LTJG CORNELIUS D. O'SULLIVAN, USN

Class 1942

Born April 27, 1919

Died March 15, 1943

Age 23

Hometown Napa, California

Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1942 Lucky Bag:

CORNELIUS DION O'SULLIVAN

Sully, Curly, O'Banion

Football 4, 42; Crew 4, 3, 2, 1, N, Captain; Stars 4; Orchestra 4, 2; 4 Stripes.

Born in San Francisco, Sully began college life at the University of California and has had little trouble standing at the top of the class. Sully climaxed four years of crew by becoming the Academy’s No. 1 oarsman and captain. His unruly hair has been a problem, but he manages to divert attention with his contagious smile. Make one derogatory remark about California and you will have a fighting Irishman on your hands.

The Class of 1942 graduated on December 19, 1941, less than two weeks after the United States entered World War II. The class had previously been scheduled to graduate in February 1942.

Loss

Cornelius was lost when USS Triton (SS 201) was sunk by Japanese destroyers on March 15, 1943.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Cornelius was a student at Westminster School in England and the University of California at Berkeley where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. He was nominated to the Naval Academy by Representative Frank Havenner of San Francisco.

Cornelius married Kathryn Black at the Naval Academy Chapel in May, 1942. Lieutenant Byrne was best man, and four fellow officers were ushers.

His father was Colonel Curtis D. O’Sullivan, mother Helen, and brother Curtis Hooper who was an officer in the Reconnaissance Company of the 645th Tank Destroyer Battalion. He was wounded in Salerno in September 1943 and received the Purple Heart.

His wife was listed as next of kin. He is listed at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.

Photographs

From the Lucky Bag

From his time at the University of California at Berkeley

Class of 1942

Cornelius is one of 81 members of the Class of 1942 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

← Hugh Van Roosen John Correll →