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Early Life: Born in Wilmington, Del., he attended public school in Braintree. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. James K. Landess, lived at 162 Edge Hill Road, Milton MA.

Academic Experience: Graduated from BU in 1937 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Journalism. During his college years he was a member of Kappa Phi Alpha, Scabbard and Blade, Benjamin Edes Society, a student assistant in the BU Public City Bureau in his sophomore year and the on the Committee for the ROTC’s Tenth Annual Military Ball in his senior year. Following his graduation he was employed by Tamblyn and Brown as publicity assistant for the Charles Hayden Memorial Fund Campaign, but retained his job as assistant to Miss Eleanor Mosely, director of the BU Public City Bureau until he joined the Army as a First Lieutenant in July, 1941.

Military Journal: He was promoted to Captain of Infantry in 1942 and joined the 3rd Battalion of the 26th Regimental Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division preparing for Operation Torch in North Africa. Shortly after the amphibious invasion of Algeria, he was Killed In Action on November 9, 1942. For the heroism that marked his death at Djebel Murdjadjo, COL Robert. L. Collins (pictured above left) placed the army’s tribute to her father’s gallantry (Silver Star Medal and Purple Heart) into the hands of little Ann Hamilton Landess, his six-week old daughter that he never had the occasion to meet. Newspapers around the nation shared his story and this poignant photo. It was featured on page 32 of LIFE Magazine, April 12, 1943. He is buried in Plot H Row 4 Grave 12, North Africa American Cemetery, Tunis, Tunisia.

Post-Military: He was survived by his parents, a younger brother, his wife – the former Miss Helen Reilly of Boston and his daughter, Ann Hamilton Landess.

Landess, Robert Henderson, CPT