Before becoming an astronaut, John Glenn fought alongside Ted Williams in the Korean War
John Glenn, the first United States astronaut to orbit Earth, passed away on Thursday at the age of 95.
Before becoming a pioneering hero in space exploration (and, later, a U.S. senator), Glenn spent quite a bit of time flying missions in World War II as well as the Korean War -- where none other than Red Sox great Ted Williams served as his wingman:
Major John Glenn & Captain Ted Williams discussing aerial maneuvers at K-3 Air Force Base in South Korea (1953) #RIP pic.twitter.com/c9M0mTF2dp
— Baseball by BSmile (@BSmile) December 8, 2016
Williams was called from the inactive military reserves in 1952 to serve in the Korean War, and that's when he and Glenn crossed paths. As Glenn explained in an MLB.com tribute to Williams after the outfielder died in 2002:
"By luck of the draw, we went to Korea at the same time," Glenn said. "We were in the same squadron there. What they did at that time, they teamed up a reservist with a regular to fly together most of the time just because the regular Marine pilots normally had more instrument flying experience and things like that. So Ted and I were scheduled together. Ted flew as my wingman on about half the missions he flew in Korea."
As one might expect, such a special bond carried on in the proceeding decades:
John Glenn was Ted Williams’s operations commander in Korean War--flew missions together (shown in 1998): #NASA pic.twitter.com/ooIxVvli5b
— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) December 8, 2016
With Glenn taking the field at Fenway Park in '02 to share some thoughts about Williams during Boston's ceremonial tribute:
A decade later, Glenn was paid homage by the Indians before a game with the Yankees:
He'll be missed, but his contributions to the United States space program won't ever be forgotten.
We are saddened by the loss of Sen. John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth. A true American hero. Godspeed, John Glenn. Ad astra. pic.twitter.com/89idi9r1NB
— NASA (@NASA) December 8, 2016
