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Our Superman

Porfirio Landa (1925–2022), one of the United States
Army’s longest surviving World War II veterans

The modest glory of this veteran
Began when he was born a Mexican,
Baptized before the State declared grim war
On Catholic faith Cristeros battled for.
Church doors were locked next time his loyal mother
Gave birth, as Féderáles tried to smother
The spirit of the bravest in the nation.
Thank God, America arranged cessation
Of irreligion’s hellish horrors then!

A boy could grow in gladness genuine,
Learn from his parents, and his pastor, too,
Receive the sacraments, find jobs to do,
The smallest ones that helped his family through
Hard times, still harder after Mama died.

Man’s work came early. Plans intensified
For border crossing. There he was advised,
“America has need of energized
Young volunteers to win a war abroad.”
“I’m good to go!” Porfirio hurrahed.
Latino teen in Army green, he trained
To risk his life for a homeland to be gained.
Assigned to watch and wait at a stateside base,
He dreamed of duty as a flying ace.

Discharged with honor, and with seventy-seven
Years left to serve his God and aim for heaven,
He married his belovéd Ernestine.
The number of their children is thirteen:
Teri, Porfi, Chata, Cesar, Ray,
Donny, Chela, George, Lupe, Jaime,
Lydia, Angelica, and Ben.

To raise them able women and fit men,
He earned his pay as metal polisher,
Employed hand tools or whirring chamferer,
With lively cheer and friendliness for all.
At movies, grocery store, or hospital,
He’d strike up eager chat or comic song,
Though he never got the lyrics right for long.

Drama was better: he could stage his own.
Soaring from some fake booth without a phone
(After taking off his Clark Kent glasses),
Our Superman flew choreographed passes
For justice, truth, and the American way.
Or if a jungle gym had ropes, he’d sway
As Tarzan with child monkeys to a tree,
And every day he’d pray the Rosary.

“Porfírio António Lánda Sántos Coy
Is who I am; my good name’s not a toy.
Know yours, grandchildren, keep it clean and true.
This holy heritage I leave to you.”

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Poet’s Note:

In the Cristero War (1926–1929), federal troops brutally enforced a new constitution meant to eliminate Catholic Church influence in Mexico. Opposing Cristeros were popular insurgents who undertook armed resistance in many regions of the country. Neither side won victory, but the United States brokered a cease fire, and churches re-opened, allowing Catholic practice to go on as before.

“Truth, justice, and the American way” is the motto of the old Superman television series.

The full name Porfirio Antonio Landa Santos Coy comes from given names followed by the surnames of father and mother, Teofilo Landa and Teresa Santos Coy.

.

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Margaret Coats lives in California.  She holds a Ph.D. in English and American Literature and Language from Harvard University.  She has retired from a career of teaching literature, languages, and writing that included considerable work in homeschooling for her own family and others. 

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51 Responses

  2. Brian Yapko

    Margaret, what a marvelous tribute you have crafted to a man who sounds like a true hero on many fronts. I assume that Porfirio was your friend and offer my sincere condolences on his loss. Men like him are in short supply so I hope his parting message “keep it clean and true” is brought home to many. May his memory be a blessing.

    Your poem in couplets manages to tell the story of an entire life – no small task with so much to address. Imagine going from the Cristero War in Mexico to World War II, having thirteen children, working hard, praying faithfully and living all the way to 2022! The Greatest Generation is dying out and, in these inelegant and narcissistic times, it is vitally important that the service, values and valor of such men be remembered.

    On the poem itself, the meter is a little loose – and that doesn’t matter in the least. In fact, this poetic choice is probably essential to the subject. Since you are telling the story of a humble man and a complex history it would seem affected and inauthentic if it was forced into perfect meter and perfect rhymes. (For readers who might not be aware, when you get to the children’s names your rhyme of “Ray” with “Jaime” works correctly because Jaime in Spanish is pronounced “Hy-may.” )

    But what’s great about this poem is not just the fascinating story – it’s that the work is infused with Porfirio’s big personality and solid values. You do honor to the man and you make it clear that this is someone I wish I could have met. And you have given his family a beautiful gift. Well done.

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Thank you, Brian, for your appreciative reading and response. I should explain that I give early lines in the poem to the Cristero War not because Porfirio Landa would recall much of it, but because this epic campaign for Christ shaped his youth, winning for him a normal boyhood influenced by family and church. You may know that La Christiada was the deadliest conflict in Mexican history, with 250,000 killed, about 150,000 of these being noncombatant citizens murdered by government soldiers. Not an atmosphere conducive to healthy personal development.

      I did not know Porfirio myself, but I can count his daughter Angelica and several young adult grandchildren as my friends. The poem is in rough-and-ready heroic couplets, maintaining the five beats per line, but allowing substitutions for many of the iambic feet. I’m glad you see the superman personality shining through. I too felt that more polish to the work might not do him justice.

      Reply
  3. Angelica Rodriguez

    This was the most beautiful tribute to my father yet, Margaret! What an absolutely wonderful poem! It will live on in our family along with his legacy. Thank you so much for the blessing!

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      I needed you, Angelica, to make this poem what it is. You added details or confirmed my feelings about your father’s spirit. I am honored to put such a noble yet humble life in memorable words. Especially, you confirmed my choice of which words to quote, by agreeing that he was very proud of his full name, and often let his grandchildren know it!

      Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Thanks, Adela! I’m glad my words could convey an affective outline of a long and amazing story.

      Reply
  5. Laura Lesinski

    Very nicely done, Margaret, and a beautiful tribute to an honorable man. To fit all the pertinent information about him in poetic style is an added gift. Thank you for taking the time to pay homage to a patriot and devoted Catholic, especially now on Veterans Day and month of All Souls. May he Rest In Peace.

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Yes, Laura, may he rest in peace. Porfirio Landa devoted his time and talents to God and country and family. I am blessed by God’s gift of talents that I can use to honor him, especially on our national holiday tomorrow and for this month devoted to all holy souls. Thanks for your reading and reply,

      Reply
  6. jd

    Beautifully done, Margaret. I enjoyed getting
    to know him, much like at some memorial services
    I have attended where I went in knowing a little about the deceased and came out gratified to know
    them better.

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Thanks, jd. I was among the singers at Porfirio Landa’s funeral. His family had made up an informative brochure calling him “Our Superman,” which is where I got to know him better–and where I got my poem title!

      Reply
  7. Alejandro Rodriguez

    Hello Mrs. Coats,

    Thank you so much for your beautiful poem. Only the Holy Spirit could inspire such beauty in this masterpiece.

    For everyone else, I’m Alejandro, Porfirio’s grandson. I was there with my parents the moment he died.
    My grandfather was a very strong man who, although physically weak, fought to his last breath in spite of the suffering he underwent. He had a strong prayer life which developed as he came closer to his death. It was a shocking, yet inspiring time in my life since I understood what it means to die well as well as to live well.
    My grandfather left 13 children behind who have impacted the world in their own way. In spite of the struggles he may have faced, he always smiled and joked with everyone. He was everyone’s father and grandfather. Anyone who met him had a better day because of him.

    Thank you for honoring him with your presence and your attendance at his funeral. Many people came that day though a good amount of people did not know him well. If only he could have seen the people who came, he would have been overjoyed.

    Porfirio Landa requiescat in pace,

    God bless you all,
    Alejandro

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Alejandro, you’ve touched poets and visitors here by telling us how your grandfather’s life and death have affected you. This has added a great deal to the effect of my poem. For Veterans Day, here we are getting together and reflecting that each veteran is, like your grandfather, a person of infinite worth made in the image of God. You are a skilled communicator and teacher and a worthy Knight of Columbus. I think of your recent efforts to spread the faith and knowledge about the Latin language and the Latin Mass. Thank you for all this, and keep up the impact!

      Reply
  8. Joseph S. Salemi

    Margaret, this is more than a poem. It is a great gift of remembrance and tribute.

    May God bless and keep Porfirio Landa.

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Thanks, Jeff. I was the lucky receiver of everything he had been to his family.

      Reply
  10. Paul Freeman

    A poem full of character. Sounds from both the poem and the comments that Porfirio Landa was one of our finest.

    You’ve honoured him well, Margaret.

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      I appreciate your judgment, Paul. Hardly knew how much I managed to convey, with more still coming in the comments!

      Reply
  11. LTC Roy E. Peterson

    Thank you for bringing heart-warming attention to someone who was willing to give his all in service to his country, who survived the war, and continued to contribute. Perfect poem for Veterans Day!

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Thank you, Colonel Peterson. You know better than others what a matter of chance a soldier’s survival can be. With present hindsight, we would say Private Landa, assigned to the homefront, was in no danger. But during the final year of the war, he was in paratrooper training, with an airborne drop into Japan possible. High command decisions directed otherwise, and he heard the war was over before he had made a jump. His daughter says he felt some disappointment, but as you remark, he had much to contribute as a civilian. Readiness is all!

      Reply
      • Joseph S. Salemi

        Margaret, the security on the Manhattan Project was so tight that not even the top brass in our military was aware that an atomic bomb was in preparation. Only General Leslie Groves (in charge of the project) knew what was up. Everyone else in 1945 was preparing for a conventional land-and-air invasion of Japan, and that’s why Private Landa got his paratroop training.

      • Margaret Coats

        That’s tight security, even considering that lower ranks never have a “need to know” about the broad purpose of their assigned mission.

  12. Yael

    What a beautiful commemorative poem and I really enjoyed the bit of history lesson too, thank you Margaret. I wish everyone a blessed Veterans Day, with gratefulness and appreciation for the religious liberties which we can enjoy in America.

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Yael, I am so glad you enjoyed the poem. It hardly seems possible that less than 100 years ago, Mexican Catholics were fighting because priests had been killed and churches turned into local government storehouses, if nothing worse. But as you say, this reminds us to be grateful to veterans who have been willing to fight for our freedoms!

      Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      And thank you, Ana, for reading and for making the effort to express appreciation!

      Reply
  14. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    Margaret, what a beautiful tribute to Porfirio Landa – “Our Superman” indeed! He was obviously one of Earth’s angels… a stalwart individual who turned out to be a superhero.

    Your heartfelt homage has made me want to say a prayer of thanks for Porfirio Landa, my late grandfather, and all those men of the greatest generation who gave us glorious gifts we should do our utmost to hang on to.

    This moving poem is a must read. Thank you, Margaret.

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Thank you, Susan, for your appreciation and especially for your prayers. You are including my own father (a year older than Porfirio Landa), who spent his 18th birthday on a troop ship bound for North Africa. Much later, he said he felt like the loneliest person in the world, despite being surrounded by others who would become his combat buddies. We cannot know the depths of their sacrifices but, as you say, we can make our own to preserve and extend the good they did. It is a holy heritage. May we honor and value it, and may God reward those who have willingly done their parts in His work.

      Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Thank you on behalf of all veterans, Mary. That includes my husband and me, and I send special best wishes to vets in your family.

      Reply
  16. Joshua C. Frank

    Margaret, this one is wonderful. We really should never forget people like this, nor the good old days when people had that quality missing from our generations. I’m sure Mr. Landa’s family is honored by such a great tribute to him.

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Thank you for finding the poem a worthy memorial to a man of great integrity. The family has shown much appreciation; they intend to keep one copy of the poem with his uniform and service memorabilia. Four of them have made comments here, although they didn’t all identify themselves as family members. I am honored by their making the effort.

      Reply
  17. Phyllis Schabow

    Your glowing tribute prompts a heartfelt wish that I could have at least met this man, a fellow parishioner at San Secondo d’Asti in Guasti, CA. We must pass by so many other men who have suffered in silence the effects of warfare
    who keep their experience to themselves because of the pain it might prompt in themselves or others. We have such a man in our family who while still a teenager faced dangers and death that no child should be exposed to. War, says the Church, is a punishment for sin. Let us hope and pray that this grandfather, who influenced his large family with deep feelings of love and respect, will go on praying for those of us facing the prospect of a third world war. For your readers who may not be familiar with the story of the Christeros in Mexico, I recommend they search YouTube for “For Greater Glory,” which story includes the martyrdom of a young 14 year old boy whose feet were cut to ribbons before he was force marched to his grave site. Today, his whole body lies incorrupt in a glass case for all the world to see. God bless you and keep you, Margaret, for your outstanding tribute to Porfirio and his admirable life.

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Phyllis, we were certainly present at Mass with him, since we sang for three weddings of his grandchildren. There will be eternity to become better acquainted. Yes, may he pray now that we be spared war as he was spared continuation of the Cristero conflict.

      About the Cristero war, I highly recommend that anyone who has two and a half hours watch the entire movie, “For Greater Glory.” It seems to be free on YouTube. This is the true story of resistance to a government outlawing religious freedom. As one reviewer said, “Finally, a movie worth seeing.” Not just action, but meaning.

      Reply
  18. Anna J. Arredondo

    Margaret,
    Just here to echo many other commenters, that this is a beautiful tribute. What a special gift to the family, as well as to all of us!

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Thanks, Anna. I am happy to help make a heroic family man more widely known. On this, the first Veterans Day since his death, he is indeed a gift to many. He has a sister living in Mexico. When she heard of the military honors at his burial in Riverside National Cemetery, she said, “I’m all bent over, but for this I can sit up straight!”

      Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Thank you, Michael. I appreciate your reading and comment! Writing this kind of poem helps understand “a life well lived.”

      Reply
  20. David Watt

    Margret, your beautiful tribute to Porfirio makes me wish to have known such an honorable, steadfast, and inspiring character.

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      David, I feel the same. Although I certainly crossed paths with him, I only came to know anything of his life from the funeral memento prepared (probably) by daughter Angelica and grandson Alejandro who have commented above. This is a heartening sign to us of the immense value of individual human lives being lived around us, even when their worth is not obvious. All the more should we love our neighbors as ourselves.

      Reply
  21. Christina Lesinski

    What a touching and heartfelt poem, Mrs. Coats! This really digs at the heart strings, having known him myself even a little, but it was especially delightful to get to know him better through this poem. Truly shows what an inspiration he was and captures his life beautifully, much like a eulogy in poetic form. One part that especially resonated with me was: “With lively cheer and friendliness for all…” I remember that when I would visit the Rodriguez’s home, sometimes he would come out to eat at the table, when he was able. And even though he may not have remembered who I was, he still spoke to me as if I were a member of the family and always had something humorous to say that made me laugh. His smile was infectious and he always had a gleam in his eye. He was so spirited and this poem embodies that spirit. It was so thoughtful of you to take the time to learn more about this humble yet heroic man, and to write about him. May He Rest In Peace, and May God continue to bless you for all you do!

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Thank you so much, Christina, especially for your personal picture of what it was like to visit “Our Superman” at home in his latter years. I am amazed that my poem captures that feeling for you. I don’t recall meeting Porfirio Landa, and now I, along with others, wish I had! But I took in words and feelings from those who lived with him, and that has made these days of writing and publishing the poem “better days because of him,” to quote Alejandro above. Hope I have half the sparkle when I’m older!

      Reply
  22. Angie Rodriguez

    Margaret,
    I just wanted to comment again and share that more family members have viewed the poem. Some have even stated that there was some details that they never knew about “Grampa” and that they felt so much pride! Thank you again and I hope that this poem gets shared more!

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      His long and conscientious yet unassuming life contains very much for the family to take pride in! My poem honors what I knew about, and I have learned more from comments here by those who knew him personally. Thank you for letting me know of the family’s approving interest in this tribute. The National World War II Museum has acknowledged the poem by e-mail to me, and they say they referred it to their Education Department. It will be available in their great storehouse of information in New Orleans, as well as here.

      Reply
  23. Phyllis Schabow

    When anyone asks, “But what can one person do?” Well, here is the answer on both fronts. The life lived and the poem honoring him. May this story go far and wide for many to read.

    Reply
    • Margaret Coats

      Phyllis, thanks for articulating the good idea that each life as lived is “what one person can do” to better the world as he finds it. And that noticing and honoring a good life is also one thing we can do. The notice takes a little effort, but all of us can frequently give someone else a better day with a few good words.

      Reply

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