Light This Candle: The Life & Times of Alan Shepard--America's First Spaceman Hardcover – March 23, 2004

Surprise of surprises. Amid the clutter of hastily-written self-serving memoirs from the early days of the space program, finally there appears something akin to solid history and literary proficiency. Neal Thompson was a Baltimore reporter when Alan Shepard died in 1998 of leukemia. Assigned to write an obituary, Thompson discovered that no first rate biography of the United State's first spaceman was then in print. Sensing an opportunity, Thompson, a free lance writer, began a six-year research project and produced a highly respectable treatment of a very private man. What had been known about Shepard were primarily his great successes and his notable shortcomings. Johnson tackles the great middle--and the puzzle that was Alan Shepard now begins to make sense.In truth, there is probably misunderstanding about all of the early astronaut heroes, as if each was assigned a role in a bigger cosmic drama. Scotty Carpenter will always be the house philosopher, Gordo Cooper the hotdog, Gus Grissom the curmudgeon. Shepard's role was to be first, the best, the winner of a grueling marathon to ride the Redstone rocket--tiny by today's standards--for fifteen minutes on May 5, 1961. Given the unpredictability of the rockets of that era, the greater risk to the astronaut was on the ground than in space. This fact was appreciated in 1961, and being chosen number one was a statement from his superiors about his fortitude as much as his mastery of flying and technology.Alan Shepard was born in 1923 in Derry, NH, to a somewhat removed, demanding father. Young Shepard inherited a fierce competitiveness and an independence that allowed him to pursue personal goals with little concern about his impression on others. This latter quality, to his advantage, is what set him apart from his archrival John Glenn, who did worry about public relations. Shepard was one of those rare men who had his cake and ate it, too: he achieved remarkable career goals while entertaining himself along the way with what can only be called oppositional defiance. In a strange twist of history, he actually pulled off the mischief that has always been attached to others like Gordon Cooper.In this regard Thompson studies Shepard's military misbehavior and his philandering. The author's account of the future astronaut's brushes with military authority is detailed and rather surprising. One comes away with a sense that the New Hampshire flyboy's skills as a naval test pilot must have been noteworthy, outweighing numerous dangerous incidents of "flat-hatting" or strafing civilians on the ground. His cheating on his virtuous and devoted wife Louise--a spouse of the Lady Bird Johnson mold--is a blotch that time will probably not erase. Thompson does observe that Shepard's amorous sorties off the reservation were adolescent in nature; the astronaut apparently never engaged in any sort of long term relationship in which Louise was displaced.Although there is in this work a lot about Shepard to dislike, the author clearly strove for a balanced presentation. Shepard appears to have made his peace with Glenn at the time of the Freedom Seven flight. After retirement he demonstrated a better than average interest in philanthropy and seems to have worked harder in his later years to enrich his marriage with Louise. Perhaps best known is his decade long battle with Meniere's Disease, and later with a form of leukemia. In some ways the Meniere's was more of a psychological jolt, coming as it did at the beginning of the Gemini, and ultimately, the Apollo Programs. Whatever his colleagues felt about him, Shepard was widely respected in the NASA management circle for outstanding cape com work in the troubled Carpenter and Cooper flights. With Glenn, his chief rival, out of the picture due to a head injury and political considerations, Shepard was the logical choice to command the maiden voyages of these new craft--and by implication become the first man to walk on the moon.But this was not to be. For nearly a decade Shepard lost his license to fly any type of aircraft due to balance impairment [and other less known medical problems brought to light by the author.] Did he take this forced grounding graciously? Admittedly not. But the author assesses this period of Shepard's career with more depth than other commentators. He notes, for example, that Shepard had burned his bridges with the Navy by joining NASA and could not return to what seemed to be a straight road to admiralty status. While the Navy was no longer an option, Shepard was proving himself to be a better than average business man and becoming independently wealthy. Freed of aviator-astronaut responsibilities, he could have lived a highly lucrative lifestyle.But he stayed with NASA, a nasty Don Quixote. Only a man in similar straits like Deke Slayton, himself medically grounded from space travel, could have understood and tolerated his subaltern's angry depression which alienated other astronauts in the program and at times rendered him a public relations nightmare. What sustained him through his bureaucratic Siberia was the desire to return to active status, but perhaps more strongly a desire to conquer his own medical problem. Shepard would admit that his selection for the first Mercury flight was the professional highlight of his career. Reinstatement to flight status for Apollo was for him a personal triumph of a different sort,Shepard was due for some luck. Experimental surgery put him on line for Apollo 13, but management bumped him to 14 to absorb training and thus he avoided the near catastrophic events of unlucky 13. Shepard seemed grateful to be back--choosing for his Apollo 14 crew Stu Roosa, who had defined the art of avoiding Shepard in company hallways. Apollo 14 survived at least three mission-threatening crises on its way to the world's most famous tee shot. What the author shares about the moon landing mission is one of its least known achievements: it brought its commander to tears.

This is one of the best books I've ever read. If you have any interest in the beginning of our space program this is a "Must Read." Not a history lesson, but a well wittten and fun read about the couregeous/dedicated astronauts and wives in the early days of NASA. Neal Thompson can write!!

Light This Candle is a good book on Alan Shepard. Its well balanced describing Shepard's strengths and accomplishments but also describes his weakness and dark side. Its 446 pages...399 pages of actual reading. Good pictures too. Its well written and fast paced. You wont get board reading this book.I really liked the part of Shepard earning his gold Navy Aviator wings by finally having to land 6 times on an aircraft carrier. Shepard's father in an Army Colonel uniform is there to see him do it and take pictures. Both men are so proud. I'm ex Navy. On the carrier USS Independence CV 62 I used to make LOX for the fliers and sometimes watched the planes on CC TV as the pilots landed on the carrier. So dangerous for both the pilots and flight deck crew. Night landing in bad weather on a carrier is the supreme accomplishment skill of a pilot. Shepard was one of the first to do it.We see Shepard accepted to the Annapolis Navy Academy. Alan had a sense of humor and played pranks on upperclassmen and always thought he was as good as them or better. He puts on muscle on his slender frame and trains so hard to get on the varsity rowing team. Alan steals Louise from her boyfriend, takes her to the big Letterman's ball and eventually marries her. Alan graduated in the middle of his class as he didn't try 100% and wanted to chase woman, party and have fun. He graduated in 3 years because of WW2.He is a loving husband when he is home. Louise and him raise a fine family. However when on Navy assignments he chases women and has affairs. Louise knew he was unfaithful but both loved each other and stayed married for over 50 years. Alan loved fast cars, fast women, drinking, whoring around with his fly buddies and grabbed as much fun and gusto in life he could.Shepard's metal is tested in WW2 on a destroyer. He is assigned as a gunnery officer and sees lots of Kamikaze Japanese attacks. So much war horror. His unit is decorated. Eventually he gets pilot training but almost gets bumped out for not performing well. He takes private lessons and gets his private pilot license and then settles down and concentrates and finally does much better. He passes and earns his wings with 6 carrier landings all perfect. He misses his chance for air combat action in Korea. His future friend and competitor John Glenn shoots down 3 Migs.Alan gets selected to Pax the Navy's test pilot program. He flies many different fast jets and becomes one of the Navy's best pilots. He is a show off hot dog that almost gets court marshaled for flying low and showing off. Throughout his career Shepard made friends with powerful people. His flying friend saves Shepard from the wrath of an Admiral that wanted him thrown out of the Navy.Alan sees Sputnik in the sky and thinks to get in the new space program. He is selected as one of the original Mercury 7 and becomes America's first man in space. John Glenn is furious as he wanted to be number 1. We see Shepard as extremely competitive, cocky thinking he is the best of the best with a gigantic ego. The fact was he probably was the best.Alan fought a hearing disease that had him grounded for years in the space program. Later he gets operated on and is cleared to fly. He is so competitive and cutthroat. After much training and internal political bumping other astronauts is the commander of Apollo 14 and is number 5 on the moon. He helps in experiments and taking very old rock samples. He is the oldest (47) to be on the moon and busts his butt working on the moon. He is exhausted. Such courage and determination. A true hero. He is famous for his moon golf shot. Many of the Apollo flights are described. Fascinating stuff.The book has many more great passages of Shepard. Shepard advances in rank and eventually becomes a Rear Admiral. Shepard retires. The Navy is pissed. They wanted him to stay in and have a a high profile position.Alan becomes a wealthy business man and finally starts to mellow out and opening up to people. He does lots of charity work and gives lots of money to a charity for killed Astronaut's wifes and kids and other charities. Alan and Louise plays lots of golf, travel and are friends with many celebrities and powerful people. Sheppard gets sick, fights leukemia and passes away at 74. His loving Louise wife of over 50 years dies of a heart attack at 5PM on a plane 5 weeks after Alan dies. This is when Alan always called Louise from work letting her know he was OK. Eerie.Being ex Navy I'm used to profanity and most times it does not offend me. Thompson's book has some profanity to make it macho. The book is good enough to not need it. As a 13 year old I hero worshipped the astronauts. Maybe my grandkids will too. I know they will be exposed to profanity but its not necessary to see the F bomb and more in this book. Ill keep it in the adult section of the family library until their Mom says its OK for them to read it.Alan Shepard was NO saint and much of his actions I do not approve of and I would not want my kids growing up like that. However he was a true hero with many accomplishments and charity work I would be extremely proud of. A complex man who enjoyed life and grabbed all the gusto he could. Recommend this book 4 stars

I've read at least 20 astronaut related bios (with Michael Collins' Carrying the Fire still being my favorite), but I very much enjoyed this one as well. It has much less detail about the technology than most other astro-bios; this one is all about "the man" and his role in aviation history, in the space program, and in his own life. The writing was fast and interesting, and also believable. I read the e-book version that showed a percent complete that made me think I had much more to read. But the balance of the percentage was photos etc, which were OK, but I was sorry to see the book end so soon. I recommend it for both astronaut fans as well as anyone interested in reading about a one in a million guy.

This author seems fair to the man, with a sensitive, instrospective look at his complex personality and lots of excitement from the astronauts real lives during the 60's. Tells of their inter-personal problems with wives, other astronauts, work expectations, and so much more. Many surprises and excitement, plus sensitive moments. Highly recommend.

Alan Shepard was my boyhood hero. Growing up I learned everything I could about the man. But this book taught me more about Astronaut Shepard than anything else. I hardly wanted to put it down each evening. In a country that now looks down on what it means to be a man (tough, competitive, straight talker), Alan Shepard still exemplifies manhood in today’s soft world.