Tuesday, November 02, 1999
Astronaut, senator, storyteller
BY JOHN JOHNSTON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
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GLENN TO SIGN AUTOBIOGRAPHY
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Mr. Glenn willsign his memoir 6 p.m. Nov. 18 at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Norwood. Line numbers are being given out now with purchase of the book at the store. If you cannot make it to the signing, you can order the book now and they will have it signed for you and hold it for pick-up later. More information: 396-8960. |
Millions of Americans watched John Glenn, at age 77, become the oldest astronaut in space when space shuttle Discovery lifted off Oct. 29, 1998. But many were too young to remember (or hadn't been born) when he became the first American to orbit Earth in 1962. Even fewer had experienced the Korean War, World War II or the Great Depression.
In his autobiography, Mr. Glenn describes how he is connected to or has participated in many of the 20th century's most significant events, and in the process, helped shape history.
The story begins in New Concord, Ohio, which he describes as “the quintessential American small town.” He tells of being placed in a playpen with another toddler, Annie Castor, who would one day become his wife. He describes his first airplane ride at age 8, and playing taps with his father, a plumber, at New Concord's cemetery on Decoration Day (now Memorial Day).
Time and again he reminds readers that his upbringing instilled patriotism, love of God, the importance of family — values that would carry him through two wars, two trips to space and a 24-year career in the U.S. Senate.
Mr. Glenn goes to considerable length telling of his war experiences and his days as one of the seven original Mercury astronauts, sometimes delving into more technical detail than necessary. On the other hand, little space is devoted to his Senate career.
The book is at its best when it tells people stories, such as Mr. Glenn flying fighters in Korea with baseball legend Ted Williams; or the Glenns hosting a Russian cosmonaut for an impromptu dinner at their home.
Although little new information is revealed — understandable, perhaps, given the voluminous amount of material already written about Mr. Glenn — the book succeeds at framing the full life of a man considered by many a genuine American hero.
John Johnston, an Enquirer features writer, profiled John Glenn for the paper in 1997 and 1998.
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