NEIL ARMSTRONG - PATRIOT

 

A wonderful discovery made last night on YouTube was the comprehensive documentary of astronaut Neil Armstrong. The showing lasted close to an hour and answered my curiosities BIG TIME! I just didn't know Mr. Armstrong had military experiences in the Korean War. It seems the only knowledge known about his life I was aware of was he was an Eagle Scout and an astronaut.

 

Neil Armstrong was a brilliant mind. He graduated from Purdue University in 1955 after serving in the U.S. NAVY  as an accomplished test pilot. "Armstrong flew 78 missions over Korea." Truly being a Space Cowboy he devoured challenges of flight.

 

I think Neil Armstrong was in the right place at the right time for the right reasons. He truly was dauntless in the air. His reputation was " he had a mind absorbing things like a sponge."

 

All along he way Armstrong essentially lived being a test pilot.

Astronaut training brought out the best in NA.  Space programs Gemini 5 preceded the fames Apollo Program.

 

The thing I liked the most was the amazing cast of men at their computers at NASA  guiding space flights like you wouldn't believe. Better yet, all of this history is available on YouTube.

 

The massive "Saturn V Rocket launched Apollo 11 from Launch Complex 39 sight at Kennedy Space Center on July 16, 1969." Walking on the surface of the moon was seminal to all of lives around the world. Neil Armstrong was now famous and it appears his fame was his downfall in part. He even was pegged as being reclusive in later years.

 

Neil was the father of two sons. He married twice and went onto being a University Professor of Aerospace Engineering. He made ads for Chrysler. His fame was exploited by many. 'He sued Hallmark Cards in 1994 when they used his name and a recording of the one small step in a Christmas recording without permission.

 

I had a success in the early 90's in obtaining his autograph. "Armstrong just wouldn't sign First Day of Issues, however." He did sign the NASA photo of Aldrin, Collins and himself.

 

Neil Armstrong lived to the age of 82. "Time in space was 8 days, 14 hours, 12 minutes and 30 seconds."

 

The motivation of astronauts of that era claim JFK's speech of "we choose to go to the Moon" was the driving force!

 

ROBERT LOUIS POTVIN

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West Brookfield, MA 01585