WAPAKONETA, Ohio (WLIO) — Fifty-seven years after Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon, one former Lima television crew member is reflecting on the role he played in helping connect Armstrong's hometown to the world during the historic mission.
Days before Armstrong's first steps on the lunar surface, a crew from then-WIMA-TV now WLIO, prepared to broadcast live from the yard of Armstrong's parents' home in Wapakoneta. Bob Kreienkamp was part of the crew responsible for setting up and operating the equipment needed to send the signal back to Lima, allowing reporters to interview Stephen and Viola Armstrong as the world awaited the Apollo 11 landing.
“So we went and scouted it out and then spent I'm thinking close to a week in preparation for doing this. We had to run miles of cables. We had to run you know, get lights and everything ready. We put up, I'm guessing, it was probably a 50 or 60 ft microwave tower right in back of the Armstrong's home and they put up with all of it,” says Bob Kreienkamp.
One of Kreienkamp's strongest memories from that week was the kindness shown by Neil Armstrong's mother, Viola.
“One it was a July day and it was hot and I remember that and we were out there working and sweating and she came out and brought us lemonade and cookies. And she said, "I was worried about you not having enough to drink and eat out here while you're working." And I'm thinking, she was worried about us. I mean, her son is on his way to the moon and we and she doesn't know if she'll ever see him again and she was worried about us. I never got over that,” says Kreienkamp.
Recently, the website MyHeritage sought personal stories about the moon landing, prompting Kreienkamp to share his memories of working in Wapakoneta. While he helped document the local side of the historic event, he also joined millions of others in watching Armstrong's first steps on television.
“When the little black and white camera turned on and, you know, as much as I was into technology and television at that time, I was marveled that they could actually broadcast a live picture from the moon and see Neil Armstrong take that first step,” remarked Kreienkamp.
Kreienkamp also photographed Armstrong's Welcome Home Parade and says he still remembers the pride the community felt as it celebrated its hometown hero.
“The town of Wapakoneta showed its pride and Neil Armstrong showed his upbringing by the way he didn't let this being the first man on the moon change him. And I do attribute it to his mother and the way she treated people was the way he treated people. Never looking for fame but accepting it,” says Kreienkamp.
