Daniel Augustus Joseph Sullivan

He secured live depth charges and saved his ship and crewmen

Daniel Augustus Joseph Sullivan was born on July 31, 1884, in Charleston, South Carolina. When the United States entered the First World War in April 1917, Sullivan joined the U.S. Naval Reserve Force. He enrolled on April 12, 1917, only days after America formally entered the conflict, and later received a commission as an Ensign.

Sullivan’s naval service took him into the dangerous waters off western France, where German submarines threatened Allied shipping and convoy routes. He was assigned as an officer aboard USS Christabel, a converted armed yacht used for escort and anti-submarine duties.

On May 21, 1918, USS Christabel was escorting shipping off the coast of France when the crew detected signs of a German submarine. Christabel maneuvered to attack and dropped depth charges against the suspected U-boat.

During the attack, the violent explosion of one of Christabel’s own depth charges shook the ship with tremendous force. Several additional depth charges that had already been prepared for firing broke loose and began rolling across the deck. Because they were live and ready for use, there was an immediate danger that one or more could explode, potentially destroying the ship and killing many members of the crew.

Sullivan reacted without hesitation. Instead of moving away from the explosives, he threw himself onto the loose depth charges and struggled to hold and secure them. Despite the danger, he remained with the charges until they were brought under control. His action prevented what could have become a devastating disaster aboard USS Christabel.

For his extraordinary heroism during the action of May 21, 1918, Sullivan was awarded the Medal of Honor. His First World War service also qualified him for the Victory Medal.

Later in 1918 he received assignments aboard the destroyers USS Drayton and USS Ludlow. In September 1918, Sullivan was promoted to Lieutenant. After the Armistice of November 1918 he served with U.S. Navy Headquarters in London, England.

Sullivan continued to advance within the Naval Reserve Force and eventually attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He died on January 27, 1941 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Official Medal of Honor citation:

For extraordinary heroism as an officer of the U.S.S. Christabel in conflict with an enemy submarine on 21 May 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.