Posted on 12/08/2016 12:26:19 PM PST by sodpoodle
Understood.
One of my heroes back in the 60’s. To my young mind, the space program was the coolest thing ever. RIP
God’s speed sir,
But I do still have the record that came with it:
His legacy should be being an Astronaut. Sadly, it’s that he sold his soul in politics and covered up ChinaGate for the Clintoons.
Well, Im kinda late to this thread. I used to post here a lot more til I got sick.
I met John Glenn and Annie when I was about five years old.
My dad had applied with the second group of astronauts. They thought hed be a shoe-in since he was the test pilot on the F-4. He rang that bird out, wrote over a dozen technical papers and made hundreds of changes to that jet. He then introduced it to the Atlantic fleet, and shortly thereafter introduced it to the Pacific fleet. Having done that, he won the Bendix Trophy with Bobby Young sitting second chair in that same plane. I forget the year. 62 maybe?
At that point he applied along with his best friend Pete Conrad to be astronauts. Pete was a year ahead of my dad at the Naval Experimental Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland, which is where I was born and where they met and became friends. Its were he said he really learned to fly. Up til then they were all just “yank and bankers.
Problem is he was rejected because of a congenital lower back deformity, so he went to work on his M.S. in Operations Research at the Post Naval Graduate School in Monterrey, CA. We were living in San Diego at the time and my dad was stationed at Miramar.
In Monterrey, Pete urged my dad to reapply, and he did, so he was selected with the third group, because after NASA had some flight experience, they realized his back would never be a problem (hes a short stocky man).
Anyway, we moved to Clear Lake City for a year while they built our house in Nassau Bay.
Our home was at 1307 Davon Lane and we were surrounded by other astronauts. James McDivitt, Michael Collins, Dave Scott, Buzz Aldrin, Charles Chaffee, Rusty Schwiekart, Gene Cernan, Al Bean, and later Joe Allen. They were all next door neighbors and I went to school with their kids. There were others, like the Bassets and the Freemans. Some of them died before they ever flew.
John and Annie and their boys, I believe lived in League City or Timber Cove I dont really remember. But my mom and dad would throw a party once a year and they would all descend on our house for a big soirée. The men and their wives, that is. I dont remember meeting his kids. Anyway they were a bit older than me.
Having said all that, all of these men are/were a tough, proud, fearless breed and consummate story tellers, as well, especially Gordo Cooper, aka Hot Dog.
They loved life to the full, they lived life to the full, and they took yuge calculated risks.
God love them all. Brave men whose fortunes came at such a time as this.
Godspeed, John Glenn. You will be remembered well.
As for me and my dad, Pop is alive and well. I developed very severe rheumatoid arthritis about seven years ago and retired just this year.
Its one of the reasons I dont post much anymore, as I can barely type. But I want you to know that I am a NosyLurker and read this board everyday, and Im grateful for you all.
God Bless
Excuse me. Roger Chaffee.
Glenn was a Republican u,till the Brothers Kennedy got ahold on him. They talked him into running for office as a Dem so they could support him. Neil Armstrong was the first man to step on the moon which to me is just as historic. But Armstrong was a Republican. When Armstrong passed away there was little)e more than a couple sentences in the news. Wonder why. Lol.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3502821/posts?page=114#114
Nope, all departed for new adventures.
Good point.
The last man to walk on the moon is Gene Cernan, and I believe he’s in his eighties now.
As Reagan said, politics is the second oldest profession. It's hard to go into it and stay clean. Glenn's ultimate ambition I believe was to be President (isn't it every Senator's?). Probably ran as a Dem because it was simply the easiest path to getting to the Senate.
Regardless of all that, RIP to a great American!
Exactly!
We put these mere men on an altar because of their brave accomplishments.
Respect him as a Marine fine, but in God’s economy his deeds add up to cigarette dust - especially considering the fact that he was a moral coward for not standing up for the lives of the most innocent among us.
How about his abortion record?
https://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/53333/john-glenn/2/abortion#.WEqbw33HkjU
Glenn cast the deciding vote in the Senate to pass partial birth abortion. I sure have trouble understanding that vote. His Christian liberal arts college did not have a problem with his vote for partial birth abortion. I no longer give that college any money.
Soared to the skies ... and now beyond. They were the Pathfinders, the Magellans, the Daniel Boones. They were the giants on whose shoulders the future will stand when it opens up the universe.
There is an ancient saying from the Tao Te Ching that, slightly paraphrased, seems appropriate: “The longest journey begins with one small step.”
They took the step.
Thank you. I’m glad I’m not the only one who remembers the treachery of a once great hero. Most Americans have either forgotten, or have never known, that slick willy provided missile guidance and rocketry technology to the chicoms in return for campaign contributions, and John Glenn covered for him.
Why couldn’t we show the class that Trump did in speaking of John Glenn, instead of making ugly remarks about him that seem like they belong on DU rather than FR?
Why not just remember him as an iconic hero of the space age
and a distinguished fighter pilot in both World War II and Korea, with five Distinguished Flying Crosses and eighteen clusters- a man who put his life on the line for America.
Why couldn’t we show the class that Trump did in speaking of John Glenn, instead of making ugly remarks about him that seem more like they belong on DU rather than FR?
Why not just remember him as an iconic hero of the space age
and a distinguished fighter pilot in both World War II and Korea, with five Distinguished Flying Crosses and eighteen clusters- a man who put his life on the line for America.
This is the way John should be remembered= whatever his failings as a U.S senator.
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