Avis de décès de Francis Fleming - Nécrologie - MesAieux.com

Major Francis Fleming USAF Retired Major; 90 CHELMSFORD Major Francis Fleming, 90, of Chelmsford died on Wednesday, November 28, 2007. He was the husband of the late Rita Marie (Cantin) Fleming. Major Fleming was born in Lowell on January 10, 1917 the son of the late Thomas H. and Mary V. (Maroney) Fleming. He was a graduate of Keith Academy in Lowell. Major Fleming had over twenty years of active service between the United States Army and the United States Air Force. In July of 1942 he enlisted in the 506th Parachute Infantry of the 101st Army Airborne. He was taking part in a mass jump when he caught and saved a fellow trooper whose chute failed to open but who collided with Fleming's chute as he fell. Fleming clutched the collapsed chute and guided him to the ground. Fleming was awarded the Soldier's Medal for his actions. On June 8, 1944 he parachuted into France during the invasion with the 506th Regiment. During the invasion, he was awarded a battle field commission to 2nd Lt. and a promotion to 1st Lt. His next combat jump was into Son Holland on September 17, 1944 where he was wounded, evacuated to England and awarded a Purple Heart. He was able to return to his unit in time for the Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne, Belgium, where he was again seriously wounded and awarded a Bronze Star and a cluster to his Purple Heart. After being evacuated to the United States he was eventually released from active service with disability. Two years later, under a special program to replenish a shortage of Senior Non-Commissioned Officers, he reenlisted in the U.S. Army as a Master Sgt. When the U.S. Air Force became a separate service, he opted for the U.S. Air Force and completed his twenty years of active service and retired in his reserve grade of Major in the Air Force. Major Fleming was a communicant of St. Mary's Church, Chelmsford. He is survived by his children; Dr. James Fleming and his wife Lynn of Decatur, IL and Anne Fleming-Hill and her husband Stephen of Moraga, CA. He was the grandfather of four; Kathryn and Michael Fleming of Decatur, IL and Caitlin and Julia Hill of Moraga, CA. He also leaves two brothers; Thomas Fleming of Tewksbury and Raymond Fleming of Portland and two sister in-laws; Shirley Elliott of Nashua, NH and Mary Fleming. He was the brother of the late John "Jack" Fleming. FLEMING of Chelmsford, Major Francis Fleming, age 90, died on Wednesday, November 28, 2007. Visiting hours will be held on Friday evening from 5-8 at the Blake Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford. A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, at 10 o'clock at St. Catherine's Church, Westford. Burial in St. Catherine's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Major Fleming's name to VA Medical Center Library, C/O Voluntary Services, 200 Springs Rd., Bedford MA 01730. Arrangements by Blake Funeral Home, Chelmsford. www.blakefuneralhome.com