Jim McDivitt and Ed White were the first astronauts I ever met in person. After GT-4 they came to Chicago and appeared at an event for Chicago students, at which I and a friend represented our school. That was in 1965 and I did not meet Gen. McDivitt again until this year at SpaceFest, where I had the privilege of sitting at his dinner table.
He is a straight-shooter with a great sense of humor and a friendly but tough manner.
I don't think he is given enough credit for the key role that he played as Apollo Program Manager during the period which included the Apollo 13 crisis.
He was one of the few Gemini or Apollo astronauts highly regarded enough to sit in the commander's seat on his first flight on GT-4, and he was the second astronaut from the Nine to fly.
A true test pilot, he decided to stay with the first flight of the lunar module when he was given a chance to do the Apollo 8 mission by Deke Slayton.
He was first in his class at the University of Michigan (also my alma mater) where he graduated in 1959 with a B.S. in aeronautical engineering.
Gen. McDivitt is a true patriot who served his country flying 145 combat missions during the Korean War, and later as a USAF test pilot at Edwards AFB.
Among a group of outstanding pilots -- the first 16 astronauts -- he stood out as a highly intelligent, confident, competent leader.
If it sounds like I admire Gen. McDivitt, you're darn right I do.
Happy Birthday, and many returns!