Astronaut who died tragically in the Apollo I flash fire, and who was the first American to walk in space on June 3, 1965. TLS, one page, 8 x 10.5, NASA letterhead, March 9, 1965. Letter of response to a fellow Texan. In part, 'You have asked a question, David, that man has pondered for centuries - what is courage? To me, courage is not the absence of fear, rather the presence of fear controlled, fear disciplined. All of us feel some fear and apprehension about exploring any unknown area, for fear is an inherently human quality. But 'fear always springs from ignorance,' observed Emerson. So, through the acquisition of knowledge we have been able to put fear in its proper perspective, recognized and controlled. We astronauts are the most completely and totally prepared explorers in the history of man's explorations - we are personally, most skillfully prepared, our equipment is of the most excellent, our preparations and plans are the most thorough.' In fine condition, with two horizontal mailing folds and a few scattered light spots. COA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
