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This is a nice Saturday morning read.
The very respected and professional coach of the Dallas Cowboys was a military aviator during WWII. The late Tom Landry. Hope some find his story worth a few moments to read, even if you are not a Cowboys fan.
Born in Mission Texas on September 11, 1924 Tom Landry was a natural athlete. He loved Texas football. Tom played college football at the University of Texas - He loved college football but loved his brother Robert even more.
Tom's brother Robert, who served with the Army Air Corps, was deemed Missing in Action when his B-17 went down during a ferrying mission over the North Atlantic near Iceland. Ultimately Robert was deemed as a casualty and Tom joined the military in his honor.
As a freshman at the University of Texas, Landry joined the military and served on a B-17 bombing crew. Landry flew more than 30 missions and survived a plane crash in Belgium.
According to his autobiography: "Tom Landry began his military career with basic training at Sheppard Field near Wichita Falls, Texas. At the age of 19, Landry was transferred to Sioux City, Iowa, where he trained as a B-17 co-pilot. In 1944, Landry earned his wings and a commission as a Second Lieutenant at Lubbock Army Air Field, and was assigned to the 493rd Bombardment Group at RAF Debach, England, as a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber co-pilot in the 860th Bombardment Squadron. From November 1944 to April 1945, he completed a combat tour of 30 missions, and survived a crash landing in Belgium after his bomber ran out of fuel."
After the war Tom returned to the University of Texas and completed his Bachelor's Degree. He also helped the Longhorns to a victory in the Sugar Bowl in 1948 and the Orange Bowl in 1949. From 1949 to 1955, Landry played defensive back and punter for the AAFC’s New York Yankees and the NFL’s New York Giants. He became a player/coach for the New York Giants before returning to Texas to become the first coach of the Cowboys in 1960. Tom Landry would go on to coach the Dallas cowboys for 29 years, winning 13 Division titles with five trips to the Super Bowl and two wins. Coach Landry was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.
Thomas Wade Landry passed away on February 12, 2000 at the age of 75. He lies in rest at Sparkman Hillcrest Memorial Park in Dallas Texas. Lest We Forget.
The very respected and professional coach of the Dallas Cowboys was a military aviator during WWII. The late Tom Landry. Hope some find his story worth a few moments to read, even if you are not a Cowboys fan.
Born in Mission Texas on September 11, 1924 Tom Landry was a natural athlete. He loved Texas football. Tom played college football at the University of Texas - He loved college football but loved his brother Robert even more.
Tom's brother Robert, who served with the Army Air Corps, was deemed Missing in Action when his B-17 went down during a ferrying mission over the North Atlantic near Iceland. Ultimately Robert was deemed as a casualty and Tom joined the military in his honor.
As a freshman at the University of Texas, Landry joined the military and served on a B-17 bombing crew. Landry flew more than 30 missions and survived a plane crash in Belgium.
According to his autobiography: "Tom Landry began his military career with basic training at Sheppard Field near Wichita Falls, Texas. At the age of 19, Landry was transferred to Sioux City, Iowa, where he trained as a B-17 co-pilot. In 1944, Landry earned his wings and a commission as a Second Lieutenant at Lubbock Army Air Field, and was assigned to the 493rd Bombardment Group at RAF Debach, England, as a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber co-pilot in the 860th Bombardment Squadron. From November 1944 to April 1945, he completed a combat tour of 30 missions, and survived a crash landing in Belgium after his bomber ran out of fuel."
After the war Tom returned to the University of Texas and completed his Bachelor's Degree. He also helped the Longhorns to a victory in the Sugar Bowl in 1948 and the Orange Bowl in 1949. From 1949 to 1955, Landry played defensive back and punter for the AAFC’s New York Yankees and the NFL’s New York Giants. He became a player/coach for the New York Giants before returning to Texas to become the first coach of the Cowboys in 1960. Tom Landry would go on to coach the Dallas cowboys for 29 years, winning 13 Division titles with five trips to the Super Bowl and two wins. Coach Landry was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.
Thomas Wade Landry passed away on February 12, 2000 at the age of 75. He lies in rest at Sparkman Hillcrest Memorial Park in Dallas Texas. Lest We Forget.
