Visiting our GrandFathers World War Two Destroyer - USS The Sullivan's - Buffalo Naval Park
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- Опубликовано: 21 авг 2021
- Bucket list brothers trip to see our grandfathers destroyer that he served on during World War II. This is the USS The Sullivans located at the Buffalo Naval Park in Buffalo New York. They have three naval vessels here. The USS LIttle Rock which is a missile cruiser, the USS Croaker which is a submarine, and the USS The Sullivans which is the destroyer that our grandfather served on. He served on this ship for the entire duration it was in the war. The time it was launched until the end of the war which was nearly two years. I have a hard time fathoming what that means, two years of his life, on this tin can floating in the sea. For a while now I have wanted to dive more into the history of our grandfather and his time overseas, this trip is a huge start, but definitely just the beginning. I hope you guys enjoy this video of our trip, for us, it was one of the most memorable. Thanks for watching and check out the links below.
this is a link where you can donate to help support the fantastic work the naval park is doing in preserving these icons of our nations history - buffalonavalpark.org/support-...
here is the link to where they are building the erie canal boat - www.buffalomarinecenter.org
the naval park itself has a youtube channel if you would like to check that out at as well
/ @buffalonavalpark
#captainkleeman
#ussthesullivans
#buffalonavalpark 
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I come from a long line of patriots that have served this country that goes way back to the beginning of our great nation. I'm honored to have served myself and put in 20 years before I retired.
Glad to see Mike and his brothers celebrating the legacy of their Grandfather!
My father served on the USS Sullivans from the time it was commissioned until the end of it mission in WW2. We moved to Buffalo 5 years ago and were able to visit many times. Just recently I received some letters of my father to his parents that were found by my cousin. In the letter to his parents he explained that he painted the shamrocks, the battle ribbons, and the dice signifying their division group on the smokestacks, etc. We always saw how my dad loved to draw, but he never talked about his WW2 time. And although the paintings are repainted now, it is amazing to walk around the ship and realize that he was there.
I think all high school student should go see history like that. That generation had a pair that we will never have. Your videos are getting better all the time. Thank you for the history lesson.
Agree, while we were there it looked as if a school of some sort was also taking a tour.
My father served in the 3rd Field Artillery during WW2 . He didn’t talk much about his service. Kinda got quiet when ever the subject came up. Thank you for sharing your grandfather’s story.
Great tour. Spending "time" with family and friends while they are alive is so crucial! Time is too short.
USA USA USA Thanks to our fathers and grandfathers, we have the greatest country in the world. Brings meaning to those words, "Thank you for your service" Thanks for posting this awesome video.
What a great trip, Grandpa would be so proud of the 3 Kleeman brothers.
Mike this was one of the best piece of RUclips video I have Ever seen, bar none. I was in the Royal Navy between 1978 to 1995, on various styles of Ship from wooden WW2 mine sweepers to destroyers, we called sleeping areas bunk spaces, they we three high. All of the spaces look similar to the USS Sullivan. I bet you could smell the ships, All ships have that. The dials and gauges we the same. Thank you Mike so much for bringing back so many memories. I served in the Falklands conflict in 1982, and we lost 7 ships and that smell of burning steel will never leave me. Keep up the good work Mike as I have said before you content is fantastic and I urge everybody to look at your channel and subscribe.
Again many thanks Mike.
Nigel
Royal Navy
Old stoker retired
God Bless your Grandpa ,My Father in law was at Pearl Harbor on Dec7th & fought the Japanese, & survived the war.
My Son Serves today out of San Diego CG 57 USS Lake Champlain. God Bless All US Service men & Women.
Go Navy 🇺🇸⚓️🇺🇸⚓️🇺🇸⚓️.
Thanks to the "Greatest Generation". We are so fortunate for the men and women who served for our country in the service and in industry focus during World War 2. God Bless.
Why can't we all live in peace ? Much love to all my fellow humans ! Thank you Captain !
Wow! 🇺🇸 I know that you are very proud to call that man Grandpa.
"The Fighting Sullivans" is a movie based on the life of the Sullivan Brothers. Because the movie was made during the Second World War the events of their deaths are not accurate. The Juneau went down in an active sea combat zone and rescue was not possible until the threat of enemy ships and submarines wouldn't endanger more Naval Vessels and Personnel
A sad Truth about Battles at Sea is many survivors of siblings are later loss due to exposure and sharks.
President Roosevelt sent Mrs. Sullivan a Personal Letter of Condolence.
Albert Sullivan's son Jimmy later served on USS The Sullivans (DD-537) which his Mother had christened and Albert's Granddaughter christened the current USS The Sullivans (DDG^68).
I found that to be interesting.
Thank You to you and your brothers for taking us along Mike!
Further history, the Sullivans grew up 50 miles up the road from us in Waterloo, Iowa. The band Caroline Spine wrote a song about it, called Sullivan
Thank you very much for this tour and donating the money back to the fund to help support the safe keeping of our history !
What you’re doing with the RUclips revenue from this video is incredibly generous.
Glad you’re old enough now to appreciate the family history that your brothers are aware of.
Too often family history gets lost as families grow and generations pass away taking their knowledge with them.
Absolutely loved this video! I am blessed to get to hear stories from my grandpa about his time in the navy and his various construction projects.
I am 1 of 5 children also and the youngest there is 11 years difference between me and my next older brother and then 12, 13, 14 and 15 it's great growing up but when your an adult it sucks I lost my next older brother 3 years ago so cherish every moment you have with them
Thanks, LT Apreciate you taking us along and good to meet your brothers. By the way, the USS The Sulivans in its newest itereation is currently deployed with HMS Queen Elizabeth flotilla in the South China Sea for a world tour, training with different countries and Freedon of Navigation exercizes near the islands the Chinese now claim and are ignoring international law. It's a very different ship than the one you just toured. I'm not surprised you are donating funds to the effort in Buffalo, that's part of your DNA. Grampa would be proud. Thanks.
Very VERY cool there Bud! I've been able to visit a number of WWII ships and its always amazing to think of what those sailors had to go through. They don't call your grandfather's (and my Father's) The Greatest Generation for nothing! My "Pop" would have been in D-day if the Army hadn't sent him to Medical school. He was an M.D. in time for the Army to send him to Korea where he was highly decorated for saving lives right up on the front lines in the Battle of Pork Chop Hill. I sure do miss my "Pop". Oh yeah, I too am "the little brother" of 3! I always say that they got to make (most) of the mistakes so I didn't have to ;-). I really love the family aspect of your channel, never let that go. I have to admit, watching you and your kiddos and thinking about all of the great times I've had with my nieces and nephews has got me thinking about how much I have missed by never being a father. Thanks for sharing.. Tim
Wow I am so humble that people takes the time to look at our history of our family.. thanks for sharing.. gretings from denmark..
That's very cool ! My father was in the Navy in the early 60s. Family trips are the best 🇺🇲
thank you for sharing this video...my father served in WW2 in the army and the sheer magnitude of what that generation went thru is truly humbling...
It truly is
When I was about 26 years old I worked for a man that was a 20 year Navy man and he was stationed on the USS Alabama for several years. He was Paymaster and described the little area where the sailors came in and received their pay. About 30 years later I was able to tour the USS Alabama and actually go the the room and it was exactly as he described. I'm so glad that I listened to him talking about his time on that ship. RIP, Browder F Tatum. U S Navy Ret.
I have to consider this a real privilege for you to share with me bits and pieces of your private world I thank you deeply it is very heartfelt
Bonjour captain Mike merci pour cette belle visite des navires de guerre formidable magnifiques 😘🤗🇨🇵🇨🇵🇨🇵de papy Gilbert de France bisous bisous
Thank you Captain.
Super cool trip. My dad was on the Little Rock 1960-1962bish. After he went into a nursing home I lost his ship year books selling the house. Looks like a great trip
The soul survivor program is why my dad wasn't allowed to serve. My 4 uncles served. One of my uncles died in pearl harbor. One of my other uncles watched him die from another ship. While they were getting hit as well. God bless
Captain thank you for sharing this video my stepdaughter served on the Sullivan's during desert Storm and arleigh Burke class destroyer
Buffalo is my hometown. It looks like the museum has grown a lot since I left 40 years ago to go into the service. I need to stop by next time I get home. You guys are inspiring with your grandfather’s story. They were indeed the greatest generation
Awesome trip. Nothing like seeing history close up and in person.
My daughter's high school marching band was invited to perform in the Pearl Harbor Day parade in Honolulu and got to tour the USS Missouri and Arizona. Marine Corp band performed for them at Pearl. Best history lesson ever.
Captain I’m glad your brothers and you enjoy our beautiful Western New York and had a great time I would’ve just 30 miles south of Buffalo I’ve been down on the ships many times always enjoyed the visit in American history
Good morning Captain. Hi Hi greetings from Jamaica 🇯🇲🇯🇲🙏💯. Very interesting video
My grandfather went in on Omaha beach on D-day. While he was over there. My grandmother his wife, was back home rivoting new ships and tanks. I think your trip is totally awesome and I hope that one day I will be able to visit there. Thank you for making this video, and showing what they had to go through to make sure we had our freedoms we have now
God bless America, God bless your grandfather and those that served during the war. Such sacrifice the whole country made by them to secure our freedoms and the worlds. Thank you for sharing a personal trip with your brothers. It absolutely means the world!! Thank you Captain. Thank you😢❤️
Going back through old videos of yours and came across this. Last year with Cub Scouts we got to have a sleepover on the USS Little Rock. We got to see most of all three ships, unfortunately The Sullivans took on water and partially sank a short time before (not sure if that was before or after this video). It was still being repaired and didn't get to see as much of it as you did. I'm glad I found this video and got to see more of it! It was pretty cool to have nearly unlimited access to the ships and take our time. We also had a guided tour in the morning which was very helpful, especially for keeping the Scouts attention. I always enjoy visiting places with historical ships like this when I travel. My Grandmother got to sponsor (launch) the USS Steinaker (DD-863), which was named after her brother. I spent a lot of time in Buffalo as a kid visiting my grandparents and this video brought back some good memories. I think they only thing you might have missed was the original Anchor Bar as the birth place of chicken wings as a meal. Thanks for sharing and donating to the Buffalo Naval Park!
This is great to see as I was station on the current USS The Sullivan's DDG 68 a few years ago.
I was wondering if anyone on here would have been. How long were you stationed on her?
The machines and materials produced during the war is nothing but mind boggling.
My Dad was a Master Sargent at Fort Knox all thru the war. He got left behind 2 or 3 times, to teach field maint. on tanks and half tracks. I guess maybe he was one of the few "lucky ones". He mentioned once or twice how Fort Knox was like a ghost town when they shipped new trainees out.
Neither one of my Grandfathers served and Grandpa Tucker was gone 15 years before I came along, but my Great Grandpa Tucker joined the Indiana Vol as a drummer when he was in his mid 30's and marched with Sherman till he fell ill and was left behind. Because he had only one good eye, they wouldn't take him in the reg Infantry.
When you first mentioned The Sullivans I got thinking. I live in Bath, Maine home of Bath Iron Works a ship builder since 1884. On August 12, 1995 the BIW launched the Aegis destroyer USS The Sullivans. It's so nice to have another ship named after some great Navy heroes so they'll not be forgotten. During WW-2 the BIW launched a destroyer every 17 days. Now they are building the funny looking Zumwalt stealth guided missile destroyers. I live so close to the BIW that my view out my east facing windows is the BIW.
I know this has nothing to do with your trip or your grandfather. I just couldn't let this piece of maritime history go by without a mention.
Very cool
technically the USS The SUllivans DDG-68 is an Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer
Hi. On our last two visits to the USA, we had the great experience of visiting the Aircraft Carrier USS Hornet located in Alameda CA. (Oakland)
Both visits we where shown around by Volunteers some of them having served on board when the vessel was operational. They do a Great job keeping it ‘ship shape’
Will be going for a third visit on board next time where staying at our Daughters apt in Oakland. It’s a fascinating visit. (From the UK)
Mike. Enjoyed visiting your Grandfather’s vessel with you & your Brothers. (And your ‘normal’ channel) Great Work your doing. 😎
Mike, Very glad you had a great time in my hometown. Have been to all the places you have shown many times. My wife works in the big building across the parking lot from the Sullivans. Blew my mind that you could see the ship station of your grandfather was stationed at. I was in the Marines in 1970. Thank you for your donation. I wish I had met you when you were here. Please come back, there are tons of things to do here. You make my day with your vlogs. Take care, stay safe.
Thank you for your service and maybe we will be back up there again sometime
Thank`s for all the information John Pellegrini WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Mike - thanks for putting together this video and taking the time to do your research that made the video run smooth. I was on 2 destroyers and one guided missile destroyer in my 20 years of service (1974-1996) also having served on a minesweeper and a destroyer tender. Times were not always easy but there was something about these ships that still run through our blood to this day. I visited the park in 2007 while passing through Buffalo (lifetime Bills Fan) while on my way to my daughter's graduation at West Point.
That is such a cool story and wonderful gesture.
I was kinda of like you. I was to young to really listen and appreciate my grandfather who was a WWII Vet as well. He passed away when I was 20. Had several stokes before his passing. The last couple of years of his life I tried to spend as much time as I could with him , strokes had affected him couldn’t understand things he was trying to say to us.
I follow you and Dirt Perfect, you both have your own style of video...l wanted to take a moment tonight to say thank you
1 for your service to help save strangers, when most of us run from danger you run to it...God bless
2 for sharing your personal adventures on the cabin on the bridge and looking forward to seeing the pond
3 and this is even more important, your sharing this video you took with your brothers, do not regret not giving your grandfather 100% attention when you were younger, it's what we all did at that age ... anything was better than listening to someone tell their stories...back then you thought in the back of your mind l have heard this.....
We grow up and then it becomes a mission to learn the history of our family
Very nice Captain. WWII Naval History has been kind of a hobby for me for most of my life, and know the story of The Sullivans, but most likely will never get to visit, so thanks for sharing that. I think your donation to maintaining those ships is great (I have a former co-worker that has spent many years as a volunteer on the USS Texas, and know how difficult it is to keep those ships afloat.) I hope more folks like you keep up with history, and especially family history, I spent yesterday with my son, who's about your age, and a lot of it was talking about family history. Great job as always, thanks!
Thank you so much for sharing that part of your family history with us
I have my Grandpa's .45 , holster and orginal airman survival ammo,.... was a B17 crewman shot down in 1943, only surviving member of his plane......I cherish it, so I know how you must feel
Great video Captain!
Thank you and your brothers for allowing us to tag along on a personal journey. I found it quite informative as well as humbling to see/be where the brave served.
Looking forward to the next video.
Thanks again
My grandfather was an officer on a fletcher class tin can in WW2. Thanks for the footage.
Very cool! Appreciate ya watching
Thanks for sharing a very personal trip/ video with your Brothers you grandfather experiences are now shared forever what a joy it must be to know your name and life is actual history , thank you so much
There is more and more real history being lost as our oldest pass. One of my uncles drove a Sherman just after Normandy. Didn't know until he passed about his service. Our entire family was under strict orders not to ask him about his experiences. First tank he was one two who survived, second tank he was the only survivor, he was shipped home with what they called then "shell shock" PTSD today.
it's great !what is being done with these ships. If y'all ever get to the gulf coast check out the USS Alabama and the USS Drum. It will take almost the full day with most of the time on the battleship.
Thanks
There in the torpedo room is where my Dad worked for 20 yrs. He retired in the navy as Chief Torpedo man. On a Submarine.
Great video. to think how young our parents or grandparents were during the war(s). What they went through compared with today... good to remember.
Mike thanks for sharing this very special time you and your brothers have provide it for us, first Thank your Grand father for his service, and all your family members who served. I spent Ia lot of time with both sets of grand parents listen to all the old stories and both grandpa's served in te Army I had a awesome time with them. I use go around our little town and talk with the older people and just to hear their stories where so amazing. Mike you are a very special person who cares about history and teaching your kids is awesome.
I felt that way also Mike I sure wish I asked my dad more questions, but just a regret men were a lot different in that time than they are now .I don’t think the average today’s man would last an hour in that era, really cool that you got to beWith your brothers on that journey very very awesome video thanks my friend.
Love the perspective of someone from outside the area. I grew up an hour south of the city and also have a grandfather who was in the Navy. USS Suribachi. He's still with us and I try to spend as much time as possible with him. Missed out on time with my father's father and now my father. Definitely rough looking back wishing for more time.
Thanks, I really enjoyed this video. My great uncle also served aboard a Fletcher class destroyer DD664 USS Richard P Leary... Keep up the great work , I always look forward to seeing new videos on your channel. God bless you and your family.
Outstanding Video! I had a moment there when you were at your Granddad’s battle station. Thank you for sharing this.
this video brought tears to my eyes....
As I mention before your grandfather and my dad sailed on destroyer’s and probably crossed waves🤗 Dad’s was USS Fullam DD 474. Your brothers where very lucky that grandpa was talking about it!! My dad passed away at age 84, and just started to open up a tiny bit to me a couple of years before he passed. I was so lucky and honored! Great, great video, god bless all that served for our freedom 👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
My brother said the same thing, it wasn’t until he last few years he started talking about it. I’ll have to look up what group yours was in. Maybe it was the same one!
If you ever get the chance to go to Hawaii, you have to take the tour of Pearl Harbor and see the floating memorial of the ship that was at the dock when it was sunk. It had 180 people on board. They were never able to bring it to the surface in fear of explosions. It became the toom of all of the people. It was the USS Missouri. My wife and I along with our daughter went on a cruise just to see Pearl Harbor. Another awesome cruise was through the Panama Canal and hear the history.
If you're referring to the USS Arizona, she was sunk with way more than 180 onboard, she went down with 1,177 onboard her. and its tomb. The USS Missouri was the Battleship that ended WWII. It was the USS Arizona BB-39
Thanks for the best video you've made so far!! Celebrate your family history and teach those youngin's about it! Few appreciate much less know what their family has done for this country and the world! 👍 😁
I live less then 100 miles from the Peace Bridge and have crossed that bridge many times when visiting the USA.
Capt thanks for sharing this 👍👍👍👍👍 video🤗
Brilliant video, thank you for the history lesson. I can only imagine what life was like in battle on those ships and sub......and we think it's a bad day when the Wi-Fi is down.
Thank you for sharing. The younger generation need to see this. My father was one of 6 boys, and 4 of them served, I am 3 rd. and my son is 4 th generation, that have served and proud to have. 🤙🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
That’s incredible roger.
UNLIKE TODAY THEY ALL RESPECTED THE WORLD AND THEMSELVES !! teach your kids to respect themselves and respect others 💖💖💖💖 thank you for shearing this part of your families history and utmost respect to them all !! from Victoria Australia 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
Great video. Brought back many chats with my Grandad and Father about their experiences in WW1 and WW2. Coventry UK
That’s a VERY COOL VIDEO, I love history and can’t get enough of it !!!! Thanks Captain for taking us along , love it !!!!
I live 3 hours east of Buffalo, my great uncle served in WW2 he was a top turret gunner and flight engineer on a B24 his plane was severely damaged he and the rest of his crew bailed out over Germany and were subsequently captured but all the crew survived their time as prisoners of war.
On a side note after visiting the naval park in Buffalo I made a plan to visit every (at least one of each class) of WW2 era ship that is a museum in the US and the location near Detroit Michigan where my great uncles plane was built and where he qualified for his job. Ps I’m not sure if it’s of interest to you or not but Muskegon Michigan is home to one of the Uss croakers sister gato class submarines that wasn’t modified after the war like the croaker
This is a 5 star video for sure the work you put in and gave us is top notch. Thank you
Great video, glad the three of you could get together, after making the long trip to Buffalo!
Quite a bit of history there, your Grandpa would be proud of the respect & tribute made to him! USA USA
i took my sons there as a boy scout trip and we actually spent the weekend on the ship,even sleeping on it
that was fun.. thanks Captian.
i took my son to see the York Town battle ship and others many years ago. We really enjoyed it. want to go back agian
6:50 your brother is talking about a Bosun's chair. They still fire or throw lines to this day - or they use a helicopter to transfer supplies. I was on the USS Alabama - a battleship. She could fire a shell the weight of a volkswagen beetle 17-25 miles away.
I've never been on a destroyer or a cruiser, but I was on the Nautilus. I'd love to visit other ships one day. My grandfather was in the Marines in WW2 and served in the PTO for 3 years and was with the 4th Raiders before they were transitioned to a regular line unit. My step grandfather was part of a heavy weapons company in Germany in 45 and was in an M2 heavy machine gun squad. My grandfather was in the Army Air Corp but passed away in the early 50s from DVT.
Great video Mike.
Hey Mike, to be honest I skipped this video. Today I went back to it and really enjoyed it. Listening to everything you said, it makes me wish I had also listened to more with my grandfather who served in WWII as an Aircraft mechanic. Thanks for this Video, it is now one of my favorites.
Love the video.Glad you got to spend time with your brothers and go see where your grandfather served .
My own Grandfather was refused when he went to join up for WWII. He had scoliosis ( really bad unnatural curve of the spine ) so they medically refused him.
It runs in our family, I had a whole lot of chiropractor treatments as a teen to fix mine.
That was a great brother's trip. I used to do a trip to Watkins Glen for the race with my brothers each year. Lost my oldest brother four years ago. Enjoy the trips with your brothers while you can
Thanks for sharing
Loved the history it makes me remember the things my dad used to tell me about his time in the naval medical corps. He was stationed in corpus christi Texas he told me lots of stories hopefully one day I will share like you have.
Live about 1-1/2 hours south of Buffalo NY,enjoyed your visit to Western New York. And oh yea, Go Bills!
You have talked about the number of ship made in the short time frame. That is amazing the speed and amount produced. I was lucky to have known a lady that worked as a Rosie the riveter on planes during that time period. She installed the instruments in the cockpit. So much of the heavy this were done by men not able to go to war and women do many of the lighter institutions to support the ships, tanks, planes and other war needs.
I really enjoyed this video, WW2 area was a great generation! We owe them so so much.
Agree 100%
Mike nice to see your brothers sharing such rich family history. Glad he is a Red Sox fan as well....if you come to Boston I can show you about the history here
Thank you for sharing it made me think of my grandfather's and what they dealt with during the war and I'm thankful to all who had served to protect us and to protect All Rights as Americans it seems that a lot of people have forgotten that and it's good to know where you come from as well your family because when it boils right down to it that's all we have in this world you can have all the money you can have everything you ever dreamed of without the love of family you have nothing
Bedankt voor de info erg leerzaam!!🤩👍👍 Groetjes uit Holland 😍👋🏼👋🏼🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
I see you were also enjoying our rainy weather....I am also in upstate NY but never been there...now maybe I will go. Learn what ya can as soon as possible about your family because once certain people are gone...so goes the knowledge....I am in that situation with my dad's past and early days. I asked too late and he is now gone and all the rest of family is either gone or too old to remember.
Captain, Thank You for a great video. I love ships and planes. I have two sisters and a brother, enjoy the commradery of your brother!!!!!!. You hit on a key point relating to our Country and the massive mfg. effort that took place during WWII. Again well done video.
Amazing
Great video.
Great video. To think of all the anguish the military folks went through for our freedom. Very thankful to all military personnel. God bless ya.
Awesome video ,Thank you and your Brothers
Awesome video Capt. I'm with you wishing I could have spent more time with the grandparents. Keep up the great work/vids
Very nice video. Thanks for sharing. They were the greatest generation! And thanks for your service as a firefighter!
That’s interesting. Thanks for sharing. I have 4 brothers and enjoy doing trips with them too.