I spent a good part of my early life eating and breathing the space program. I read everything about that time as I got older and in the 80s I practically committed The Right Stuff to memory. Astronauts were the greatest of heroes to me.
I was always most impressed with Neil Armstrong. Of all the people who could have exploited his fame for the life changing event in human history that he was a part of, it could have been Armstrong. Not a person alive would have begrudged him his fame and success. As it was, he went off to live a quiet life after being the first man to walk on the moon. He was 'old school'. He didn't brag about his REAL accomplishments. Today it seems that everyone wants recognition for doing nothing. Neil came from an entirely different time.
He knew he was a hero but he didn't have to yell it to anyone who would listen. In that way he preserved for all eternity our view of him - as a brave and decent man who did an incredible thing. He never acted like he was better than us for the accomplishment because he understood the truth - that it was the work of thousands of brilliant people that made the moon landing a success. He was just the final part in the puzzle. That made his achievement the World's achievement.
For that he will always be a hero to me.
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5 comments:
He went where most of us will never go...
The man who took one small step just made the giant leap of all mankind.
He was quite a pronounced introvert, that's why. I read that in an interesting article about him a few years ago.
Absolutely old-school heroe. He was one of the few astronauts that had actually the chance to pilot his craft with great success in a dangerous situation. It was an inspiration for me too.
I remember the story of how the original Mercury guys demanded the ability to control their craft.
During a test flight that week, Armstrong had about 4 seconds to hit the ejection seat. After landing in the field, he picked up his parachute and went to his office to fill out the paperwork for the piece of machinery he just smashed. No hospital. No break. Just back to work. That was a MAN.
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