Sheehan versus the Sullivans (from WWII)

I haven't written anything about Cindy Sheehan this week, preferring instead to watch the story unfold a little more before commenting on it.

In case you have been living under a rock for the last week, Cindy Sheehan is the mother of Casey Sheehan, one of the US troops killed in action in Iraq. Despite meeting with President Bush last year and relaying favorable accounts of the meeting at that time, Mrs. Sheehan has decided to wage a personal protest against the Iraq war.  Her protest targets President Bush directly by way of a vigil that she is holding outside the Bush ranch in Crawford, TX.  Mrs. Sheehan's effort is supported by numerous anti-American and pro-Communist groups, who have joined her in Crawford.

Since the beginning of this week, she has become a full-fledged media celebrity for the Left.

The massive amount of media attention lavished on Mrs. Sheehan, particularly by liberal blogs and political action groups like MoveOn.org, got me thinking about press coverage of US military personnel who were killed in action in previous wars.  In particular, I began thinking about the Sullivan family, whose five sons were killed together in November 1942.

Here is a scan of a news article published at the time the Navy Department announced that the Sullivan brothers were "missing in action."  I only have the clipping and not the full paper, so I confess that I do not know the source.  However, the context of the article seems to suggest that it appeared in a newspaper circulated to railroad workers.  My mother undoubtedly saved the article, as it was found in her things. During the War, my grandfather was an engineer for the KCS railroad and was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.

If you cannot view or download the picture, here is the full text of the article:

A UNION railroad worker -- member of the Order of Railway Conductors -- was revealed this week to have made the greatest sacrifice of the war for the sake of his country's victory.

He is Thomas F. Sullivan of Waterloo, Iowa, a freight conductor on the Illinois Central and a member of the O. R. C. for two decades.  He lost all his five sons in the battle of the Solomons, the Navy Department disclosed.

The five, all employees of a Waterloo meatpacking firm, had enlisted in the Navy together and insisted on serving together.  The wanted to go to the south Pacific, where the fighting was fiercest, to avenge the death of "a buddy", an Iowa boy, who had been killed at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack.

Ordinarily the Navy tries to divide members of the same family among different ships, Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox explained.  But the Sullivan boys were so determined to remain united that the navy relented and let all sail on the cruiser Juneau.

George T., 29, the oldest, was a gunner's mate, and Francis H., 26, a coxswain.  The other three -- Joseph F., 23; Madison A., 22, and Albert L., 20 -- were seamen, second class.

Last fall, the Juneau, with the Sullivan brothers aboard, defeated the Japs in a blazing battle off Guadalcanal, but in November the ship was sunk, and all five boys were listed by the Navy as "missing in action," which, barring some miracle, means they lost their lives.

Navy officials declared that this was "the heaviest blow suffered by any family since Pearl Harbor and probably the worst in American naval history."

From Waterloo there come word that both parents are trying bravely to "buck up" under the loss.

"If they are gone," said Mrs. Sullivan, through tear-dimmed eyes, "it will be some comfort to know they went together -- as they wanted -- and gave their lives for their country and victory."

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A few things about the article that I find striking:

- The reason for the Sullivan brothers' enlistment, portrayed positively

- The determination of the brothers to remain united, portrayed positively

- The brief description of the battle off Guadalcanal in which the Juneau was lost, emphasizing the defeat of the enemy in the battle and providing details of no casualties other than the Sullivans

- Mrs. Sullivan's final quote, with no rebuttal or plea from someone for the President to bring our boys home

The article is slightly incorrect about the time frame of the boys' death.  The brothers were killed when the Juneau was sunk on Nov. 14, 1942, which was during the battle of the Solomons.  The Solomons battle did not take place earlier, as the article implies.

The Navy waited two months before informing the Sullivan family of their loss, probably in part to verify the deaths of the brothers, and probably in part to spare the family the grief of the loss at Christmas.  A special Naval envoy was sent to relay the news to the family.

In a final act of patriotism that today's media commentators would be stymied to explain, the Sullivan's remaining child, Genevieve, enlisted in the Navy and served as a WAVE.

The Sullivans were typical of so many families who lost their precious sons and daughters during the war.  Although they became national symbols of heroic sacrifice, they neither sought fame or held animus toward the US government.

I believe that the majority of American families who have lost loved ones in the armed services today would be just like the Sullivans.  Unfortunately, they are the families that we don't hear about.  At least not very often.
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Tracked back to Michelle Malkin and WizBang.  Welcome Malkin and WizBang readers!

Other trackbacks: Mudville Gazette, The Anchoress, Sister Toldjah

And this is a must-read: Mohammed at Iraq the Model writes, "A Message to Cindy Sheehan".

Also, a good exposition of common sense from Jay Tea at WizBang.

The Anchoress looks at President Bush's excellent record of meeting with the families of slain military personnel.  Sister Toldjah expresses her disgust at the Sheehan grief pimps here.

Anyone may copy and use the image in this post, but please credit my blog when you do.  Thanks!

Comments

[Kenn Hills]

I am a board member of The Veterans Tribute and Museum of Osceola County (FL). We have a display at the museum honoring the Sullivan Brothers. Our photocopy of the newspaper article leaves alot to be desired.
I was wondering if you could possibly rescan your clipping in High resolution for us and Email it to me, I tried to enlarge the photo in your copy and no mater what filters I applied was unable to get a quality image to replace the one in our salute.

Thanks, Kenn Hills USN ret