He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, but grew up in Russell County, Kentucky. He was the first child of Balla (Polston) and Cassius Sullivan. He married Mary Walker Bryant on October 6, 1945.
On April 19, 1943, he enlisted in the army at Louisville, Kentucky and served until the war was over in 1945. He did not discuss the war much. However, the last night of his life, he talked about it some. He was among the troops who landed at Normandy. He made it safely to land. However, he was later wounded in Europe during the Battle of the Bulge and received a Purple Heart. After mostly recovering from his wounds, he was sent to the Pacific. While in route, the war ended. I can't remember if they were still in the canal or if they had just cleared it. All I know is that he was greatly relieved as he feared he would not survive his new assignment.
He had various jobs during the first half of his life. He and Mom moved many times until he began to work in Indianapolis at Bridgeport Brass in the 50s. For the majority of his 33 years there, he was the president of the local union. In his last term as president, he assisted in the transition of ownership of the company, when it became Olin Brass.
Around the year 2001, the town of Plainfield, Indiana created a monument to WWII veterans in the area. It was meant for those who signed up here, but he had spent most of his adult life in Hendricks County moving here in 1954 and remaining until his death in 1994.
The city included his name on the memorial in Friendship Gardens park. Photos from that memorial are included here.
The cancer which claimed his life was in his right lung with the tumor surrounding the shrapnel embedded there since WWII. He died at home (per his wishes) with Mom keeping watch over him all night long. I fell asleep sometime during the night not realizing he would die early the next morning. Coincidentally it was the 70th anniversary of his parents' wedding.
Home was actually nearer to Cartersburg than Danville, but Danville was the mailing address.
His obituary from the August 18, 1994 Republican:
Services were August 16 at the Hall-Baker Funeral Home, Plainfield, for Huston Sullivan, age 69, Danville, who died August 12 at his home. Burial was at the Center Valley Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society. Mr. Sullivan had worked for Bridgeport Brass for 33 years retiring in 1988. An Army veteran of World War II, he was a Purple Heart recipient. Survivors include his widow, Mary (Bryant) Sullivan; a son, Allen Sullivan; daughters, Janice Walker, Julie Sullivan; brothers, Roy, Earl, Terrill and Rodger Sullivan; sisters, Fern Murray and Geneva Poindexter; and several grandchildren.
A brother, Gilbert, preceded him in death and is buried beside their mother in Russell County, Kentucky.
Summary of activity during WWII from his discharge papers:
Company 'B' 1286TH Engineer Combat Battalion. Enlisted April 19, 1943 at Louisville. Active duty for 2 years, 6 months and 15 days of which 1 year, 7 months and 22 days was in foreign service. Received European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with 3 Bronze [Service] Stars for campaigns in Northern France, Rhineland and Ardennes. Severely wounded in the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium in December 1944 and received a Purple Heart. Hometown at enlistment was Whittle, Kentucky which was the home of his maternal grandparents, Asa and Della Polston. His paternal grandparents were both deceased in 1930.
On April 19, 1943, he enlisted in the army at Louisville, Kentucky and served until the war was over in 1945. He did not discuss the war much. However, the last night of his life, he talked about it some. He was among the troops who landed at Normandy. He made it safely to land. However, he was later wounded in Europe during the Battle of the Bulge and received a Purple Heart. After mostly recovering from his wounds, he was sent to the Pacific. While in route, the war ended. I can't remember if they were still in the canal or if they had just cleared it. All I know is that he was greatly relieved as he feared he would not survive his new assignment.
He had various jobs during the first half of his life. He and Mom moved many times until he began to work in Indianapolis at Bridgeport Brass in the 50s. For the majority of his 33 years there, he was the president of the local union. In his last term as president, he assisted in the transition of ownership of the company, when it became Olin Brass.
Around the year 2001, the town of Plainfield, Indiana created a monument to WWII veterans in the area. It was meant for those who signed up here, but he had spent most of his adult life in Hendricks County moving here in 1954 and remaining until his death in 1994.
The city included his name on the memorial in Friendship Gardens park. Photos from that memorial are included here.
The cancer which claimed his life was in his right lung with the tumor surrounding the shrapnel embedded there since WWII. He died at home (per his wishes) with Mom keeping watch over him all night long. I fell asleep sometime during the night not realizing he would die early the next morning. Coincidentally it was the 70th anniversary of his parents' wedding.
Home was actually nearer to Cartersburg than Danville, but Danville was the mailing address.
His obituary from the August 18, 1994 Republican:
Services were August 16 at the Hall-Baker Funeral Home, Plainfield, for Huston Sullivan, age 69, Danville, who died August 12 at his home. Burial was at the Center Valley Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society. Mr. Sullivan had worked for Bridgeport Brass for 33 years retiring in 1988. An Army veteran of World War II, he was a Purple Heart recipient. Survivors include his widow, Mary (Bryant) Sullivan; a son, Allen Sullivan; daughters, Janice Walker, Julie Sullivan; brothers, Roy, Earl, Terrill and Rodger Sullivan; sisters, Fern Murray and Geneva Poindexter; and several grandchildren.
A brother, Gilbert, preceded him in death and is buried beside their mother in Russell County, Kentucky.
Summary of activity during WWII from his discharge papers:
Company 'B' 1286TH Engineer Combat Battalion. Enlisted April 19, 1943 at Louisville. Active duty for 2 years, 6 months and 15 days of which 1 year, 7 months and 22 days was in foreign service. Received European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with 3 Bronze [Service] Stars for campaigns in Northern France, Rhineland and Ardennes. Severely wounded in the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium in December 1944 and received a Purple Heart. Hometown at enlistment was Whittle, Kentucky which was the home of his maternal grandparents, Asa and Della Polston. His paternal grandparents were both deceased in 1930.
He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, but grew up in Russell County, Kentucky. He was the first child of Balla (Polston) and Cassius Sullivan. He married Mary Walker Bryant on October 6, 1945.
On April 19, 1943, he enlisted in the army at Louisville, Kentucky and served until the war was over in 1945. He did not discuss the war much. However, the last night of his life, he talked about it some. He was among the troops who landed at Normandy. He made it safely to land. However, he was later wounded in Europe during the Battle of the Bulge and received a Purple Heart. After mostly recovering from his wounds, he was sent to the Pacific. While in route, the war ended. I can't remember if they were still in the canal or if they had just cleared it. All I know is that he was greatly relieved as he feared he would not survive his new assignment.
He had various jobs during the first half of his life. He and Mom moved many times until he began to work in Indianapolis at Bridgeport Brass in the 50s. For the majority of his 33 years there, he was the president of the local union. In his last term as president, he assisted in the transition of ownership of the company, when it became Olin Brass.
Around the year 2001, the town of Plainfield, Indiana created a monument to WWII veterans in the area. It was meant for those who signed up here, but he had spent most of his adult life in Hendricks County moving here in 1954 and remaining until his death in 1994.
The city included his name on the memorial in Friendship Gardens park. Photos from that memorial are included here.
The cancer which claimed his life was in his right lung with the tumor surrounding the shrapnel embedded there since WWII. He died at home (per his wishes) with Mom keeping watch over him all night long. I fell asleep sometime during the night not realizing he would die early the next morning. Coincidentally it was the 70th anniversary of his parents' wedding.
Home was actually nearer to Cartersburg than Danville, but Danville was the mailing address.
His obituary from the August 18, 1994 Republican:
Services were August 16 at the Hall-Baker Funeral Home, Plainfield, for Huston Sullivan, age 69, Danville, who died August 12 at his home. Burial was at the Center Valley Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society. Mr. Sullivan had worked for Bridgeport Brass for 33 years retiring in 1988. An Army veteran of World War II, he was a Purple Heart recipient. Survivors include his widow, Mary (Bryant) Sullivan; a son, Allen Sullivan; daughters, Janice Walker, Julie Sullivan; brothers, Roy, Earl, Terrill and Rodger Sullivan; sisters, Fern Murray and Geneva Poindexter; and several grandchildren.
A brother, Gilbert, preceded him in death and is buried beside their mother in Russell County, Kentucky.
Summary of activity during WWII from his discharge papers:
Company 'B' 1286TH Engineer Combat Battalion. Enlisted April 19, 1943 at Louisville. Active duty for 2 years, 6 months and 15 days of which 1 year, 7 months and 22 days was in foreign service. Received European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with 3 Bronze [Service] Stars for campaigns in Northern France, Rhineland and Ardennes. Severely wounded in the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium in December 1944 and received a Purple Heart. Hometown at enlistment was Whittle, Kentucky which was the home of his maternal grandparents, Asa and Della Polston. His paternal grandparents were both deceased in 1930.
On April 19, 1943, he enlisted in the army at Louisville, Kentucky and served until the war was over in 1945. He did not discuss the war much. However, the last night of his life, he talked about it some. He was among the troops who landed at Normandy. He made it safely to land. However, he was later wounded in Europe during the Battle of the Bulge and received a Purple Heart. After mostly recovering from his wounds, he was sent to the Pacific. While in route, the war ended. I can't remember if they were still in the canal or if they had just cleared it. All I know is that he was greatly relieved as he feared he would not survive his new assignment.
He had various jobs during the first half of his life. He and Mom moved many times until he began to work in Indianapolis at Bridgeport Brass in the 50s. For the majority of his 33 years there, he was the president of the local union. In his last term as president, he assisted in the transition of ownership of the company, when it became Olin Brass.
Around the year 2001, the town of Plainfield, Indiana created a monument to WWII veterans in the area. It was meant for those who signed up here, but he had spent most of his adult life in Hendricks County moving here in 1954 and remaining until his death in 1994.
The city included his name on the memorial in Friendship Gardens park. Photos from that memorial are included here.
The cancer which claimed his life was in his right lung with the tumor surrounding the shrapnel embedded there since WWII. He died at home (per his wishes) with Mom keeping watch over him all night long. I fell asleep sometime during the night not realizing he would die early the next morning. Coincidentally it was the 70th anniversary of his parents' wedding.
Home was actually nearer to Cartersburg than Danville, but Danville was the mailing address.
His obituary from the August 18, 1994 Republican:
Services were August 16 at the Hall-Baker Funeral Home, Plainfield, for Huston Sullivan, age 69, Danville, who died August 12 at his home. Burial was at the Center Valley Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society. Mr. Sullivan had worked for Bridgeport Brass for 33 years retiring in 1988. An Army veteran of World War II, he was a Purple Heart recipient. Survivors include his widow, Mary (Bryant) Sullivan; a son, Allen Sullivan; daughters, Janice Walker, Julie Sullivan; brothers, Roy, Earl, Terrill and Rodger Sullivan; sisters, Fern Murray and Geneva Poindexter; and several grandchildren.
A brother, Gilbert, preceded him in death and is buried beside their mother in Russell County, Kentucky.
Summary of activity during WWII from his discharge papers:
Company 'B' 1286TH Engineer Combat Battalion. Enlisted April 19, 1943 at Louisville. Active duty for 2 years, 6 months and 15 days of which 1 year, 7 months and 22 days was in foreign service. Received European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with 3 Bronze [Service] Stars for campaigns in Northern France, Rhineland and Ardennes. Severely wounded in the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium in December 1944 and received a Purple Heart. Hometown at enlistment was Whittle, Kentucky which was the home of his maternal grandparents, Asa and Della Polston. His paternal grandparents were both deceased in 1930.
Bio by: J.Sullivan
Inscription
Huston Sullivan
PFC US Army
World War II
Feb 7 1925 † Aug 12 1994
Purple Heart
Gravesite Details
He had no middle name or initial.
Family Members
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