Juneau residents, service members and veterans paused for a few moments on Friday to remember the sailors who perished when the USS Juneau sank during the naval battle of Guadalcanal 73 years ago. A short service was held in the blowing wind and sideways rain at the USS Juneau memorial on the waterfront.
Mayor Greg Fisk read a proclamation declaring Nov. 13, 2015, as USS Juneau Remembrance Day.
Lt. Cmdr. Rich Halbig of the U.S. Navy briefly recounted the World War II battle that led to the vessel’s sinking.
All five brothers from the Sullivan family in Waterloo, Iowa, served on board the Juneau and died during the sinking. Their grief-stricken parents made speaking appearances at war plants and shipyards around the country during the war.
Jane Lindsey of Juneau-Douglas City Museum announced that they will be putting on display the silver set that was used on board the Juneau. The silver set, including a punch bowl and ladle, was typically used in an officers wardroom while entertaining dignitaries. Lindsey says Juneau community members may have raised funds for that silver set, which was kept on shore for safekeeping before the ship entered combat.
Lindsey credits the Mendenhall Valley Flying Lions for helping acquire the silver set on a 10-year loan. She hopes to put it on display at the museum on Feb. 14, the 74th anniversary of the USS Juneau’s commissioning.
The city museum already has artifacts related to the first USS Juneau, CL-52, and the third USS Juneau, LPD-10, an amphibious transport dock that was recently decommissioned.
