William Daniel Sullivan (1921 - 1945)

Born 4 Nov 1921 in Niagara Falls, Niagara, New York, United States

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 23 in Philippine Sea

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Biography

Painter 2nd Class Petty Officer William Sullivan served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started:
Unit(s): USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Service ended: 30 Jul 1945

Painter 2nd Class Petty Officer William Sullivan was Killed in Action during World War II.

William Sullivan was awarded the Purple Heart.

William was born in 1921. He was the son of William Joseph Sullivan and Camille Marie Nelson.

William was stationed on the USS Indianapolis, serving as Painter 2nd Class Petty Officer. In July 1945 the USS Indianapolis was sent on a secret mission to deliver the components of the Little Boy atomic bomb to Tinian Island without an escort, on the return trip, still without escort, it was attacked by a Japanese submarine. The USS Indianapolis sank in 12 minutes on 30 Jul 1945 with some 300 of the 1,195 crewmen aboard going down with the ship. With few lifeboats and many without life jackets, only 316 of the nearly 900 men set adrift survived the 4 days in shark infested water before rescue. William was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.^[1]

Robert is honored at two memorials: USS Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana and Fort William Mckinley, Manila, Philippines.^[2][3]

Sources

1. ↑ U.S., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-for Remains, Group B (Unrecoverable), 1941-1975 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/10696:62207?tid=&pid=&queryId=4bce0300609659ac9b7977e17721d461&_phsrc=Bje2&_phstart=successSource or https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt0000000XmUCEA0
2. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56753759/william-daniel-sullivan: accessed 28 May 2023), memorial page for PTR2 William Daniel Sullivan (4 Nov 1921–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56753759, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by MAJ Jimmy Cotton (contributor 48803557).
3. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194093250/william-daniel-sullivan: accessed 28 May 2023), memorial page for William Daniel Sullivan (4 Nov 1921–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194093250, citing U.S.S. Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Laura J. Stewart (contributor 47412616).

• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X7HK-3F3 : accessed 29 May 2023), William J Sullivan Jr. in household of William J Sullivan, Dunkirk, Chautauqua, New York
• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQLZ-WVK : 7 January 2021), William Sullivan in household of William Sullivan, Dunkirk, Dunkirk, Chautauqua, New York
• William is included on the USS Indianapolis in World War II Wikitree Space Page https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:USS_Indianapolis_%28CA-35%29_in_World_War_II