The heartbreaking tale of the Sullivan brothers

It was January 1942, and the five Sullivan brothers from Waterloo, Iowa, enlisted in the Navy. They wanted to serve together. 

At the time the Navy discouraged it, but it was not forbidden so they all served on the USS Juneau, a light cruiser. Then they were sent to the Pacific and then came the battle of Guadalcanal. The battle lasted for months.

On Nov. 13, the Juneau was hit by a torpedo and was limping along at just 13 knots, then the ship was hit by another torpedo and was split in half. About 600 of the 673 men on board were killed immediately, including four of the Sullivan brothers, but the eldest brother, George was wounded but survived. 

For a full week they were in just three life rafts, and hanging on to the rafts in the water. They had to fight exposure, exhaustion and sharks. Many died from wounds they had already suffered. George decided to go into the water to clean himself but was then killed by a shark.

The last remaining Sullivan brother had perished. Of the 73 who went into the lifeboats only 10 survived.

Back in Waterloo, Iowa, the Sullivan parents did not know of their sons' deaths. The U.S. military did not want the Axis to know the defeats they had endured with many ships sunk and lost and thousands of men so it was not made public. 

The Sullivan parents suspected something was wrong, as they were no longer receiving letters. They did not receive official notice until two months later Jan. 12, 1943.

Roger Gregory is a Vietnam veteran and business owner in Priest River.