One if these is the real Jim Lovell.

*****

When I saw his name appear on the screen, before I read a word that followed, I knew it must be bad.  After all, James A. Lovell, Jr., a stellar member of the second astronaut class, was age 97  The stories that quickly followed all focus on Apollo 13.  Most showed images Tom Hanks and the movie as much a they did the real Jim Lovell.  Tom Hanks had become the image of Jim Lovell.  

Tom Hanks is still alive.  Jim Lovell died on August 7.

Me, I thought of Pete Conrad.  Who died in 1999.  Who was the third person to step on the moon, the mission before Apollo 13 was supposed to mark Lovell as the fifth.  When both were at the Navy test pilot school Patuxent River Conrad, bestowed Lovell with the nickname “Shaky.”  What could be more hilarious than to tag a steady Naval aviator with such a name?  And like all such nicknames, I see it as a sign of affection and esteem.  And regard for nervous-like intensity masked by Lovell’s easy-going exterior.  

With an equal humor (although no one could match the joyful humor of Pete Conrad), Lovell adopted “Shaky” as his radio call sign. 

They both graduated from Navy test pilot school at Pax River, both at the top of their class.  Both were selected astronauts at the same time in 1962.  Pete Conrad flew in space first, aboard the “long duration” Gemini 5, setting a then-record of eight days in space in August 1965 with Gordo Cooper.  Lovell followed four months later, breaking that record by flying 14 days aboard Gemini 7 with Frank Borman.  Conrad commanded Gemini 11 in September 1966.  Lovell followed two months later, commanded Gemini 12, the program’s final flight.

For what followed in Apollo — ask Tom Hanks.

The Gemini program logo displayed two stars.  I see those two stars as Conrad and Lovell.  That’s what I remember.