I may have posted something on this topic previously but a 66 year old brain has a crappy memory. Every anniversary of the Challenger disaster brings tears to my eyes as I was a close friend of Mike Smith, the pilot. We were advanced jet students together in 1969 at Kingsville, Texas. Mike, his wife Jane, my ex, and I would get together two or three times a week to play bridge or party at the Naval Air Station, Kingsville, Officers Club. I have some wonderful memories. Singer Tony Joe White, who at the time was a complete unknown, performed at the club on a regular basis and we partied hard to the beat of his music. After training he went on with his Naval career and I returned to the Marine Corps. Coincidentally, we both wound up flying the same type of plane, the Grumman A6 Intruder attack jet. Mike was one of the finest men I've ever had the pleasure of knowing and he is dearly missed. God speed, Mike.
Here is his history: http://space.about.com/cs/deceasedastronaut/a/michaelsmith.htm
Here is his history: http://space.about.com/cs/deceasedastronaut/a/michaelsmith.htm