ENS ROBERT D. POLAND, USN

Class 1955

Born October 27, 1932

Died October 24, 1956

Age 23

Hometown Texarkana, Arkansas

Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1955 Lucky Bag:

ROBERT DUNNAM POLAND

After spending a year at Marion Institute in Alabama, Polo climbed on his hoss and rode north through the Gateway of the Southwest and finally through Gate Three, USNA. Since water skiing was not included in Navy’s sports program, Bob found gymnastics was a good substitute and could be found every afternoon chalking up for another swing around the bar. Polo was always unusually quiet between reveille and breakfast, which was probably due to the fact that he did most of his talking during the night in his sleep. Bob is determined that he will spend his post-grad days getting his wings.

Loss

Robert was lost on October 24, 1956 when his F9F2 Panther Jet crashed during practice carrier landings at Forrest Sherman Field (Pensacola, Florida). He was waved off from landing, and then his plane bounced and crashed.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

He graduated from Arkansas High School in 1950. Assistant Business Manager of the Porker yearbook, Band, Allied Youth, Senior Play, Cheerleader. Class Will: my love for adventure in the woods. Class Prophecy: owner of a large chain of tourist courts.

His parents operated the Swaha Lodge until 1967. His sister was Patricia; brother James.

He is buried in Texas.

Photographs

From the Lucky Bag

From his high school yearbook

From ancestry.com

Class of 1955

Robert is one of 34 members of the Class of 1955 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

← Philip Ryan, Jr. Charles Stewart →