Background
Leary was born in Fowey, England, and soon immigrated with his family to the United States.
Leary was born in Fowey, England, and soon immigrated with his family to the United States.
After the United States entered World War I, on 12 June 1918 he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Naval Reserve. He was later appointed the Executive Officer of the cargo ship United States Ship Charlton Hall, with Lieutenant Commander J. L. Evans, United States Naval Reserve Force , in command of the ship. On 20 July 1918, a fire broke out in the hold of the Charlton Hall.
Leary entered the burning hold in order to save crewmen that were trapped there.
He died hours later of burns and smoke inhalation. Two ships, United States Ship Leary, were named for him.