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Grissom, Virgil I. (d. 1967)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1967 Feb 2 p. 3
Birth date:
text of obituary:
. . .
The three astronauts who died Friday in a sudden spacecraft fire at Cape Kennedy were buried Tuesday in solemn ceremonies, attended by President and Mrs. Johnson and other high government officials.
Lt. Col. Virgil I. Grissom and Lt. Cmdr. Roger B. Chaffee were buried in Arlington cemetery and Lt. Col. Edward H. White II at West Point. The three were the first fatalities in the U. S. space program, which had up till now proceeded with unusual success.
It was believed a spark ignited the pure oxygen in the cabin of the huge spacecraft designed to take man to the moon. The flash fire apparently caused instant death.