Captain Charlie Plumb, a Kansas farm boy turned U.S. Navy fighter pilot, lived his dream flying F-4 Phantom jets with Fighter Squadron 114 aboard the USS Kitty Hawk. On his 75th combat mission over Vietnam, he was shot down, captured, and endured 2,103 days as a POW in North Vietnamese camps. Despite brutal conditions, Plumb became a leader among fellow prisoners, serving as chaplain and underground communicator. After his release, he continued flying with the Navy Reserves, retiring as a Captain after 31 years of service. Today, he shares lessons on resilience and leadership with audiences worldwide, drawing powerful parallels between his POW experience and everyday challenges. An avid aviator, Plumb still flies and treasures his WWII PT-19 open-cockpit antique, currently on loan to the Palm Springs Air Museum. He also owns a Rutan-designed experimental single-engine Long-Eze. Captain Plumb’s message inspires others with his story of courage, purpose, and perseverance.