James Patrick Sullivan (1927 - 1945)

Born 28 Aug 1927 in Howard City, Reynolds Township, Montcalm, Michigan, United States

Died 30 Jul 1945 at age 17 in Philippine Sea

Problems/Questions Profile manager: v. Wilson [send private message]

Biography

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

Seaman 2nd Class James Sullivan was Killed in Action during World War II.

James Sullivan was awarded the Purple Heart.

James was born in 1927. He was the son of Edwin Sullivan and Edna May Woodworth.

James enlisted in the Naval Reserve. He was received on the USS Indianapolis 12 May 1945, serving as Seaman 2nd Class.^[1]

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. James was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. The crew of the USS Indianapolis was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.^[2][3][4][5]

James is honored at two memorials: USS Indianapolis National Memorial, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana and Fort William Mckinley, Manila, Philippines.^[6][7]

Sources

1. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/32066275:1143?tid=&pid=&queryId=ec01650d3439f024108f732b5faf8c1f&_phsrc=26&_phstart=successSource
2. ↑ U.S., Navy Casualties Books https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/165910:2324?tid=&pid=&queryId=ef6af47f98fb2978528afeae3c410150&_phsrc=EzO8444&_phstart=successSource
3. ↑ U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/63334:1122?tid=&pid=&queryId=ef6af47f98fb2978528afeae3c410150&_phsrc=EzO8447&_phstart=successSource
4. ↑ U.S., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-for Remains, Group B (Unrecoverable) https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/15937:62207?tid=&pid=&queryId=ef6af47f98fb2978528afeae3c410150&_phsrc=EzO8449&_phstart=successSource
5. ↑ U.S., World War II Military Personnel Missing In Action or Lost At Sea, 1941-1946 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/49607:1199?tid=&pid=&queryId=ec01650d3439f024108f732b5faf8c1f&_phsrc=39&_phstart=successSource
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56774151/james-patrick-sullivan: accessed 29 May 2023), memorial page for S2 James Patrick Sullivan (28 Aug 1927–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56774151, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by IrishEyes (contributor 47644540).
7. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194093192/james-patrick-sullivan: accessed 29 May 2023), memorial page for James Patrick Sullivan (unknown–30 Jul 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 194093192, 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:XQ1J-NXH : accessed 30 May 2023), James P Sullivan in household of Ed O Sullivan, Croton, Newaygo, Michigan
• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4GY-D96 : 10 January 2021), James Sullivan in household of Edwin Sullivan, Croton Township, Newaygo, Michigan
• james 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