In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month Macaroni Kid of Port Washington, Manhasset and Roslyn is highlighting Major Gilberto Landeros, Jr. A veteran Airman with service in the Persian Gulf and the Cold War, a member of the VFW Post 1819 and Grand Marshal of the 2024 Port Washington Memorial Day Parade.
Major Landeros was born in Seguin, Texas, and raised in Killeen, Texas. He graduated high school in 1983 and thereafter entered Texas State University, majoring in geography and minoring in psychology, a major combination that was suggested to him by his ROTC leader in order to graduate faster and enter military service sooner.
Major Landeros was inspired by the movie Top Gun to enter service. Up until then he only knew he wanted to fly and his friends were trying to convince him join the force, but the movie really brought everything together for him.
He was commissioned upon graduation and went to flight school in Sacramento, California. Besides a trip to Disneyland and Disney World, this was the first time he was away from home. After a year, Major Landeros was placed at an Air Force Base in Spokane, WA, where he could implement what he learned in Sacramento. He lived there for 5 years.
Major Landeros recalls being the only person of color in flight school and needing to prove himself more so than his colleagues in order to move ahead. Things that others took for granted proved tricky for him. Like the time he was trying to update his military records in preparation for a promotion. A simple task usually, but Major Landeros was denied. He wanted to update their records to reflect “Mexican American” as “race.” His “White” looking friend was immediately granted the change, but Major Landeros was denied and instead asked to come back with proof. To resolve this matter he had to speak to a higher ranking official.
About his continuous challenges with racial bias he says, “The climb [struggle] is neither flat [none] or a peak, it is a continuous trajectory up hill.
Despite this, he assures me of the value of inclusion and diversity. “Diversity is important. To have all walks of life fighting for the same thing - so you don’t fall into ‘group think’ - but instead all these different people come up with solutions to fix the problem at hand.”
Of his Hispanic identity he says, “I identify as American first, Texan second, but my heart will always be Mexican American and I uphold these values: a strong family connection and love.”
Major Landeros lives in Roslyn, NY, and is married with four children, two of his own from his first marriage and two from his wife’s previous marriage. Now at the age of 59 he reflects back on his life and has this advice for parents: “As parents our role is to teach kids right from wrong, so when they get on with life and are on their own they make good decisions.”
The VFW Post 1819 is looking for donations and new members. If you are a veteran that served in combat you will find a strong fraternal order and a safe place not to be judged here. Contact the VFW at (516) 708-1223 for more information or visit their website at https://portwashingtonvfw.org/. Post 1819 is located at 29 Mohegan Avenue in Port Washington, NY.
