Private First Class Henry G. Sullivan

Today we honor and remember PFC Henry G. Sullivan, of the 326th Airborne Medical Company, 101st Airborne Division.

110 years ago, Private Henry George Sullivan of the 326th Airborne Medical Company (AMC) was born in Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut, on July 21, 1916. He was killed in action on December 19, 1944.

Before entering the service on May 10, 1943, he was employed by A.C. Petersen Farms, a restaurant and creamery in Hartford. He received his basic training at Camp Pickett, Virginia, and Camp Ellis, Illinois, before traveling overseas in May 1944. He was assigned from the 16th Replacement Depot to the 326th AMC on October 15, 1944.

Private Sullivan died at 28 years of age near Bastogne, Belgium, from enemy fire when the clearing station of the 326th AMC was overrun by a column of German armored cars and halftracks from the 116th Panzer Division’s Reconnaissance Battalion on December 19, 1944 (Source: Patrick J. Chaisson).

On December 21, 1944, he was first buried at Plot J, Row 4, Grave 74 of the American Military Cemetery Fosses #1 in Fosses-la-Ville, Belgium. On August 20, 1948, he was disinterred and prepared for a final reburial back home. In December 1948, his body was moved in a casket by truck and rail to Antwerp Port, Belgium. He returned to the U.S. with the USAT Barney Kirschbaum, arriving at the Brooklyn Army Base in New York Harbor on March 10, 1949. He arrived by train in Hartford, Connecticut, on Wednesday, March 30, 1949.

PVT Sullivan’s final resting place is in Mount Saint Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield, Hartford County, Connecticut. Besides his wife, Muriel, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah J. Sullivan, he left behind two brothers.

PVT Sullivan was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal.

May he rest in peace.