American Hero John Glenn: THERE'S a Guy Who Knows What Love Is...

Reaganite Republican ^ | March 28, 2012 | Reaganite Republican

[Reaganite Republican]

An interesting story surrounds last month's 

50th anniversary celebration of the 

Mercury-Atlas 6 manned space flight...

John and Annie Glenn with VP Johnson, 1962

John Glenn's own true hero

For half a century now the world has applauded John Glenn as a heart-stirring American hero. He lifted the nation's spirits when, as one of the original Mercury astronauts, he was blasted alone into orbit around the Earth; the enduring affection for him is so powerful that even now people find themselves misting up at the sight of his face or the sound of his voice.

But for all these years, Glenn has had a hero of his own, someone who he has seen display endless courage of a different kind: Annie Glenn.

They have been married for 68 years... he is 90;
Annie just turned 92-

There has been news coverage of the 50th anniversary of Glenn's flight into orbit. We are being reminded that, half a century down the line, he remains America's unforgettable hero.

He has never really bought that-

Because the heroism he most cherishes is of a sort that is seldom cheered. It belongs to the person he has known longer than he has known anyone else in the world. 

John Glenn and Annie Castor first knew each other when
-literally- they shared a playpen.

In New Concord, Ohio, his parents and hers were friends.
When the families got together, their children played.

John -the future Marine fighter pilot, the future test-pilot ace, the future astronaut- was pure gold from the start. He would end up having what it took to rise to the absolute pinnacle of American regard during the space race; imagine what it meant to be the young John Glenn in the small confines of New Concord.

Three-sport varsity athlete, most admired boy in town
- Mr. Everything. 

Annie Castor was bright, was caring, was talented, was generous of spirit. But she could talk only with the most excruciating of difficulty.
And it haunted her.

Her stuttering was so severe that it was categorized as an "85%" disability -- 85% of the time, she could not manage to make words come out.

When she tried to recite a poem in elementary school, she was laughed at. She was not able to speak on the telephone. She could not have a regular conversation with a friend.

And John Glenn loved her.

Even as a boy he was wise enough to understand that people who could not see past her stutter were missing out on knowing a rare and wonderful girl. 

They married on April 6, 1943. As a military wife, she found that life as she and John moved around the country could be quite hurtful. She has written: "I can remember some very painful experiences -- especially the ridicule." 

Wedding portrait, 1943

In department stores, she would wander unfamiliar aisles trying to find the right section, embarrassed to attempt to ask the salesclerks for help. In taxis, she would have to write requests to the driver, because she couldn't speak the destination out loud. In restaurants, she would point to the items on the menu. 



A fine musician, Annie, in every community where she and John moved, would play the organ in church as a way to make new friends. She and John had two children; she has written: "Can you imagine living in the modern world and being afraid to use the telephone? 'Hello' used to be so hard for me to say. I worried that my children would be injured and need a doctor. Could I somehow find the words to get the information across on the phone?"

John, as a Marine aviator, flew 59 combat missions in World War II and 90 during the Korean War. Every time he was deployed, he and Annie said goodbye the same way. His last words to her before leaving were:

"I'm just going down to the corner store to get a pack of gum."

And, with just the two of them there, she was able to always reply: "Don't be long." 

On that February day in 1962 when the world held its breath and the Atlas rocket was about to propel him toward space, those were their words, once again. And in 1998, when, at 77, he went back to space aboard the shuttle Discovery, it was an understandably tense time for them. What if something happened to end their life together? 

She knew what he would say to her before boarding the shuttle. He did -- and this time he gave her a present to hold onto:
a pack of gum.

She carried it in a pocket next to her heart until he was safely home.

A miracle arrives

Many times in her life she attempted various treatments to cure her stutter- and none worked.

But in 1973, she found a doctor in Virginia who ran an intensive program she and John hoped would help her. She traveled there to enroll and to give it her best effort. The miracle she and John had always waited for at last, as miracles will do, arrived. At age 53, she was able to talk fluidly, and not in brief, anxiety-ridden, agonizing bursts.

John has said that on the first day he heard her speak to him with confidence and clarity, he dropped to his knees to offer a prayer of gratitude.

He has written: "I saw Annie's perseverance and strength through the years and it just made me admire her and love her even more." He has heard roaring ovations in countries around the globe for his own valor, but his awe is reserved for Annie, and what she accomplished: "I don't know if I would have had the courage." 

Her voice is so clear and steady now that she regularly gives public talks. If you are lucky enough to know the Glenns, the sight and sound of them bantering and joking with each other and playfully finishing each others' sentences is something that warms you and makes you thankful just to be in the same room.

Today in the wake of the anniversary of the Mercury space shot, once again people are speaking of the heroism of Glenn, the astronaut.

But if you ever find yourself at an event where the Glenns are appearing, and you want to see someone so brimming with pride and love that you may feel your own tears start to well up, wait until the moment that Annie stands to say a few words to the audience.

And as she begins, take a look at her husband's eyes...

Video/more at Reaganite Republican

____________________________________________________________________________

NASA   Wikipedia   ispace.com   Scientific American   JohnGlennHome.org   -h/t Roberto via email

[Fiji Hill]

I had the pleasure of spending the day with Senator Glenn and his wife touring the Kennedy Space Center back in the '90s. I found him to be a man of exceptional character and grace.

That "man of exceptional character and grace" was a member of the Keating Five.

[isthisnickcool]

John Glenn is one of the biggest pr**ks I have ever met. Or more accurately, one of the biggest ones I did not want to meet. I was in one of the training buildings at JSC when Glenn was there. I was visiting and Glenn walked by. They asked me if I wanted to meet him. I said no but they stopped him anyway. I looked at Glenn and said "why are you going up on the shuttle? There is no good reason for you to. You are bumping somebody else who has been training for many years just because you want to have some fun time". He got pissed at me. Said "who the hell is this?" and whatnot. I just walked away.

The people I was with were saying they were sorry to him and that I was not an employee so they could not "fire my ass" as he had just told them to. We walked out of the building and as soon as the door closed behind us the guys I was with busted out laughing and told me that they all wanted to talk to Glenn that way.

Glenn sucks!

[LibLieSlayer]

Thanks for telling it like it is... we need more of that!

LLS

[X-spurt]

After reading this story, I have to agree with you.

John Glenn was indeed a liberal Senator, but thinking back I don’t remember him being nasty or subversive and even though I am as right as right can be I can see the difference between being liberal and those that liberally hate America.

[isthisnickcool]

During my drinking days I was in San Antonio at a convention for cable TV developers. One company had hired Neil Bush to stand around and promote their company. I had had a few drinks and walked up to him and got in his face about Silverado Savings and Loan. The Secret Service guys with him were from Houston and knew me. As I grilled Bush I suddenly found myself up in the air. My feet were off the ground. The secret sevice guys had picked me up under my elbows and moved me about 15 feet. They set me down and one whispered in my ear "he is a little prick but please cut it out". So I walked away.

The Bush family, the ENTIRE Bush family are on government "welfare" and always have been. You can include "W" who made a mint off the Texas stadium deal. Barbara is as bad as any of them. They have their hands in so many companies it would make your head spin.

[X-spurt]

After reading your and many other posts here, I need to walk back my post 44, just a bit. I had forgotten his thing with Klintoon, which definately brings up a saying from an old boss, “one Ah-shit, wipes out a thousand Attaboys”, which is certainly fitting for “Senator” Glenn.

[FReepaholic]

...And you know what you can do with the last sentence of your comment...

I apologize for that. I grew up in the '60s and John Glenn was my boyhood hero. I have been a "space nut" all my life and had the great fortune to work at the Kennedy Space Center for 12 years.

The day I spent with the Senator and his wife was one of the best days of my life outside the birth of my sons. When you called him an a-hole I took offense. I shouldn't have.

Again, I apologize for my comment.

[Prospero]

I admire John Glenn, but he is also the very picture of a man who compartmentalized his politics from his profession. He bought his seat on the Space Shuttle by coming to the ludicrous defense of the White House and Hillary Clinton during the Amato banking hearings back in the ‘90’s.

[traderrob6]

Spoken like a gentleman, accepted.

[LibLieSlayer]

They are ALL part of the one world order... illuminati... bilderberg etc...a rose by any other name smells just like communism. Screw the bush family... and even laura... who is pro baby murder!

LLS

[Talisker]

He’s not the nasty breed of gangster-commie we see today, anyway

He doesn't have to be - he's got a Senator's vote.

So he can be polite, refined, respectful, attentive, caring, sensitive, and vote our missile secrets to China, before getting home for an early dinner with a vintage wine and then going to the theatre.

[treetopsandroofs]

Thanks. I used to think a lot of Glenn.

My dad used to say it the same way.

Big Media certainly holds Republicans to a high standard of conduct. I do no less for Democrats.

Selling out one’s country is a biggie, ESPECIALLY if one is a “hero”.

[Calvin Locke]

He bought his seat on the Space Shuttle by coming to the ludicrous defense of the White House and Hillary Clinton during the [D']Amato banking hearings back in the ‘90’s.

I'm pretty sure he bought the seat by blocking Fred Thompson's investigation into the China money. (Glenn had help from some other senator).

Both Glenn (and McCain) should have been booted out of the Senate, if not imprisoned, for corruption in the 1980s S&L mess.

[Calvin Locke]

He bought his seat on the Space Shuttle by coming to the ludicrous defense of the White House and Hillary Clinton during the [D']Amato banking hearings back in the ‘90’s.

I'm pretty sure he bought the seat by blocking Fred Thompson's investigation into the China money. (Glenn had help from some other senator).

Glenn (and McCain) should have been booted out of the Senate, if not imprisoned, for corruption in the 1980s S&L mess.

[daniel1212]

It is grievous that such a man took the wrong side in politics, though i suppose he would be considered a moderate relative to the standards today as the liberal revolution seeks to institutionalize its fantasy, but i would not want even to send even a liberal to Hell.

[Last Dakotan]

...but i would not want even to send even a liberal to Hell.

Consider that the Chinese can now threaten American cities like Los Angeles with nuclear annihilation due to the efforts of John Glenn and his party members selling out their country. You might think differently.