Daniel Augustus Joseph Sullivan
Encyclopedia
Daniel Augustus Joseph Sullivan (July 31, 1884 – January 27, 1941) was a United States Navy
officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor
—for his actions in World War I
.
and graduated as part of the Class of 1902.
Sullivan enrolled in the United States Naval Reserve Force
on April 12, 1917, a few days after the United States entered World War I. He later received a commission to the rank of Ensign
. On May 21, 1918, while serving as an officer of the , he secured several live depth charge
s that had come loose during combat with a German
U-Boat
. For this act, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.
Later in 1918, Ensign Sullivan was assigned to the destroyers and . Promoted to Lieutenant
in September 1918, he served with the U.S. Navy Headquarters in London
, England
, during the months following the November 1918 armistice
. He attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander
before leaving the Naval Reserve Force. Sullivan died at age 56 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery
, Arlington County, Virginia
. He was survived by his wife, Eva Tilton (1877—1973).
Citation:
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
—for his actions in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Biography
Sullivan attended Clemson CollegeClemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
and graduated as part of the Class of 1902.
Sullivan enrolled in the United States Naval Reserve Force
United States Navy Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy...
on April 12, 1917, a few days after the United States entered World War I. He later received a commission to the rank of Ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
. On May 21, 1918, while serving as an officer of the , he secured several live depth charge
Depth charge
A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare weapon intended to destroy or cripple a target submarine by the shock of exploding near it. Most use explosives and a fuze set to go off at a preselected depth in the ocean. Depth charges can be dropped by either surface ships, patrol aircraft, or from...
s that had come loose during combat with a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
U-Boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
. For this act, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.
Later in 1918, Ensign Sullivan was assigned to the destroyers and . Promoted to Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in September 1918, he served with the U.S. Navy Headquarters in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, during the months following the November 1918 armistice
Armistice with Germany (Compiègne)
The armistice between the Allies and Germany was an agreement that ended the fighting in the First World War. It was signed in a railway carriage in Compiègne Forest on 11 November 1918 and marked a victory for the Allies and a complete defeat for Germany, although not technically a surrender...
. He attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
before leaving the Naval Reserve Force. Sullivan died at age 56 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
, Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The land that became Arlington was originally donated by Virginia to the United States government to form part of the new federal capital district. On February 27, 1801, the United States Congress organized the area as a subdivision of...
. He was survived by his wife, Eva Tilton (1877—1973).
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Ensign, U.S. Naval Reserve Force. Born: July 31, 1884, Charleston, S.C. Appointed from: South Carolina.Citation:
For extraordinary heroism as an officer of the U.S.S. Cristabel in conflict with an enemy submarine on May 21, 1918. As a result of the explosion of a depth bomb dropped near the submarine, the Christabel was so badly shaken that a number of depth charges which had been set for firing were thrown about the deck and there was imminent danger that they would explode. Ens. Sullivan immediately fell on the depth charges and succeeded in securing them, thus saving the ship from disaster, which would inevitably have caused great loss of life.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War I