John Glenn has spent his life contributing to our country. He was born in 1921 in Cambridge, Ohio. In 1939, he went to Muskingum College. He left in his junior year to enlist in the naval-aviation cadet program. After graduation from the cadet program, he became a member of the Marine Corps. During World War II, he flew 59 combat missions against the Japanese.

Glenn remained in the service and flew missions during the Korean conflict. He was awarded several Distinguished Flying Crosses for his efforts during World War II and the Korean War.

In 1957, Glenn became a test pilot. He set a supersonic speed record of 3 hours, 23 minutes and 8.4 seconds for a flight from Los Angeles to New York City.

In 1958, Glenn joined the group of pilots competing for seven astronaut positions. He was named a member of the space program's Project Mercury. In 1959, Glenn was selected to fly the first orbital flight.

On February 20, 1962, the Atlas booster rocket launched Friendship 7 into orbit. During the second orbit, Mission Control suspected that the spacecraft's heat shield was loose. This was a dangerous situation.  During reentry, Mission Control decided to keep the retro-rocket pack on. This pack was supposed to be released prior to reentry. By keeping it on, Mission Control hoped to hold the heat shield in place. After the craft successfully splashed down, it was discovered that the heat shield had remained in place. John Glenn's successful return to Earth was celebrated worldwide.

In 1974, Glenn was elected as a senator from Ohio. He was reelected in 1980, 1986, 1992, and 1997. He also campaigned unsuccessfully for president.

In 1998, NASA announced that Glenn would return to space at the age of 77. He became the oldest man in space when he journeyed aboard the  Space Shuttle Discovery. His return to space brought renewed interest to the space program.

In 1999, John Glenn retired from the U.S. Senate. He is a man who has helped his country in peacetime and in war. He has continued to serve as a symbol of American heroism.

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