RIP John Glenn - "The Last True National Hero"

**Jerjo** · 12-08-2016

It was not unexpected but still this marks the end of an era. For all us who grew up watching the space race, he was a giant among men.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/...ead-95-n693391

Obligatory: suck it 2016

**spellbound** · 12-08-2016

Rest in peace.

**MudShark22** · 12-08-2016

A personal hero.
Not sad, it was a life well lived.

RIP

**Yodelgoat** · 12-08-2016

I recall my mother taking me to meet John Glenn in person, not long after his mission, and getting to the venue where he was appearing, then finding out that he was not going to make it because he had fallen in the shower and was injured. Its one of my very earliest memories. I had to be only 3 or 4 years old. I only thought "why doesnt he just get up and put a band aid on it and come anyway? - Heroes dont fall in bathtubs"

**yamishogun** · 12-08-2016

Apart from his accomplishments, I just thought he was a really cool guy.

**rcarlberg** · 12-08-2016

America's first astronaut died today.

[Edit: sorry, should have checked Way Off Topic. My bad. ]

**SteveSly** · 12-08-2016

This guy had balls of steel. Our local aviation museum has one of the mercury capsules and I cannot imagine being strapped on top of a rocket and launching into space in that thing. After his astronaut career he had a pretty amazing run in government as well, then became the oldest person to ever fly in space on the shuttle. He did it all and made the most out of his life for sure.

**Jimmy Giant** · 12-08-2016

Another hero lost. But he had a great run. RIP John.

**Vic2012** · 12-08-2016

RIP. A real hero.

**ronmac** · 12-08-2016

Here's a great quote from him: “As I hurtled through space, one thought kept crossing my mind...every part of this rocket was supplied by the lowest bidder.”

**yamishogun** · 12-08-2016

Originally Posted by ronmac

Here's a great quote from him: “As I hurtled through space, one thought kept crossing my mind...every part of this rocket was supplied by the lowest bidder.”

“I guess the question I'm asked the most often is: "When you were sitting in that capsule listening to the count-down, how did you feel?" Well, the answer to that one is easy. I felt exactly how you would feel if you were getting ready to launch and knew you were sitting on top of two million parts -- all built by the lowest bidder on a government contract.”
― John Glenn

(I bet this is the correct quote. I heard it a few years ago and laughed. Glenn was an awesome Earthling, not just a great astronaut.)

**rapidfirerob** · 12-08-2016

Yes, a life very well lived. He met his wife in preschool. She went out today to go grocery shopping as she knew a lot of people would visit.

**Sunlight Caller** · 12-09-2016

A real hero RIP. A life well and truly lived though.

As a child of the 60's, the space race was a defining part of my early life. I have read widely on the subject and I adore the movie version of Tom Wolfe's vision of those pioneers, The Right Stuff. I think the representation of John Glenn in that film is probably quite accurate.

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**Casey** · 12-09-2016

Another part of my formative life passes. Hold on tightly & enjoy to the fullest each & every moment of our lives. As the risk of sounding hackney, "God speed, John Glenn."

**ronmac** · 12-09-2016

Originally Posted by yamishogun

“I guess the question I'm asked the most often is: "When you were sitting in that capsule listening to the count-down, how did you feel?" Well, the answer to that one is easy. I felt exactly how you would feel if you were getting ready to launch and knew you were sitting on top of two million parts -- all built by the lowest bidder on a government contract.”
― John Glenn

(I bet this is the correct quote. I heard it a few years ago and laughed. Glenn was an awesome Earthling, not just a great astronaut.)

I'll yield to you on that. I got it second-hand.

**notallwhowander** · 12-09-2016

Another true icon: this time the symbol of the USA at it's peak. He was the living fulfillment of outrageous aspiration.

R.I.P.

**Dave the Brave** · 12-09-2016

Second actually.

Although he was the first to orbit.

Alan Shepard was the first launched although he did not orbit.

DtB

**Rune Blackwings** · 12-09-2016

RIP-a true inspiration!

**Scott Bails** · 12-09-2016

Originally Posted by SteveSly

This guy had balls of steel. Our local aviation museum has one of the mercury capsules and I cannot imagine being strapped on top of a rocket and launching into space in that thing.

This always amazed me. I realize that, at the time, this was state-of-the-art, cutting-edge technology, but to be the first to try this incredibly insane feat.....I just can't imagine the stones that guy must have had.

Originally Posted by ronmac

Here's a great quote from him: “As I hurtled through space, one thought kept crossing my mind...every part of this rocket was supplied by the lowest bidder.”

Exactly!! I would have soiled myself before I left the ground (assuming you were able to get me in that thing, to begin with).

A very impressive life. We should all be so accomplished.

**bigbassdrum** · 12-09-2016

My brother David, who was born 3 days after the historic February 20 1962 flight, was 'almost' named "John Glenn ...'

**JKL2000** · 12-09-2016

He's no Major Matt Mason, but still a great adventurer.

Wish I had some Tang and Space Food Sticks to toast him...

**Tangram** · 12-09-2016

My Dad was part of the space program, like 400,000 other people in the country who worked on getting the US into space. So I was very interested in the program like my boys my age at the time. And John Glenn was the top of the pyramid. Decorated Marine pilot. Speed records. First Amercan in orbit. Long time Senator. Oldest person in space. A life well lived. Godspeed John Glenn.

For the baseball fans here, Ted Williams was his wingman in Korea. When Teddy Baseball got his plane all shot up and on fire, Glenn pointed upward and they flew higher. To a non pilot seems counter intuitive, but going up in the thinning air put the fire out. Williams then had a choice to eject or belly land, and thinking he was too big to eject without injuring his legs, he opted for the latter. After executing the belly landing and running very quickly from the plane, Yankee Jerry Coleman (look up his very impressive military record) said to Williams he never saw him run the bases so fast. Williams shot back that the light hitting infielder was never on base to know what running fast was all about.