#28: Buzz Aldrin

Rank: Second Lieutenant, United States Air Force

Duration: 21 Years

Buzz Aldrin, a graduate of West Point, joined the United States Air Force in 1951. During his military service, Aldrin flew F-86 Sabre jets in the 51st Fighter Wing, stationed in South Korea. He flew a total of 66 combat missions during the Korean War, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross for his valor in combat.

Before his lunar exploits, Aldrin, a West Point graduate, served with distinction in the United States Air Force, attaining the rank of second lieutenant. Aldrin’s experience as a fighter pilot in the Air Force prepared him for his historic role as the lunar module pilot on the Apollo 11 mission, where he became one of the first humans to set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969.