Picking Winners

In September 1945, German scientist Wernher von Braun, architect of the V-2 rocket program which had been blowing large holes in London, surrendered to the Americans instead of the Soviets. Which is why people on the moon speak English today instead of Russian. He was 33 at the time. He was 57 when he watched the American moon landing from mission control. Mr. von Braun appears four times in A Book of Ages.