Alan_Shepard | mission | Apollo_14 New_Hampshire | bird | Purple_finch Distinguished_Service_Medal_(United_States_Navy) | higher | Department_of_Commerce_Gold_Medal Alan_Shepard | birthPlace | New_Hampshire Apollo_14 | operator | NASA Alan_Shepard | award | Distinguished_Service_Medal_(United_States_Navy)
Alan Shepard was born in New Hampshire, home of the Purple Finch bird. As an adult he joined the navy and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal which ranks higher than the Department of Commerce Gold medal. It was no wonder that NASA chose Alan to crew the Apollo 14 mission.