Godspeed, John Glenn – The Life of an American Hero admin December 12, 2016 Veteran Inspired 680 Many know John Glenn as an astronaut from the early days of NASA. He was the first American to orbit the earth, aboard the Friendship 7 spacecraft in 1962. He also became the oldest person to go into space in 1998 at the age of 77, aboard the space shuttle Discovery. But John Glenn was more than an astronaut. From a young age, the Ohio native exhibited the purest sense of pride in his country, and a desire to see her excel at all costs. He joined the military in 1942 and became a Marine fighter pilot in the Pacific front during World War II. He continued his service in the Korean War, serving in both the Marines and the Air Force during that conflict. In total, Glenn flew 149 missions and was awarded many honors, included the Distinguished Flying Cross multiple times. Glenn was selected for the United States Space Program in 1959, at a time when the US was racing against the Soviet Union to send manned missions into space and, eventually, to the moon. His flight aboard the Friendship 7 took him around the Earth 3 times, and the mission teetered on disaster when NASA officials feared his heat shield might fail. Glenn promptly reacted and adjusted the shield, and safely landed the capsule. In 1964, Glenn retired from the Marine Corps as a Colonel and entered the political arena. After a concussion during his first run, and a loss during his second, Glenn was elected as the Democratic Senator for Ohio in 1974. Glenn served four terms in Congress, retiring in January 1999. Glenn’s final mission into space was in October 1998 aboard the Discovery space shuttle. The flight lasted nine days, with the primary focus being on investigation of aging and space travel. Following his retirement, he and his wife Annie established the John Glenn College for Public Service at Ohio State University. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012 by President Barack Obama. Colonel John Herschel Glenn, Jr., passed away on December 8, 2016 at the age of 95. His is a legacy that will never be forgotten. Godspeed, John Glenn. Photo Credits: http://kb.osu.edu/dspace/handle/1811/50355 https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/nasa-says-happy-birthday-to-john-glenn https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-remembers-american-legend-john-glenn
