What sweet and diverse memories you all have of July 20, 1969: the day American astronauts landed on the moon. More than 200 of you took the time this weekend to tell your personal stories — watching with family, listening at ice cream socials, giving birth to babies — and the result is a look at an historical moment uniquely American (though lots of you were visiting or stationed in different countries at the time.) I am enjoying reading all of the stories at the original posting here. I urge you to read them too; together they are a slice of Americana. Here’s just a taste of it.
• I was standing watch as Officer of the Deck on the bridge of the USS NOA(DD-841) on patrol in the Tonkin Gulf.
•I was in labor the whole day of July 20, 1969. Our first and only child was born at 11:20 pm. It was really some evening!
• I was a 19-year-old Marine… I was part of the Marine Detachment aboard the USS Hornet assigned for the Apollo 11 & 12 recovery missions.
• I was touring with the National Company of Fiddler on the Roof and we were in Los Angeles playing the Ahmanson Theatre.
• It was my 16th birthday on July 20, 1969. They were supposed to land the next day but they went early to land on my birthday; a cosmic present.
• I was on a comercial airline enroute to Little Rock, Ark. from Cincinnati, Ohio.The cockpit crew kept us informed.
• That hot summer I was 10 years old and was attending summer Girl Scout camp at Kamp Kiwanis on Lake Martin near Montgomery, Alabama.
• I was 15, at the train station in Tokyo. Headed for Osaka by the Bullet Train.
• Nine-year-old farm boy: a hot Sunday afternoon, ice cream social at the Church.
• I was in Naples, Italy with a tour group from Rockord Ill.
• I spent that week on manuevers (out in tents) with my Army officers training company in Ft. Lewis, Wash.
• I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Beregadougou, La Haute Volta in 1969.
Pingback: Isaias Huffer
Pingback: Isaias Huffer
My husband, daughter, and I were vacationing in the Great Smokey Mountains. On the night of July 20, 1969, we were in Cherokee NC, and were attending an outdoor production of “Unto These Hills”. The performance suddenly stopped,lights came on, and a glorious voice announced the Apollo 11 landing. There were several moments of silence followed by a prayer for those five distinguished Americans. The lights went out, the performance continued, and left memories that will never fade away.
When Apollo landed on the moon I was on the USS Hornet (CVS-12) practicing to pick it up. We were engaged in numerous “simex” (simulation exercise) practices. As a member of the recovery team, (main radio talker) I was a part of every simex. We practiced at all times of day and night for several weeks and the recovery was flawless, but I know of almost nobody who was on that ship who was actually aware of the landing on the moon when it happened. I have souvenirs and pictures galore which I happily share with anyone who is interested and I have never lost interest in the space program.
Hi,
i just found a quite interesting documentary about the 40th anniversary of moonlanding! NATGEO celebrates the 40th anniversary of the moonlanding, too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdaBwh20nIk
In 1969, at age 24 years old, I was married with 2 children; and, a Salesperson/Manager for Stanley Home Products, Inc. in Green Bay, WI. Now, at a young age of 64, I still have the original, News section of the Green Bay Press-Gazette’s Newspaper, dated – Monday, 7/21, 1969 – Headlilne: ‘Footsteps on the Moon’!
I always loved News and Advertising, so I saved this Section. The amazing result – is that in the early 70′s, I wound-up working for the Press-Gazette in Advertising for almost 5 years’ and, have had the amazing opportunity to have met President Jimmy Carter, and Ann Landers. Also, I’ve managed to save an original photo of “ELVIS’, from when he entertained in Green Bay – 3 months before his death in 1977!
My wife, two daughters and I were living in Tokyo, Japan during the Moon landing. I was stationed there with the US Air Force. The actual landing was very late at night and early morning. A Japanese friend invited us over to their house for the viewing since they had a larger television and served great snacks. The Japanese seemed as proud and happy over the landing as we were. We had a great time watching the landing and moon walk. Later we all went to the Club for breakfast where we continued watching the news and playbacks of the landing. It was difficult for the children to stay awake being 7 and 11 years of age, but glad they did because now it’s a vivid memory now.
A co-worker (now a life-long friend) and I were in Denver completing arrangements for a company picnic to be held at the old Elitch’s Gardens and Amusement Park. We stopped by her cousin’s house; he and a couple of friends were watching the landing. I married one of the friends, she married the other — we have 2 grown children, 3 grandchildren; they have 6 children and several grandchildren…her cousin is still single!