Book Description
He was the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth.
Nearly four decades later, as the world's oldest astronaut,
his courage riveted a nation. But these two historic events
only bracket a life that covers the sweep of an extraordinary
century. In this engrossing book, John Glenn tells the story
of his unique life--one lived at the center of a momentous
time in history by a man who helped shape that history.
He is the kind of hero who resists being called a hero.
And yet his exploits in the service of his country, his
dedication to family and friends, and his rock-ribbed
traditional values have made this small-town boy from the
Midwest a true American icon.
John Glenn's autobiography spans the seminal events of the
twentieth century. It is a story that begins with his
childhood in New Concord, Ohio, in the aftermath of World War
I. It was there that he learned the importance of family,
community, and patriotism. Glenn saw firsthand the ravages of
the Depression and learned that determination, hard work, and
teamwork could overcome any adversity. These were the values
he carried with him as a Marine fighter pilot during World
War II and into the skies over Korea, for which he would be
decorated for his courage, dedication, and sacrifice. Glenn
flew missions with men he would never forget, from baseball
great Ted Williams to little-known heroes who would never
return to their families. Always a gifted flier, it was
during the war that he contemplated the unlimited
possibilities of aviation and its next frontiers: speed and
space.
John Glenn takes us into the cockpits of the experimental
planes and spacecraft he flew to experience the
pulse-pounding excitement of the early days of jet aviation,
including his record-setting transcontinental flight in an
F8U Crusader in 1957, and then on to his selection for the
Project Mercury program in 1959. We see the early days of
NASA, where he first served as a backup pilot for astronauts
Alan Shepard and Gus Grissom and helped refine some of the
initial cockpit and control designs for the Apollo program.
In 1962 Glenn piloted the Mercury-Atlas 6 Friendship 7
spacecraft on the first manned orbital mission of the United
States. Then came several years in international business,
followed by a twenty-four-year career as a U.S. senator--and
in 1998 a return to space for his remarkable Discovery
mission at the age of seventy-seven.
This extraordinary book captures the unique alchemy that
brings a man to the forefront of his time. Married to a woman
he first met when they were both toddlers, known for his
integrity, common sense, and leadership in the Senate, John
Glenn tells a story that we must hear. For this narrative of
steadfastness, devotion, courage, and honor is both a great
adventure tale and a source of powerful inspiration for an
age that needs John Glenn's values more than ever before.
