Manteca Sports and Consignment

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09/16/2022

🇺🇲 WWII uncovered: Tom Landry from the US Army Air Forces to The Dallas Cowboys

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.



WWII uncovered ©️ original description and photos sourced by The City of Mission Texas, Ancestry Database, Dallas News, Los Angeles Times and Find a Grave Database (Fair Use Photos)

08/08/2022

In the booth for so many of our game's historic moments!

08/07/2022

In honor of Purple Heart Day. we're remembering all who have served and sacrificed. 💜🇺🇸

08/06/2022

🇺🇲 WW II uncovered Icons of WWII: Audie Murphy

In 1942 at age 17, Audie Murphy tried to join the Marines and the Army paratroopers, but was rejected because he was too short. He did gain entrance into the Army, joining the 15th Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division in North Africa prior to the invasion of Sicily. Murphy proved himself a proficient soldier and "quickly rose to the enlisted rank of Staff Sergeant, was given a battlefield commission as 2nd Lieutenant... and fought in nine major campaigns across the European Theater."
(Texas Military Forces Museum)

⭐Audie Murphy’s Medal of Honor citation reads as follows:

Second Lieutenant Audie L. Murphy, 01692509, 15th Infantry, Army of the United States, on 26 January 1945, near Holtzwihr, France, commanded Company B, which was attacked by six tanks and waves of infantry. Lieutenant Murphy ordered his men to withdraw to a prepared position in a woods while he remained forward at his command post and continued to give fire directions to the artillery by telephone. Behind him to his right one of our tank destroyers received a direct hit and began to burn. It’s crew withdrew to the woods. Lieutenant Murphy continued to direct artillery fire which eliminated large numbers of the advancing enemy infantry. With the enemy tanks abreast of his position, Lieutenant Murphy climbed on the burning tank destroyer which was in danger of blowing up any instant and employed its .50 caliber machine gun against the enemy. He was alone and exposed to the German fire from three sides, but his fire eliminated dozens of Germans and caused their infantry attack to waver. The enemy tanks, losing infantry support, began to fall back. For an hour the Germans tried every available weapon to eliminate Lieutenant Murphy, but he continued to hold his position and wiped out a squad which was trying to creep up unnoticed on his right flank. Germans reached as close as 10 yards only to be mowed down by his fire. He received a leg wound but ignored it and continued the single-handed fight until his ammunition was exhausted. He then made his way to his company, refused medical attention, and organized the company in a counterattack which forced the Germans to withdraw. His directing of artillery fire wiped out many of the enemy; he personally eliminated or wounded about 50. Lieutenant Murphy’s indomitable courage and his refusal to give an inch of ground saved his company from possible encirclement and destruction and enabled it to hold the woods which had been the enemy’s objective.

⭐Trivia Fact: Medal of Honor recipient Audie Murphy portrayed himself in the 1955 Universal-International film, "To Hell and Back." (Pictured top right)

Audie Murphy passed away on May 28, 1971 at the age of 45. He lies in rest at Arlington National Cemetery. Lest We Forget.



WWII uncovered©️ Original text and photo sourced by The Texas Military Forces Museum, The US Army and Arlington National Cemetery.

08/05/2022

Legendary.

08/05/2022

Legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully has died at age 94.

06/01/2022

05/30/2022

On this Memorial Day, we honor Navajo Code Talkers, who played a major role in winning the war in the South Pacific during WWII by providing an efficient code that the Japanese never cracked. 🇺🇸

📸: Leo Bounds / Navajo Code Talkers Memorial in Window Rock, AZ

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