Born September 18, 1920
in San Diego to a career naval officer and graduate of
Annapolis, Robert Lando was raised within the naval
culture, as his father was stationed at various naval
installations within the U.S., from the Bremerton,
Washington Naval Yard to San Pedro (near Los Angeles)
California to Coronado Island (San Diego) and in the Bay
Area at Mare Island Naval Shipyard near Vallejo. During
all that time, Robert Lando soaked up a great deal of
Navy lore and tradition from his father. As a member of
the Sea Scouts in high school in San Diego, Robert Lando
was first mate of Sea Scout ship 575 (a class M2 patrol
boat), which assisted the U.S. Navy in patrolling the
waters near San Diego.
Robert Lando was
attending San Diego State U, when war in the Pacific
broke out. He naturally gravitated toward service in the
U.S. Navy, and volunteered April 7, 1942. He served as a
Navy briefing officer and landing craft instructor in
World War II, (1942 to 1946), first at the Amphibious
Training Base in Ocracoke, North Carolina, then in the
Pacific theater. After receiving 3 months of training at
Notre Dame U. in South Bend, Indiana, Robert Lando was
accepted into the now-legendary Beach Jumpers unit,
formed in WWII under the guidance of Lieutenant Douglas
Fairbanks, Jr. Beach Jumpers were U.S. Navy special
warfare units, specializing in deception and
psychological warfare. Beach Jumper volunteers were
recruited for "prolonged, hazardous, distant duty for a
secret project." Their identities and activities were
very highly classified, since the slightest leak of
information could ruin even brilliant deceptions. Robert
Lando was sent with his Beach Jumper Unit 4 to the
Philippines in November of 1944, and participated in a
highly successful deception operation in the Isthmus of
Luzon, which resulted in the diversion and cutting off
of 50,000 enemy troops. This action made possible the
subsequent unopposed American invasion and liberation of
the Philippines via Lingayen Gulf north of Manila.
Robert Lando and his unit were commended for their,
bravery and resourcefulness by the commanding naval
officer in the Philippines, A. Vernon Jannotta. Many of
his fellow Beach Jumpers went to their graves without
ever revealing, even to their wives and children, what
they had done in the Navy.
Following the end of WWII
Robert Lando remained active in the Naval Reserve, and
received further training at advanced flight school in
Miami in photo interpretation and surveillance from
aircraft. Robert Lando met his wife-to-be, Phyllis, at
the Amphibious Training Base in North Carolina. Phyllis
was also a naval officer in WWII (Lt. Jr. Grade), and
according to Robert Lando, as he was just an Ensign at
the time, she outranked him (he later achieved the rank
of full Commander). They were married for 49 years.
Robert Lando had always admired his wife’s musical
abilities (being a concert cellist) and her tireless
desire to bring the musical arts to everyone.
From 1949 to 1982 Robert
Lando taught the second through eighth grades in the San
Francisco Unified School District, teaching every
subject on the curriculum, including music, physical
education, English, and math. As a teacher in the San
Francisco school system for 32 years, Robert Lando often
coached his students to give speeches and short dramatic
presentations. Robert Lando was the local coordinator
for the American Legion's High School Oratorical
Contest, held annually. Robert Lando also coached and
mentored local area youth for participation in Boys
State (sponsored by the American Legion), an annual
summer program for high school juniors in the operations
of state and local government. Robert Lando also
participated in Toastmasters with his already wellhoned
presentational skills. He had also competed successfully
in several speech contests, winning the Area D-2 and
Division D Humorous Contests.
Robert Lando for many
years continued to participate in military recognition
ceremonies in full dress
uniform. Robert Lando also played an active role in
giving guidance and support to ROTC cadets. He was
active in the American Legion, having served as
Commander of Post 40, Vice-Commander of the 8