed the downtown civic center the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center.
• The Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum opened in Waterloo in November 2008.
• A U.S. Department of Defense Dependents School in Japan is named in their honor.
• In 1952, trees were planted at the U.S. Capitol in honor of the Sullivan brothers. Hear about them in a Webcast from Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley.