George Fleming, a professional baseball player, served in the United States Army during the Second World War. He landed in Belfast on 26th January 1942.
George Fleming served in the United States Army during the Second World War. He hailed from the U.S.A.
Fleming arrived in Northern Ireland on 26th January 1942 as part of the first contingent of American troops. Before enlisting, George was a professional baseball player. He left his team mid-season in 1941, prioritising the threat of war over sports. When interviewed by a reporter from the Northern Whig newspaper, he stated:
We stood a good chance of winning the pennant but I thought winning the war was a more important job than finishing on top of a baseball league. A whole lot of our sportsmen over there have done the same. They are not waiting for their number to be called.