Posted on 01/08/2009 4:04:41 PM PST by SandRat
YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- Sailors stationed aboard the Arleigh-Burke class guided missile destroyer USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) visited The Sullivans Elementary school Jan. 7, during a port visit to Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan.
Sailors from the school's namesake ship took part in classroom activities with students and helped clean up the school grounds.
The crew spent most of the day reading, interacting and playing with the children.
"I think its going to be a very positive experience for everyone," said Ens. Carl Comasco, of Harrisburg, Penn., The Sullivans community relations officer. "The cool thing about this project is that all 260 Sailors on the ship will be able to be a part of it because it spans four days. At the end of the week we'll have interacted with 1250 students and 150 faculty members."
"We're also excited to be bringing students to see the ship," Comasco added.
According to Cmdr. Ryan Tillotson, The Sullivans commanding officer, the opportunity for the school and the ship to interact was something he didn't want the crew to miss.
"As soon as we found out we were going to be dropped in the 7th Fleet's Area of Responsibility, it immediately popped into my head that we must come to this school," said Tillotson. "It just seemed natural."
The trip to the school, and Yokosuka for that matter, was a rare opportunity for the crew of The Sullivans, as the ship is stationed in Mayport, Fla.
"It's been a privilege and an honor to come to this school and represent the ship," said Gunner's Mate Seaman Shaine Oliver of Milford, Conn. "I'm happy that I was given the chance to come to Japan and see this part of the world," said Oliver. "All these things make the whole experience unique, because I don't think I'll ever get to do something like this again."
The Sullivans is named after the five Sullivan brothers; George, Francis, Joseph, Madison and Albert who were killed in action aboard the USS Juneau (CL 52) during the battle of Guadalcanal.
There is a movie about the Sullivan brothers called (appropriately enough) The Fighting Sullivans. Anne Baxter stars. It’s a great little movie, well worth seeking out.
Saw it many times on TV in my youth.
1944.
End is a tearjerker. It is set in the clouds—and the oldtimers know what I am referring to.
Must have sold millions of war bonds with that film.
The Navy changed its policy—no more brothers on the same ship after that.
Their ship was the USS Juneau. The naval battle in the Solomon Islands, 1942, was a brutal night battle with Japs. Many ships and sailors were lost on both sides.
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