Editing Elliot See (section)

==Early life and education==
Elliot McKay See Jr. was born on July 23, 1927, in [[Dallas, Texas]], to Elliot McKay See Sr. (1888–1968) and Mamie Norton See ({{nee}} Drummond; 1900–1988).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28957076/the_philadelphia_inquirer/|title=New Astronauts, 9 Hottest Jet Pilots in the U.S., Have Been Training a Year|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer|location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|date=September 18, 1962|page=3|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> He was the first of two children; his sister Sally Drummond See rounded out the family in 1930.{{sfn|Burgess|Doolan|Vis|2003|p=36}} His father was an [[electrical engineer]] who worked for [[General Electric]], and his mother worked in jobs ranging from advertising to real estate.{{sfn|Burgess|Doolan|Vis|2003|p=36}} See was active in the [[Boy Scouts of America]] for five years, and earned the rank of [[Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)|Eagle Scout]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scouting.org/FILESTORE/pdf/02-558.pdf|title=Astronauts and the BSA|access-date=June 25, 2016|website=[[Boy Scouts of America]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622104220/http://www.scouting.org/FILESTORE/pdf/02-558.pdf|archive-date=June 22, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> He attended [[Highland Park High School (University Park, Texas)|Highland Park High School]] and was on the varsity team in several sports, including boxing. He was also on the [[Reserve Officer Training Corps]] (ROTC) Rifle Team. He graduated from high school in 1945.{{sfn|Burgess|Doolan|Vis|2003|p=36}}

The United States entered [[World War II]] in December 1941. See had to choose between going to war or going to college, as he would otherwise be drafted at age 18. He decided to apply for aviation cadet training. He failed a physical, and, according to See, "going to college became the most important thing". He enrolled at the [[University of Texas at Austin|University of Texas]], and after a few months pledged to [[Phi Kappa Psi]]. While at the University of Texas, he signed up for flying lessons and received his [[private pilot's license]].{{sfn|Burgess|Doolan|Vis|2003|pp=37–38}}

See applied for military officer training and received an appointment to the [[United States Merchant Marine Academy]] (USMMA) in 1945. As the end of the war drew near, the USMMA changed its curriculum to a four-year college-level program, which was the minimum requirement to be a merchant marine in peacetime. He spent his [[United States Merchant Marine Academy#Curriculum|plebe]] year at [[Pass Christian, Mississippi]], where the USMMA had a [[satellite campus]], and then transferred to the main [[campus]] at [[Kings Point, New York]]. He commanded the Third Company as a cadet officer. He was a member of the Propeller Club and head [[cheerleader]]. He was on the [[mile relay]] running team, played intramural [[softball]], and was a varsity boxer. As co-captain of the rifle team, he won the Captain Tomb Trophy for individual rifle and pistol marksmanship in December 1948.{{sfn|Burgess|Doolan|Vis|2003|pp=37–38}} In 1949, [[United States Congress|Congress]] authorized the USMMA to award [[Bachelor of Science]] degrees to its graduates,<ref>{{cite web |title=USMMA History |website= U.S. Merchant Marine Academy |url=https://www.usmma.edu/about/usmma-history |access-date= June 7, 2019|date= January 18, 2013 }}</ref> so on graduation that year Elliot received his B.S. degree, his marine engineer's licenses, and a commission as an officer in the [[United States Navy Reserve|United States Naval Reserve]].{{sfn|Burgess|Doolan|Vis|2003|pp=37–38}}