Jim Lovell dies, age 97
Captain James Lovell, USN (ret)
Another of my childhood heroes has passed on to his eternal reward. Even if you didn’t follow the Space Race, you’ve probably heard of Jim Lovell. He was the commander of Apollo 13, and was played by Tom Hanks in the movie about their near death experience on the way to the moon.
Before Apollo 13, his final space mission, he flew on Gemini 7 (with Frank Borman), commanded Gemini 12 (with Buzz Aldrin), and Apollo 8 (with Borman and Bill Anders). Apollo 8 was the first manned mission to leave earth orbit and go around the moon. They most famously read from the Book of Genesis on Christmas Day 1968. Lovell was slated to walk on the moon as commander of Apollo 13, but they missed that objective of the mission. As such, Lovell is the only man to have gone to the moon twice without walking on it (John Young and Gene Cernan both went twice but walked on their second trip).
Prior to his time with NASA, Lovell was a naval aviator and test pilot. Among his many awards and decorations are the Navy Distinguished Service Medal (twice), Distinguished Flying Cross (twice), Presidential Medal of Freedom, Congressional Space Medal of Honor, France’s Legion of Honor, and Distinguished Eagle Scout. He shared the prestigious aviation awards of the Harmon Trophy (with the other men of Gemini 7 and 6) and the Collier Trophy (Apollo 8). Time Magazine selected the men of Apollo 8 as their Men of the Year in 1968.
Lovell, by all accounts a very humble man, had a cameo in the film Apollo 13. He plays the captain of USS Iwo Jima welcoming the crew back to earth after they land. The filmmakers had offered to make him an admiral, but he said, “I retired as a captain and a captain I will be.”
Godspeed, Captain Lovell.
Category: NASA, Navy, Veterans in the news
So many awards including the Lord granting him 97 years of life.
Hope his flying experience increases in eternity. He seems to have a knack for it!
During a press conference, astronaut Jim Lovell was asked if he would go on another flight after an explosion almost took down Apollo 13 on its way to the Moon. He was about to say yes, then he saw a hand shoot up from the audience and slowly give the thumbs-down sign. It was his wife, Marilyn.
🥰😅
“I am the captain of my fate, the master of my soul……but my wife is an admiral.”
3…2…1…Liftoff! We have liftoff of James Lovell’s final mission.
Another of the best of the best of the best among us gone to dwell among the stars for eternity. God speed sir, God speed.
Fair skies and tailwinds forever Sir.
A star is born.
I was born in 1955 and most kids from my generation were mesmerized by the space program, especially Apollo. I clearly remember when Borman, Anders, and Lovell flew to the moon and broadcast the earthrise during that Christmas.
Jim Lovell was always my favorite astronaut. Just something about him.
Fair winds and following seas, shipmate. Rest in eternal peace.
Short story:
In my home town of St Cloud, MN there was a man who, every winter, made large snow sculptures in his front yard. These were very GOOD sculptures, and very popular with us local folks, as well as the state media.
Around 1980 he had built a sculpture of the Apollo Lunar Module.
As it happened, none other than CAPT Jim Lovell was making a speaking engagement at St Cloud State University.
He was told about the sculpture, and decided to view it. He did so, and met the man who built it; an honor I’m sure stayed with him the rest of his life. The local paper made a big fuss about it, of course.
It just points out the character of a man who, despite his fame, was willing to take the time to pay his own respects to someone who had paid respect to those who had explored in fantastic ways.
Rest ye well, Captain Lovell.