John Glenn

Re “A Hero Gets Back to Business,” June 2:

It was a Sunday morning in 1963 when I, a shy 9-year-old, approached John Glenn for his autograph. My family and I had come from church and were having breakfast at the Langley AFB officer’s club in Newport News, Va. Glenn, who was eating breakfast there with Shorty Powers, himself a national icon, had recently become a national hero. I approached Col. Glenn with the fear and awe of a star-struck child about to confront a man of history. I have never forgotten Powers’ words when I asked Glenn for an autograph: “Go away, kid. We’re busy!” Glenn failed to respond at all, never once acknowledging my presence.

Since then, I have admired many great people, some of whom I might even consider heroic. Heroism requires a measure of character that I did not observe in Glenn. Let’s reserve that title for those who earn the right to claim it through selfless deeds and not for those driven by personal glory.

WILLIAM J. BECKER JR.

Los Angeles

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The comprehensive article about Glenn’s planned space flight omitted a very probable reason for it. In the not-too-distant future, we’ll send a 30-year-old astronaut into space on a voyage of such duration that he’ll be in his 70s when he returns. The forthcoming flight will reveal how a 77-year-old reacts to reentry.

ROBERT S. LEHMANN

Los Angeles