The discovery of the sunken wreckage of World War II casualty USS Juneau two months ago, far below the blue swells of the Coral Sea, offers poignant testimony to the rich democracy of Memorial Day.
Best known of the light cruiser's crew were the five Sullivan brothers of Waterloo, Iowa.
The middle brother, Joe, worked at Schultz's Sunoco for a time, learned how to change a spark plug, developed a passion for motorcycles, joined the Black Hawks motorcycle club, hung out at the Tic Toc, bought a Harley, and roared about town and country.
His Black Hawk nickname was "Crash." His brothers, too, became Black Hawks.
"Otherwise, anyone of our brothers which there are five of us and our 2 buddies would like to stick together." Honoring this request, the Navy assigned the five brothers to newly commissioned Juneau.
More typical of the ship's crew, perhaps, was 18-year-old William Meeker of Harrison, N.J. Just out of high school, Meeker was working at the local A&P when Pearl Harbor was attacked.
While the Sullivans swapped motorcycle yarns on the mess decks, the sentimental Meeker worried about his mom and dad. He had a request for Winnie: Would she visit his parents? "I pray for them," he added.
A few days later, past midnight, a dozen outgunned American ships, including Juneau, intercepted a Japanese armada approaching the island to bombard its critical airfield and the beleaguered U.S. Marines garrisoned there.
Before the cruiser had sailed for the Pacific, Meeker had managed briefly to visit home - and Winnie.
Three months later, "I still can't figure out why I didn't obey my impulse to kiss you that day I was at your home,'" he wrote.
How many young Americans in uniform have carried that wistful prospect to a grave far from home?
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2018/05/25/the_democratic_holiday_137097.html
Best known of the light cruiser's crew were the five Sullivan brothers of Waterloo, Iowa.
The middle brother, Joe, worked at Schultz's Sunoco for a time, learned how to change a spark plug, developed a passion for motorcycles, joined the Black Hawks motorcycle club, hung out at the Tic Toc, bought a Harley, and roared about town and country.
His Black Hawk nickname was "Crash." His brothers, too, became Black Hawks.
"Otherwise, anyone of our brothers which there are five of us and our 2 buddies would like to stick together." Honoring this request, the Navy assigned the five brothers to newly commissioned Juneau.
More typical of the ship's crew, perhaps, was 18-year-old William Meeker of Harrison, N.J. Just out of high school, Meeker was working at the local A&P when Pearl Harbor was attacked.
While the Sullivans swapped motorcycle yarns on the mess decks, the sentimental Meeker worried about his mom and dad. He had a request for Winnie: Would she visit his parents? "I pray for them," he added.
A few days later, past midnight, a dozen outgunned American ships, including Juneau, intercepted a Japanese armada approaching the island to bombard its critical airfield and the beleaguered U.S. Marines garrisoned there.
Before the cruiser had sailed for the Pacific, Meeker had managed briefly to visit home - and Winnie.
Three months later, "I still can't figure out why I didn't obey my impulse to kiss you that day I was at your home,'" he wrote.
How many young Americans in uniform have carried that wistful prospect to a grave far from home?
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2018/05/25/the_democratic_holiday_137097.html
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