World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
John W. Leary
Hometown
Staten Island, New York
Honored By
Mr. John W. Leary
Relationship
Son
Listed as missing in action as the result of a patrol action in Germany on February 4, 1945. Volunteered to lead a patrol of 11 men in probing the Siegfried Line near German town. Reinforcements of the Germans engaged the patrol and he suffered a gunshot wound in the abdomen. Detachment was forced to retreat and was unable to move him. After a long search he officially was declared dead. At the time of his encounter with the enemy in Germany, he was a member of the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division. He was awarded the Silver Star posthumously.