Daniel Augustus joseph Sullivan – Medal of Honor, World War I (1918)

Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Naval Reserve Force, Ensign Daniel Augustus joseph Sullivan received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 21, 1918 off western France during World War I. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Cristabel. Sullivan was 33 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. He later rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

Sullivan was born on July 31, 1884 in Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina. His Medal of Honor is credited to South Carolina. Sullivan died on January 27, 1941, at the age of 56. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. His medal is held by Special Collections, Clemson University, Clemson, SC.

Sullivan is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 33 credited to South Carolina.

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.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War I.

Life beyond the battlefield

Education: Clemson University

Source: Wikidata.

Places

Born: Charleston — map
Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in South Carolina →

Timeline

July 31, 1884
Born in Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina
May 21, 1918
Act of valor — off western France
Age 33. U.S.S. Cristabel
January 27, 1941
Died
Age 56.
Resting place
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, Virginia

Biography

Daniel Augustus Joseph Sullivan (July 31, 1884 – January 27, 1941) was a United States Naval Reserve officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War I.

From the Wikipedia article “Daniel Augustus Joseph Sullivan”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on May 21, 1918

Edouard Victor michel Izac Lieutenant · Navy World War I · 1918

More World War I recipients from South Carolina

RH Richmond Hobson Hilton Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 FS Freddie Stowers Corporal · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ TH Thomas Lee Hall Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ JH James Davidson Heriot Corporal · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ GF Gary Evans Foster Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 JV John Cantey Villepigue Corporal · Army World War I · 1918

Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.