Although it's been more than 80 years since the grandfather she never knew died with his four brothers in World War II on the same ship, Kelly Sullivan was unable to stop her tears during her presentation this summer about her famed family at the Anderson House, the home of the American Revolution Institute at the Society of the Cincinnati.
At the event, Ms. Sullivan's tears weren't the only ones which flowed, men's or women's.
During the Battle of Guadalcanal, the Japanese torpedoed and sunk the USS Juneau on Nov. 13, 1942, eventually killing her grandfather and four uncles, all onboard.
Contrary to widespread belief, there is no legislation prohibiting family members from serving on the same ship, Ms. Sullivan said.
She is the granddaughter of Albert Sullivan, the only brother who was married and had a son, Jimmy, who, with his wife, had Kelly and her brother and sister.
The Sullivan Brothers were a close knit band who requested to be on the same ship, which rests still today in the Pacific Ocean, only discovered on St. Patrick's Day, Mar. 17, 2018, by shipwreck explorer, Microsoft's Paul Allen and his crew, Kelly said.
During the war, rumors of the brothers' deaths floated through their hometown of Waterloo, Iowa, until their mother, Alleta Sullivan, finally wrote a moving letter of inquiry to the U. S. Navy.
While she read her great-grandmother's letter out loud to the audience, Kelly Sullivan stopped every few seconds to catch her breath.
Shortly after Mrs. Sullivan's letter was delivered to the Navy, President Franklin D. Roosevelt answered Mrs. Sullivan on January 13, 1943, confirming the deaths of her sons.
Now, a museum in Waterloo honors the five men and other veterans, one of several places where the Sullivans are remembered. The U.S. Navy named two destroyers after them; a New York pier is named in their honor, and they were the subject of a 1944 movie, The Sullivans (renamed The Fighting Sullivans).
Kelly Sullivan asked members of the audience attending the free lecture, to remember the sacrifices which servicemen and women make daily for the United States and to thank them.
Ms. Sullivan's presentation was part of the exhibition, Affairs of State: 118 Years of Diplomacy at Anderson House, open to all during regular open hours. (Please see below.)
Although 100 survived the original torpedo and Juneau sinking, when the Navy finally got its paperwork together days later and undertook recovery operations, only 10 crew members were found still alive floating in the water amid hazardous conditions and sharks, according to Wikipedia.
What: Affairs of State: 118 Years of Diplomacy and Entertaining at Anderson House
When: Now through Dec. 31, 2023, Tuesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Sunday, 12 - 4 p.m. Closed on major holidays and meetings of the Society of the Cincinnati. Check here.
Where: Anderson House, 2118 Massachusetts Ave., Washington, D.C. NW 20008
How much: No charge.
Metro station: Dupont Circle. Exit at Q Street/North exit. At the top of the escalator, turn left on Q Street.
For more information: (202) 785-2040
patricialesli@gmail.com
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