John Glenn Heads West

[Old Wizard]

R.I.P.

 

[XBe02Drvr]

John Glenn, the American superlative to the 1960s concept of the "New Soviet Man"!
Master of MiGs
Transcontinental Pressure Breather* (Project Bullet)
Passionate family man.
Only Mercury Astronaut who could keep his zipper up.
Only officer in history who gave LBJ "the finger"and got away with it!
Eloquent defender of veterans, in public and in congress.
Oldest "Geriatric Research Specialist" in space.
Oh, and I almost forgot: 1ST AMERICAN IN ORBIT!

THE TOTAL MAN!

*Soon after takeoff, the Project Bullet F-8's cockpit pressurization failed. The OIC of the project "strongly suggested" that Glenn terminate the flight, but he grunted out that they'd been waiting for optimum conditions and today was the day. So John flew transcon in the high forties pressure breathing the whole way. Any of you aircrew types out there will understand what that entails. He didn't want the pressure breathing episode made known as he didn't want to acquire a "daredevil" reputation or worry his wife Annie.
It just so happens that the Senior Chief Aircrew Survival Equipment Technician who supervised my chamber ride in 1973 had been the junior Airman in 1958 who took the rap for the F-8's pressurization failure. John Glenn stood up for him and saved him from a court martial. HE'S THE MAN!

 

[bobbysocks]

I remember being 5 years old and home watching Mr. Glenn's trip to space on our black and white tv. I had a toy Korean war style plastic flight helmet I had got previously for Christmas on my head and I was laying on the floor with my feet propped up on the seat of the chair...it was the way he was sitting in the mercury capsule. although I am sure I watched the whole thing...as much as was viewable...all I remember is being on the floor like that watching the grainy picture and being excited about going into space. Years later, I got ( and still have ) a GI Joe space capsule...which was modeled after the mercury. with it came a 45 RPM record of some of his conversation with mission control during. he has always been one of my biggest heroes.

 

[XBe02Drvr]

With regard to Biffs post. Why do no marks always say that people like John Glenn didn't have a "proper job"

Last time I checked, America still called itself a capitalist country.
A few quotes from the "Capitalist Playbook": "If you ain't a capitalist, you ain't shit!" "If you're in the military, the government feeds you, houses you, clothes you, pays you, makes all your decisions for you, and even wipes your butt for you. You don't have to make investment decisions, make a payroll, answer to the Board of Directors, take responsibility for your employees actions, hire and fire, or fend off the company's creditors, the government's regulators, and the union's thugs. You don't have a job, you have a security blanket!"
I've spent enough time flying these types hither and yon to have their rants memorized. Makes the John Glenns of the world all the more precious to behold.
(If a lowly squid may be allowed the use of the Holy Words)
Semper Fi, John! RIP

 

[davparlr]

What a time to grow up! I was born only a few days before Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier. I first remember running in my back yard from SNJs landing at Sherman field, F-9F Cougars of the Blue Angels practicing overhead, the International Geophysical Year, Sputnik (we named our CJ-2 Jeep Sputnik because it was "out of this world), being disappointed watching, on TV, the Navy Vanguard rocket blowing up (rockets blowing up was quite common in those days), watching Explorer successfully launching, going outside and watching Echo flying over the head in the night sky, Shepard's first flight, John Glenn going around the earth. In July, 1969, while at AF OTS, Lackland AFB, I watch man step on moon. I was a witness to an amazing period of history. Because of all these things, I lived a life as an AF pilot and and an aerospace engineer. John Glenn was a wonderful example of an American Hero. My heart still aches for the three Apollo astronauts that paid the ultimate price, all heroes too.

 

[The Basket]

John Glenn
Hero.
Big fan of Apollo and Gemini and Mercury. Glenn comes across as a man of the highest integrity and decency. A true Gentleman.

 

[nuuumannn]

He wasn't just an American hero. An inspiration to ALL of us. All these guys were, US or Soviet; they were/are a special breed of human that we can all be proud of.

 

[oldcrowcv63]

Apparently davparl and I are nearly twin-brothers by another-mother... I was delivered first, by about 6 months... Poor mom.

This is a famous photo but thought it was appropriate to repost it here... Baseball hall of fame Ted Williams with buddy John Glenn. hanging out during the Korean War.

 

[vikingBerserker]

Awesome!

 

[fubar57]

Great shot

 

[parsifal]

I know I am very late, so my apologies.....

He was my namesake in surname and apparently a very distant relative. At least id like to think so. I was just a kid when he went into space, but for years all I wanted to be was an astronaut 'like John Glenn".

His loss is a loss for the world, and people like him are rare. I will miss his inspiration.

 

[oldcrowcv63]

I know I am very late, so my apologies.....

Only a few moments more tardy than me Pars!

 

[T Bolt]

My parents never really told me I was named after him and I never asked, but I was born in Dec '62 and my name is spelled with 2 n's so I've always taken it for granted.

 

[Old Wizard]