Sylvester Grady of Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A. served in the United States Army during the Second World War. He landed in Belfast on 26th January 1942.
Sylvester Grady served in the United States Army during the Second World War. He hailed from Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A. and was of Irish descent.
Grady arrived in Northern Ireland on 26th January 1942 aged 27 years old as part of the first contingent of American troops. He was enthusiastic about landing on Irish soil. When interviewed by a reporter from the Londonderry Sentinel newspaper, he stated.
It feels pretty good to be here.
In a chat with a correspondent from the Belfast Telegraph newspaper on 27th January 1942, Grady praised the welcoming British Army despite their uncomfortable beds:
I think these beds that the British Army use are about the hardest I have ever slept on but there is a war on for us now. I think the British Army are a great bunch of guys although their ways are quite different. We are intrigued at times by their continual saluting of Officers. We admire their strict military precision and all their conduct.