2nd Lt. John N. Sekul Place (Bronx)
Present name:Newbold Avenue
Location:Between Castle Hill Avenue and Havemeyer Avenue
Honoree: John N. Sekul (1922-1944) joined the military in 1942 and was assigned to the 491st Bombardment Group, 854th Bombardment Squadron. On its first and last mission, on August 26, 1944, Sekul's B-24J was shot down after releasing its bombs on a target just north of Hanover, Germany. The entire crew was captured and put on a train to a prisoner interrogation center in Oberursel. However, the train tracks were damaged by an RAF raid on Rasselsheim, forcing the eight American soldiers off the train, While they were being escorted through the streets of Rasselsheim, escorted by two German soldiers, residents began attacking the Americans with stones, bricks, lumber and hammers, killing Sekul and several other crew members. Two of the Americans managed to escape but were recaptured a few days later and remained as POWs until the end of the war. 2nd Lt. John N. Sekul was killed that day in the line of duty. (Diaz)
LL:2019/24