USS The Sullivans (DD-537) (Buffalo, New York)

 military, place with historical importance, destroyer (ship), United States Navy, museum ship

The USS Putnam was laid down on October 10th, 1942 at the Bethlehem Steel Corporation's San Francisco Yard as the 58th member of the Fletcher Class of Destroyers built for the US Navy. Less than a month into her construction, a Presidential Order was issued for the ships name to be changed to the USS The Sullivans in honor of George, Francis, Joseph, Madison, and Albert Sullivan, five brothers who served and died together aboard the Light Cruiser USS Juneau (CL-52) during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in November 1942. Christened and launched by the parents of the five brothers on April 4th, 1943, USS The Sullivans proudly hoisted her trademark shamrock flag at her commissioning on September 30, 1943.

Standing out of San Francisco for war in December 1943, The Sullivans and her crew began their part in the Second World War which would eventually bring the gallant ship to Roi, Kwajelein, and Truk in the Marshall Islands and then to New Guinea in support of Allied operations against the Empire of Japan. Continuing her active role in combat into 1944, The Sullivans took part in Carrier Air Strikes on Saipan, Tinian, and Guam and took part in the Battle of the Philippine Sea before moving on to support the Invasion of the Palau Islands. Late 1944 found The Sullivans involved in the pitched Battle of Formosa before joining American forces landing at Leyte in October 1944. Operations in and around the Philippine Islands would occupy The Sullivans and her crew through early 1945, after which she sortied down the Vietnamese Coast before a period of upkeep and repairs at Ulithi Atoll.

Returning to the fray in February 1945, The Sullivans sailed to the small island of Iwo Jima where she paired with fast Carrier Forces coducted air strikes in support of invading American forces. Remaining attached to the Carriers as the threat of Kamikaze aircraft grew increasingly larger, the Sullivans ranged along the Japanese coast as American aircraft struck at mainland Japan before the Battle of Okinawa again drew her South. Working in concert with the US Fleet and forces ashore throughout the campaign, The Sullivans and her crew departed Far Eastern waters in June 1945 on her way back to the US mainland for the first time in nearly two years. Arriving at Mare Island Navy Yard for a much-needed overhaul in July, The Sullivans was still under refit when the Second World War ended in August 1945. Instead of being prepared for the planned Invasion of Japan, she instead was prepared for inactivation and placed into the Reserve Fleet at San Diego in January 1946 with nine Battle Stars to her and her crew's credit.

Remaining dormant for only five years, gathering war clouds saw The Sullivans reactivated and recommissioned on July 6th, 1951 for duty in Asiatic waters once again, this time off the Korean peninsula where there was a fierce battle raging between Communist and Nationalist forces. Arriving in theatre in October 1952, The Sullivans began the first of two active tours in support of both United States and United Nations forces. Remaining in Korean waters through January 1953, The Sullivans was finally ordered back to the US with two more Battle Stars to her credit and arrived at the Newport Naval Base to begin operations as a member of the US Atlantic Fleet in April 1953.

Alternating between the US 6th and 2nd Fleets for the balance of the 1950's and into the 1960's, The Sullivans and her crews continued to see action during the Cold War, first off Lebanon in the 1950's and then again off Cuba in 1963, where she formed part of the US blockade of the island during the Cuban Missile Crisis. After two more years of service training new sailors and conducting anti-Submarine exercises off in the Atlantic and Caribbean, the Navy slated the ship for retirement and The Sullivans was decommissioned for the final time on January 7th, 1965.

Remaining in the Reserve Fleet at Philadelphia into the late 1970's, The Sullivans was donated to the Buffalo Naval and Military Park in 1977 and departed for Buffalo under tow along with the decommissioned Guided Missile Cruiser USS Little Rock (CLG-4). After restoration largely to her WWII-era appearance, the USS The Sullivans now serves as a museum ship to the Sullivan Brothers, Destroyer Sailors and active US Servicemen and Veterans and is open for public self-guided and docent-led tours during the Spring, Summer and Fall months.


www.buffalonavalpark.org/USSSullivans.html
www.navsource.org/archives/05/537.htm

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