On July 18, 1921, in Cambridge, Ohio, John H. Glenn was born. His family moved to New Concord before he began school. After graduating from high school, he entered at Muskingum College. In 1943, Glenn was commissioned in the Marine Corps. Between World War II and the Korean War, he flew 149 missions and earned six Distinguished Flying Crosses and an Air Medal with eighteen clusters. Glenn became a test pilot for the Navy and Marine's attack aircraft. The US Space Program chose him to be one of the first seven astronauts in 1959. In February of 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the earth. The Space Congressional Medal of Honor was given to him. In 1965, Glenn retired from the Marine Corps. In 1974 he won a Senate seat, carrying all counties in Ohio. He has since won four consecutive terms and is still serving.