I read. A lot. Mostly for enjoyment. Partly for research. And I often come across the incredible true stories and accomplishments of men who have done things so unbelievable and so perfectly encapsulating of what guys are capable of, that I want to share them with you all. This is one of those stories. In fact, it’s the first story in an ongoing series I’m starting within the Manologue column.
The long-winded version of the series is called:
Highlighting awesome men in history who have done awesome things (who you may not have heard of yet).
The short version of the series is called:
The Manologue Profiles
This is Manologue Profile #1 on Charles Duke, who pulled off the coolest dad move in the world. Scratch that. The solar system.
His story begins in 1957.
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Charles Duke is a tall, wiry Midshipman at the Naval Academy who learns two important things very quickly upon enrollment.
One: He gets seasick. Two: He loves to fly.
When he graduates, he joins the brand-new Air Force as a second lieutenant. He trains on prop planes and jets, and it’s immediately clear the kid’s a natural.
Duke becomes an Air Force stud. He outperforms everyone. He earns his wings and his choice of assignment and picks the most badass option available: fighter pilot.
He joins the 526th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Ramstein Air Base and volunteers for front-line work during the Cold War.
After three years in Europe, Duke heads home. He’s not just a stick-and-rudder guy. He’s brilliant. He enrolls at MIT and then gets accepted into the Aerospace Research Pilot School run by a living legend, Chuck Yeager. Once again, he excels.
Then he reads about an exciting opportunity in the newspaper.
In 1965, Duke scans a Los Angeles Times article announcing that NASA is recruiting a new group of astronauts and it hits him immediately: he fits every requirement. He applies. Makes the first cut down to 44 candidates. Nails every physical and mental test.
On April 4, 1966, Charlie Duke is named one of NASA’s 19 new astronauts.
Serious training begins. Everything all at once. Geology. Astronomy. Orbital mechanics. Physics. Chemistry. He’s flying as much as possible and studying constantly.
At the same time, life is happening. He’s married. He’s a young father. In May of 1967, his second son is born.
Shortly afterwards, Duke joins the support crew and CAPCOM for Apollo 10. Then Neil Armstrong asks him to serve as CAPCOM again for Apollo 11. He’s honored to be part of the team, but yearns for a lunar mission of his own.
Finally, after years of involvement in every Apollo mission, Duke’s number is called. He’s going to the moon on Apollo 16.
There’s just one problem. Training is in Florida, but his family is in Texas. He misses his boys. They miss him. So he comes up with an idea.
As he’s making final preparations, he asks them a question:
“How would you like to go to the moon with me?”
“Yes!!!” his sons shout.
“Well, you can’t really do that,” he says, “But what if I took a picture of all of us and left it on the moon for people to see forever?”
“YES!!!” they shout again.
The Duke boys get dressed up. Father and sons. So does mom. A NASA photographer comes to the house. The whole family signs the back of the photo. Charlie packs it for launch.
On April 21, 1972, Charlie Duke becomes the tenth human being to walk on the moon. Over 71 hours, Duke and fellow astronaut James Young conduct three excursions on the lunar surface. They gather samples. Explore. Take photos.
And before Duke climbs back into the Lunar Module for the final time, he keeps his promise to his sons.
He places the picture of his family on the surface of the moon. Then he takes a photo of the photo so he can show his boys.
It’s been 52 years and the photo is still sitting on the lunar surface.
How cool is that?
When I first came across this story, I couldn’t believe I’d never heard it before.
Such a legendary dad move that I had to share it with you all.
And yes, Charles Duke is still alive. He’s 90 years old.
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Jon Finkel
Editor-in-Chief, Midlife Male
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