John W Leary was born on April 4, 1912 in California into a military family. His father, John Thomas Leary was a soldier in the 9th Infantry Regiment. He was a veteran of the “Spanish American War” (1898), the “Boxer Rebellion” (1900) and First World War (1914-1918). He made a career of the army and settled with his family in a house at Fort Hancock, Sandy Hook, New Jersey.

John was graduated from Rahway High School in New Jersey. He was also an excellent musician.

John met his future wife, Frances Miller of Manhattan. They had two children, John W Leary Jr and Carolyn F Leary.

    In May 1940 he was employed as a full time Fireman with the prestigious New York City Fire Department and was studying to become lieutenant. He then volunteered to serve his country.

At the beginning, he was assigned to the Recruiting Station in Manhattan, but then he volunteered to go to war. For that, he volunteered for the paratroopers. He will be 1st Lieutenant within the HQ Company, 2nd battalion, 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne.

With his unit, 1st Lt. John Leary joined the fight in the Ardennes during the “Battle the Bulge”. His destiny will tragically finish on February 8, 1945 near Affler, Germany on other side of the Our River. 

The 1st Lieutenant John W Leary volunteered to lead his platoon of 11 men and to establish a bridgehead on other side of the Our River. In the face of heavily fortified enemy positions belonging to the Siegfried Line, he maneuvered his men under the shooting of mortars and machine-guns.

The patrol attacked an enemy bunker and destroyed it. But during this action, 1st Lt. Leary was seriously wounded by the shootings coming from another bunker and the patrol was pinned down. First Lt Leary saw their desperate situation and ordered their retreat. He remained behind to cover the retreat. He opened fire with his Thompson and being done, sacrificed his life for that of his men.

The 1st Lieutenant John W Leary died on the spot. For this feat of arms, he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star. His body will not be found. He was declared “Missing In Action” by the War Department on February 8, 1945, one year after the fact.

    Four years afterwards, on April 27, 1949, a German farmer of the name of Kamler, at the time to walk, found the body of John Leary. His body was first buried with the American cemetery of Neuville in Belgium before being repatriated in the United States to be reburied in Calverton National Cemetery on Long Island, New York at his father’s request.

When, the day came to notify his wife of the death of her husband, the family were celebrating his daughter Carolyn’s 4th birthday, John Jr was not quite 2 years old. Frances Leary never remarried.  She kept his spirit alive and held on to everything from his worn out firefighter’s helmet to the telegram with the shattering news. John Jr will become plumber and have a son, John Leary 3rd. John Leary 3rd is now a firefighter with the prestigious New York City Fire Department.  His daughter, Carolyn Leary received her doctorate from Fordham University and became Superintendent of schools in Somerville, New Jersey. When their mother, Frances Leary died in September 2003, the Learys' children decided to reunite their parents. First Lieutenant Leary's remains were re interred to Staten Island, New York in November 2004. 

    In a solemn ceremony, Frances Leary and 1st Lieutenant John W Leary were reunited in burial at Resurrection Cemetery on Staten Island. The 1st Lt John Leary was saluted by his son, John W Leary Jr, his grandson, John W. Leary 3rd, wearing his NYC firefighter uniform, his daughter-in-law Lillian Leary and his grand-daughter, Carolyn Leary carried his old firefighter helmet and Silver and Bronze stars.

At the end of the ceremony, the Army Color Guard presented the folded flag to his daughter, Dr. Carolyn Leary, as is the tradition. As the bugler played taps and the Army Color Guard saluted, his daughters-in-law commented: They're up there smiling, I'm sure of it.