Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-04-10
How Space Candidates Built Service Careers

NANt~AAS@ - ~~A~ 49, 80 49, 49,"
were announced yesterday as
Americas Mercury Astro-
nsuts." one VIII be the first
american sent into space:
Lt. Col. John H. Glenn. r., was
Corn in Cambridge. Ohio. July
Is, 1921. and was educated IN
he public schools Of New Con-
cord, Ohio, and Muskingum
College. He married . bcyhood
fWeetheart who lived on the
Same street in New Concord.
They have two children. John
David. 10. and Carolyn Ann. II.
Col. Glenn became a naval
aviation cadet in March. 1912.
and served In the Pacific with
Marine fighter squadron in
World War II. He also had
Korean war experience, and
holds the Distinguished Flying
Cross with four clusters and the
Air Medal with 10 clusters.
In 1857, Col. Glenn set q
transcontinental speed record
az 3 hours and 20 minutes. He
has more than 5000 hours Of
Tying time including 1900
hours in Jets. His most recent
assignment was with the
Fighter Design Branch Of the
Navy Bureau Of Aeronautics
here.
: Col. Glenn and his family
I'VE at 1888 North Harrison
erect, Arlington.
TLt. COmdr. Walter M. Schir-
IA, IT,, comes from a family
With a tradition Of flying: his
father was World War ! ace
Ii the Army Air Corps. His
wife, the former Josephine CT
Fraser, is the daughter of Mrs.
James L. Holloway. whose hus-
band, Admiral Holloway. was
commander-in-chief of the
Northeastern Atlantic and Med |
iterranean area and headed the |
United States Air Force in Leb- |
anon. The couple has two chill
dfen. Walter H., 8, and SUI
zanne Karen, /.
.Comdr. Schirra was born |
March IL, 1928. in Hackensack,
MI.
"A 1945 graduate Of the Naval
Academy, he completed flight
training at Pensacola and few
80 combat missions in Korea.
His other assignments have in
cluded work on the Sidewinder
missile and test pilot for the
F7U-3 Cutlass and instructor
pilot for both the Cutlass and
FJ3 Fury.
1t. Comdr. Alan b. Shepard,
jr., was born in East Derry,
N. H., November Is. 1928. He
won his wings in 1897 pm =
on to become a test pilot and
a test pilot instructor. .tnIs
at the test pilot school at Pa
tuxent River, Md, he took part |
in high altitude tests to obtain
light data. He also participated |
in aerial refueling experiments
and landings on angled carrier
decks.
Conldr Shepard is married
to the former Louise Brewer of
Kenneth Square, Pa. They have
two daughters. Juliana, 8, and
Laura. IL.
Capt. Donald X. SlaytOn was
born in Sparta. Wis. March /,
1924. He got his introduction
to flight at the University of
Minnesota, where he received
degree in aeronautical engi-
neering in 1949. He entered the
Army Air Corps in 1912 and re-
ceived his wings the following
year.
His wartime service included |
Sc European combat missions
and seven more over Japan.
After attending the Air Force
fest Pilot School at Edwards
Air Force Base in California, |
Capt. Slayton became an ex-
perimental test pilot, and has
flown every variety Of jet
fighter the Air Force owns. He |
and his wife, the former Mar
jorie Lunney, have one son,
Kent. 2.
Capt. Virgil l. GrissOm was
born in Mitchell, Ind, on April
3, 1926. With a background
of 100 combat missions in
Korea, Capt. Grissom became
a pilot instructor and after
graduation from Edwards, a
test pilot for fighters.
He was graduated from Pur-
due University with a degree in
mechanical engineering in 1850
He received his wings the fol-
lowing year. His in-service ed
ucation includes course of
study at the Air Force Insti-
tute of Technology, where he
specialized in aeronautical en-
cheering.
Astronaut GrisSom and his
wife, the former Betty l.. Moore,
have two sons, Scott, 9 and
Mark, 5.
Capt. Leroy G. Cooper was
born March 6, 1927, in Shawnee,
Okla. Before entering the Air
Force, he enlisted for a brief
tour in the Marine Corps, at
tended the Naval Academy
Preparatory School and was
commissioned in the Army.
Tn tho Air Force no was as