John L. Sullivan

PRIVATE JOHN L. SULLIVAN was born in in 1916 in Camden NJ. His parents divorced prior to his 13th birthday. In 1930 He lived with his mother, Elizabeth, at 6156 Upsal Street in Pennsauken NJ. Elizabeth Sullivan was at that point working as a packer in a cigar factory. She later re-married, to a man named Laffin.  Known to friends and family as Jack, He attended public school in Pennsauken, and was a student at Merchantville (NJ) High School through his sophomore year, when he transferred to the Camden County Vocational School on Browning Road in Pennsauken NJ, where he studied printing. After high school, he found work at the R.M. Hollingshead Corporation plant in Camden, where he plied his trade as a lithographer. Jack Sullivan had wed, and lived with his wife Elvira at 2935 Constitution Road in Camden NJ. His mother also lived at that address.

Private Sullivan enlisted in the United States Army. He trained in Georgia, and went overseas with his unit in October of 1942. He saw considerable action in North Africa. He had written home to friends at the R.M. Hollingshead Corporation, "After my experiences in North Africa, I would be glad to come home to America and work for nothing". In his last letter home, dated March 17, 1943 he wrote that he had been in the same clothes for 15 days and nights. 

"But don't worry. I know I'm going to come back. Keep your fingers crossed, and pray for me."

Private John L. Sullivan was killed in action in North Africa on March 28, 1943 during the fighting in Tunisia. He was 26 years old. Private Sullivan was survived by his wife, Elvira, and mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Laffin, of Constitution Road address in Camden NJ. His death was reported in the May 3, 1943 edition of the Camden Courier-Post. His body was returned to the United States after the war and he was buried at New St. Mary's Cemetery in Bellmawr NJ.

Camden
Courier-Post

February 18, 1949

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