posted 08-27-2020 09:22 AM               

Jerry and I spent many hours together over the past 30 odd years talking on the phone, by email, or in-person about his life, family, career, and his years as a NASA Astronaut. Jerry was always forthcoming, helpful, and always a gentleman.

I first heard of "astronaut" Jerry Carr by means of the TV transmissions from Apollo 8 during his shifts on the Capcom console. After several years corresponding by letter, we finally met face to face at JSC in 1988. It was at that meeting that the idea of writing his biography was first explored, though neither of us thought it would take 20 years to complete!

Some of my most treasured memories are from the weeks spent across several years at Jerry and Pat's "ranch" in the middle of the Ozarks, Arkansas, and where most of the book research was completed. Jerry said he would rather visit a dentist than write a book, but fortunately opened up his personal archives for me to use including his late Mother's scrapbook and we logged many hours taping interviews between us and Pat. Jerry also arranged to interview his first wife JoAnn and their children as I wanted the book to be their story too. That trust and opportunity to be allowed and warmly welcomed into the family was priceless.

It was a humbling experience and honor to write Jerry's biography, and also to have his assistance in detailing my Skylab book and the more recent work with Colin Burgess on the 1966 Astronaut Group.

I will miss him tremendously, of course, but I can also recall some of the lighter moments in his company, such as a meal of fish and chips with traditional "mushy paes" (peas) during a break in one of the UK Autographica shows; then there was the time I worked on Jerry's "crew" installing one of Pat's works of art; or enjoying the banter between Jerry (US Marine) and my late father (Royal Navy) about the latest competitive sports games between the Royal Navy/Royal Marines and the USNavy/Marines... especially when the UK sides were thrashed!

Other fond memories of Jerry are the several UK Autographica shows meeting fellow astronauts and cosmonauts; and from the times I looked after their Arkansas home on my own when they went on vacation.

There was always work to do, not only research for the "84 Days" title but also looking after the place while they were away. Being miles from anywhere located in the middle of a wildlife management area it was a very special place at any time of the year, but it also meant there were always lists of daily chores to tackle. These I had termed "Jerry's Job's" and so naturally when I had to do them in his absence they morphed into "Dave's Duties."

The long list included welcoming guests into their vacation barn and cleaning it after guests left (and on more than one occasion visitors thought I was the English butler! You would think the shorts and accent should have told them that was far from the truth!). Then there were the gardening chores which included watering the plants, and for which Jerry had pre-warned me about making sure the hosepipe I picked up was an actual hose and not a snake!

These memories are some of my most cherished and offered a very different impression of an "American Astronaut" and one which the press releases and official documents could never reveal. Jerry was very much a family orientated man and fully supported Pat in her art projects, faithfully ensuring the latest creation was presented in the best way. Pat was the artist, but Jerry drew on his extensive engineering experience to make them happen.