Ted Williams’ exploits on the baseball diamond are legendary. But his work as a member of the Marine Corps made him an American icon.

On Feb. 19, 1953, Williams crash-landed his Navy F9F Panther jet following a mission in Korea. The plane was damaged by anti-aircraft fire, but Williams survived thanks to piloting skill honed almost a decade earlier during World War II.

Williams joined the Naval Reserve on May 22, 1942, in the middle of a season that would see him win the American League Triple Crown. He trained as an aviator and went on active duty in November of 1942. After completing his training – and setting records for gunnery scores thanks in part to his remarkable 20/10 eyesight – Williams received his wings and Marine Corps commission on May 2, 1944.

He spent most of the next two years as a pilot trainer in Pensacola, Fla., and Jacksonville, Fla., before being discharged from active duty on Jan. 28, 1946.