Fireman John W. Leary of Ladder 122 was killed in Germany while leading a patrol. As an Army Lieutenant, he was crossing the Our River from Luxembourg into Germany to knock out two German bunkers. The first bunker destroyed, he was wounded in the second attack, with small arms fire to the chest. The Germans were reinforcing the bunker and the American's position was being overrun. Leary stayed behind and gave covering fire so his men could escape. His body was not recovered, and the War Department listed him presumed dead on February 9, 1946. Four years after he was killed, his remains were found by a farmer in a field. They were repatriated and interred at Long Island National Cemetery. He was later moved by his family to this Staten Island Cemetery to be with his wife.
Fireman John W. Leary of Ladder 122 was killed in Germany while leading a patrol. As an Army Lieutenant, he was crossing the Our River from Luxembourg into Germany to knock out two German bunkers. The first bunker destroyed, he was wounded in the second attack, with small arms fire to the chest. The Germans were reinforcing the bunker and the American's position was being overrun. Leary stayed behind and gave covering fire so his men could escape. His body was not recovered, and the War Department listed him presumed dead on February 9, 1946. Four years after he was killed, his remains were found by a farmer in a field. They were repatriated and interred at Long Island National Cemetery. He was later moved by his family to this Staten Island Cemetery to be with his wife.
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