Alan Shepherd, a United States Naval aviator, became the first American and the second man in space on this day. Shepard was a remarkable American and an impressive leader. Learn about him and share his story. 

Shepard’s father, Bart, had served in France in World War II and then again in World War II. The younger Shepard was a bit of a prodigy, skipping sixth and eight grades and earning a spot at the Naval Academy when he was just sixteen years old. 

Shepard graduated from the Academy in 1945 and served as a surface warfare officer during the last year of the War in the Pacific, on a destroyer radar picket at the Battle of Okinawa, where he was a 21 year old gunnery fire, protecting the fleet from kamikazes. 

Shepard was in Tokyo Bay at the Japanese surrender, and then went on to flight training, his goal and passion since he was a boy. He served in aircraft carriers in the Mediterranean and Caribbean before being selected as a test pilot in 1950.

Shepard flew many dangerous missions testing new aircraft, such as the F3H demon, the F-8 Crusader, the F4D skyway and the F7U Cutlass, coming close to death on several occasions. He was enroute to Korea aboard the USS Oriskany when the armistice was announced.

In 1959, Shepard was selected as one of initial 110 test pilots selected for astronaut training, and then made it into the final seven in April 1959. On May 5, 1961, he became the first American in space, splashing down successfully in the Atlantic after a suborbital flight. 

After the Mercury program ended, Shepard developed an inner ear issue, but he overcame this and later flew as Mission Commander on Apollo 15. He was the only Mercury Astronaut to walk on the moon. 

Shepard had a long and successful business career that paralleled his naval service and time as an astronaut. He was a Mayflower descendant, and a great American. Honor and remember him!