khall64au Posted November 20, 2005 Share Posted November 20, 2005 PACKING YOUR PARACHUTE Charles Plumb was a US Navy jet pilot in Vietnam.After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent 6 years in a communist Vietnamese prison.He survived the ordeal and now lectures on lessons learned from that experience! One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting ina restaurant, a man at another table came up and said, "You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!" "How in the world did you know that?" asked Plumb. "I packed your parachute," the man replied. Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said, "I guess it worked !" Plumb assured him, "It sure did. If your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today." Plumb couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb says, "I kept wondering what he had looked like in a Navy uniform: a white hat; a bib in the back; and bell-bottom trousers. I wonder how many times I might have seen him and not even said 'Good morning, how are you?' or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a sailor." Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent at a long wooden table in the bowels of the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he didn't know. Now, Plumb asks his audience, "Who's packing your parachute?" Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day. He also points out that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane was shot down over enemy territory - he needed his physical parachute, his mental parachute, his emotional parachute, and his spiritual parachute. He called on all thesesupports before reaching safety. Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important. We may fail to say hello, please, or thank you, congratulate someone on something wonderful that has happened to them, give a compliment, or just do something nice for no reason. As you go through this week, this month, this year, recognize people who pack your parachutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glauka Posted November 20, 2005 Share Posted November 20, 2005 PACKING YOUR PARACHUTECharles Plumb was a US Navy jet pilot in Vietnam.After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent 6 years in a communist Vietnamese prison.He survived the ordeal and now lectures on lessons learned from that experience! One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting ina restaurant, a man at another table came up and said, "You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!" "How in the world did you know that?" asked Plumb. "I packed your parachute," the man replied. Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said, "I guess it worked !" Plumb assured him, "It sure did. If your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today." Plumb couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb says, "I kept wondering what he had looked like in a Navy uniform: a white hat; a bib in the back; and bell-bottom trousers. I wonder how many times I might have seen him and not even said 'Good morning, how are you?' or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a sailor." Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent at a long wooden table in the bowels of the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he didn't know. Now, Plumb asks his audience, "Who's packing your parachute?" Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day. He also points out that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane was shot down over enemy territory - he needed his physical parachute, his mental parachute, his emotional parachute, and his spiritual parachute. He called on all thesesupports before reaching safety. Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important. We may fail to say hello, please, or thank you, congratulate someone on something wonderful that has happened to them, give a compliment, or just do something nice for no reason. As you go through this week, this month, this year, recognize people who pack your parachutes. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I like it very much... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daleyboy Posted November 20, 2005 Share Posted November 20, 2005 Thats a nice story. My wife packs my parachute everyday, and before i met her it was my mum and dad that packed my parachute. But with everyday i get older and i learn to pack just that bit more of my own parachute and my wifes, and i guess when our child is born i will become a full time parachute packer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patex Posted November 20, 2005 Share Posted November 20, 2005 ... do something nice for no reason. Both of them did their duty, nothing to mention or even expect a "Thank you". Only these 6 words above are the "Real Thing" Patex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kayo Posted November 20, 2005 Share Posted November 20, 2005 great story khall! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobra Posted November 20, 2005 Share Posted November 20, 2005 Great story, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redrus Posted November 20, 2005 Share Posted November 20, 2005 Realy nice OP Khall. Daleyboy, thats well sweet fella. Top man. redrus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ice Maiden Posted November 20, 2005 Share Posted November 20, 2005 Daleyboy, thats well sweet fella. Top man. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I thought the same thing when I read his post, so sweet My family and friends pack my parachute and I try and do the same in return even though my little brother can be really annoying but thats siblings for you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
udon Posted November 20, 2005 Share Posted November 20, 2005 Nice story KH. Reminds me of the Reader's Digest "shorties" I used to read as a kid, Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thaibebop Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 I perfer to prep my own eqiupment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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