“B” is for Bolden, Charles Frank, Jr. (1946-2017)

“B” is for Bolden, Charles Frank, Jr. (1946-2017). Soldier, astronaut. A native of Columbia, Bolden was a graduate of the United States Naval Academy. He became a naval aviator in 1970 and flew more than one hundred combat missions during the Vietnam War. In 1980 he was selected by NASA for training and he became an astronaut in 1981. Bolden was a veteran of four space flights—as crew on the Columbia, commander of the Atlantis, pilot of the Discovery, and commander of the Discovery. In 1994 he left NASA to return to operational duty in the U. S. Marine Corps as deputy commandant of midshipmen at the Naval Academy. He subsequently served in a variety of command positions. Major General Charles Frank Bolden, Jr. received a number of NASA and military decorations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross.