posted 05-03-2007 04:08 PM               

An accomplished Naval Test Pilot, I believe that he did early work on the Sidewinder missile. Even before his Mercury days, he earned both a great naval record and flight experience to his record.

His Mercury flight was considered a textbook flight. His humor via the "turtle" joke showed that he keep his sense of humor regardless of the circumstances.

His command of the Gemini 6 flight was of legend. His "cool" during the early engine shutdown on the aborted launch saved that flight and avoided a potentially horrid situation for him, Tom Stafford, and the program. His skill of flying in his approach and station keeping of Gemini 7 was the "turn the corner" event of the program as compared with the Soviets.

When the program needed him, he stepped in to command Apollo 7. A perfect flight was needed in order that Apollo 8 go to the moon. So, his leadership, along with the hard work and very long hours of so many fine people took us from the sorrowed ashes of Apollo 1 to the brink of the moon of Apollo 8. Again a perfect flight was needed, and for the third time Wally delivered.

Right now, Gotchas are happing in heaven. No harm intended. Laughing at these gags are Al, Gus, Deke, and Gordo. In their youth, with courage and excellence, they served their country well. Wally provided a laugh or two while delivering 3 perfect flights.

posted 05-03-2007 04:20 PM               

Mr. Schirra made a career out of defying death. Apparently he lived a good life and enjoyed it all the way. As I watch his interviews on NASA, I think he would have been the type that would have made a difference no matter what cards life dealt him. He had that energy. I never met him but can see it in the way he carried himself.

As I sit here, thinking about mortality, all I can ask is that each of you live your life to the fullest and try to enjoy each minute you are given but most of all, make a difference to somebody. We probably won't ever have books written about us like Mr. Schirra did, but like my friend whose funeral I attended this morning, we can all make an impact on those we meet. I know its sappy, I know it sounds like something you only hear at funerals but its true. Enjoy yourselves and make a difference. I hope each of you leave a legacy as rich as the one Wally left.

posted 05-03-2007 04:28 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by driftingtotheright:
Classiest fellow ever to don a Hawaiian shirt

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posted 05-03-2007 04:32 PM               

I'm glad that I had the opportunity to meet Wally Schirra in UACC meeting in New Jersey.

I will treasure his kindness and his humor forever.

posted 05-03-2007 04:49 PM            

Wally was, to many of us, a constantly refreshing non-stereotype. Unlike the square-jawed, crewcut-type that many people imagined all early astronauts to be, Wally was disarmingly human. He was a a prankster, a joke-teller who never failed to get a laugh out of an audience. He humanized the early space program in ways that some others tried, and failed to do. Wally didn't have to try: he was a natural. And, of course, he was there for it all. The only person to fly Mercury, Gemini and Apollo flights, he was a key part of NASA events from the earliest days, to the year of the first moon landings. He was also one who was never afraid to chastise the bureaucrats when he felt they were getting in the way of a commander's right to command. With a keen engineer's mind, combined with a test pilot's instincts, these traits didn't always please others, but they got things done at a hectic time in the manned space program. It's hard to believe now, but there were only nine short months from Schirra's thorough first test-flight of the Apollo spacecraft until the moment humans first landed on the moon. At a time when NASA was still recovering from the tragic Apollo 1 fire, he commanded a vital mission which allowed Kennedy's goal to be achieved.

Personally, I'm going to miss the E-mails, the conversations, the books he loaned me, the visits to his home. He loved my wife's cookies, and it's hard to believe we won't be taking him another tray. He was such a fixture at local aerospace events, that I still can't quite accept I am not going to hear that laugh again from the other side of the room and know, "ah, Wally's here too..." He also very recently served as a personal reference for me for a job application, which was incredibly generous of him. I later learned he'd also made some behind-the-scenes phone calls to key people, which I'll forever be grateful for.

Wally was, as most here know, extremely helpful to Colin Burgess and myself on the book projects we have been working on: the first, "Into That Silent Sea," coming out only last month, containing a chapter on his first flight. He contributed vital interviews, helped us get in touch with others, proofread chapters and told us stories he'd never told in print before. I am so sad to know that he won't see the final, printed version of the second book, "In the Shadow of the Moon," when it comes out in a couple of months, as this is the one that recounts his Gemini 6 and Apollo 7 missions. I'm just glad he liked the books, trusted us enough to tell us some new stories, and we were able to capture his unique perspectives before the opportunity was lost forever.

It was a good day to be busy, to not have to stop and think too much. I have been all day at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, home of the Walter Schirra Space Flight Gallery. Amongst many other artifacts, it includes a replica of his Sigma 7 spacecraft, one of his Gemini spacesuits, and the moon rock he gifted the museum. The museum's home page has been updated to memorialize him, and a special display has been created about him in the central rotunda, inlcuding artifacts from his aviation career. It's been a day for fielding and responding to a huge amount of media interest, as Wally was so well known locally. It has helped, on a difficult day, to spend time telling them just what a great guy he was. And also, writing this.

posted 05-03-2007 07:40 PM               

Always getting a laugh, he was... I'll treasure the memory!

posted 05-03-2007 07:51 PM               

There was a line at the signing desk for Wally and Ed. Miranda and I did not take the photos and older books through the line with us, we left them on a near-by bench. We asked Wally for a photo and he agreed and Miranda had her photo taken with an astronaut for the very first time. Then I gave Wally the two copies of Space Cowboys that we purchased at the Cosmosphere. As he was signing them I asked about the older books. Wally looked down the line and kindly said that there were too many people in line and he wanted to sign Space Cowboys first. I said OK and asked if we could come back up later if the line was shorter. He said we could. About 40 minutes later the line was gone so I approached Wally and asked if he would sign and personalize two copies of Schirra's Space and Wildcats to Tomcats. He said that he would. I returned to the bench to get the books. The books were in a bag but a lady stopped me and told me that Wally was only signing books, no pictures. I said OK. Wally signed them and we chatted for just a few minutes. I had purchased a large bag of Peppernuts to give to Wally and after he signed the books I gave him the Peppernuts. I told him that I wanted to say thanks for the signatures with the Peppernuts. Then I told him that we would see him at San Antonio the following summer and he said that maybe we could get "nuts" down there too. I had to smile at that one.

We decided to tour the Cosmosphere while we were there so we took the books to the van. On the way back in Miranda asked if we were going to get the photos signed. I asked Miranda if she had heard the lady's instructions, I think it may have been Wally's daughter, saying, no photos, books only. Miranda said that she did hear that. I said OK then but Miranda asked "but aren't you even going to ask?" Well we went back up to Wally and told him about the two photos and asked if he would sign and personalize them. He said he would be happy to. We went back to the van to get the books and as we headed toward Wally the same lady saw us carrying the photos. I tried to avoid her but she cut us off. We stopped and she said "Now you asked Wally about those photos, right." I told her we had and she said OK and stepped aside. Wally signed and personalize the photo of himself To Miranda and he signed the Hold Kill launch and added GT-6 but he did not personalize it. We thanked Wally and told him that we were really looking forward to seeing him in San Antonio.

We talked to Wally the Saturday at San Antonio and he seemed to remember us. After the first day of the autograph show Miranda made a drawing of a nurse holding a large needle. She also drew a man running away from the nurse then she added the caption of "Dee O'Hara finds out just how brave Wally Schirra really is." It turned out really well. She took that drawing to the pre-banquet mixer and she showed it to Dee. Dee really got a kick out of it. Miranda told her she could keep the drawing. Dee said she would love to but she insisted that Miranda show it to Wally first. We took it to Wally and showed it to him. He laughed and told Miranda "You are bad. You are good but you are bad too". Then he gave her the drawing and blew her some kisses. Miranda and I really enjoyed this encounter with Wally. That Sunday we purchased a photo of him and asked him to sign it. Of course he remembered her and he signed it "To Miranda Lotsa Gotchas". I think Miranda understands that she got a gotcha in on the gotcha master.

Miranda and I are going to the show at the Cape this year. We had already decided to try to set at Wally's table. We were also going to stop by the Ron John's shop and get some Hawaiian shirts to wear.

I did not hear about Wally's passing until today at noon. Miranda was in school and I knew I would have to tell her when I got off work at 5. I came in and found Miranda had built an inside tent out of blankets and that she was inside it. I told her to come out because I had something to tell her. She said she was not going to come out because she knew what I had to say. She had heard about Wally's passing before I got home. It was a sad time for us.