abc's karyn traverse looks back karyn: as a statesman, fighter pilot, and astronaut, john glenn had a knack for being at the right place at the right time, with the right stuff. >>i guess i've looked at my whole life as being of service to my country. karen: the son of a plumber and schoolteacher, glenn was born and raised in ohio where he met and married his childhood sweetheart, annie. in 1942, he quit college for the military, and as a highlydecorated marine pilot, flew dozens of missions in the pacific during world war ii. in the korean war, his co-pilot was baseball legend ted williams. >> as the astronaut prepares for karen: after years as a test pilot, glenn was selected in 1959 to be one of nasa's original seven mercury astronauts. he became the first american to orbit the earth. >> oh, that view is tremendous. karen: despite technical problems aboard friendship 7, glenn made three orbits and landed safely. an appearance before congress and a ticker-tape parade followed. he became, quite simply, an american hero. >> and i'm certainly glad to see that pride in our country and a