Captain Charlie Plumb

Captain Charlie Plumb graduated from the Naval Academy at Annapolis and went on to fly the F-4 Phantom jet on 74 successful combat missions over North Vietnam. On his 75th mission, with only five days before he was to return home, Plumb was shot down, captured, tortured, and imprisoned in an 8 foot x 8 foot cell. He spent the next 2,103 days as a Prisoner Of War in communist prison camps.

During his nearly six years of captivity, Charlie Plumb distinguished himself among his fellow prisoners as a professional in underground communications, and served for two of those years as the Chaplain in his camp.

Since his return home, more than 4,000 audiences in nearly every industry have been spellbound as Captain Charlie Plumb draws parallels between his P.O.W. experience and the challenges of everyday life. He has shared his message to an even wider public through appearances on Good Morning America, Nightline, Larry King Live, and The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.

One of the most sought-after achievement speakers of his time, Charlie Plumb's presentations are as he is, sincere, straightforward, humorous, and tailored to motivate each specific audience he encounters. His insights on how to cope with the difficulties as well as the opportunities in life have a positive impact on those who hear his message, those who read his books, and those who come to know him as a friend.

Captain Plumb's Military honors include two Purple Hearts, the Legion of Merit, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the P.O.W. Medal.

• I'm No Hero

  Captain Charlie Plumb personalizes for each audience a highly motivational message of overcoming adversity... His and Yours.
  
  Shot down during a combat mission over North Vietnam, Plumb survived almost six years as a Prisoner Of War and emerged to tell a tale of inspiring self-reliance. In an upbeat, humorous, and dynamic style he draws upon this experience to demonstrate how to turn adversities, the hard times each one of us faces, into assets in today's market place and in daily living.
  
  An expert at incorporating company jargon and industry buzzwords to reach the hearts and minds of each audience, Captain Plumb shares his insights on coping with the challenges of every day life, and business competition, in the twenty-first century. He helps audiences break free of their own self-constructed prisons of doubt. He helps them uncover a new sense of purpose and potential. He gives each participant the strength to rise above the daily challenges of work and home and to recognize the opportunities that surround them. He leaves his listeners wanting to achieve and excel, no matter what the obstacles.
  
  In a powerful look-to-the-future manner, Captain Charlie Plumb illustrates the importance of living life to the fullest and of overcoming everyday adversity.
  
  Since his return to the United States, he has presented his message to more than 4,000 audiences in every industry and from all walks of life. Selected one of the top 10 public speakers in the country, Charlie Plumb looks forward to being a part of your next presentation.
  
  Personal applications revealed in each spellbinding presentation include: ·The Power of Choice: In a daily routine, or in a communist prison camp, each of us has the choice to succeed, to fail...or to become the victim of circumstances.
  ·Adversity: Viewed as opportunity and challenge, adversity encourages growth, and propels us beyond self-imposed limits.
  ·Teamwork: In a world where downsizing forces us to do more with less, we must empower the team. "Packing parachutes" can mean the difference in survival. Yours, and your teams!
  ·Change: Invariably, just about the time things feel comfortable, change hits. And whether that change is positive or negative it can be disturbing and difficult to adjust to. Yet, it's during those times that ones true value shows up, in taking the risks necessary to adapt to change.
  ·Empowerment: Each of us has assets we often times don't tap into until we're challenged. Whether or not we realize it, we each have the inner strength and resources to meet whatever business or personal challenges come our way.
  

• Your speech was the most inspiring one that I have ever heard -and I've heard numerous speakers including Lou Holtz and Al Mcguirre. Your impact will be tremendous upon myself and the entire group was absolutely enamoured with you and your persona. You, Captain, are more than a motivational speaker, you are Motivation at the highest human level. Thank you for being a great American and a True HERO.
  Medtronic Emergency Response Systems
• Captain Plumb is truly an extraordinary speaker with a wonderfully effective delivery and powerful content. I was particularly impressed by how well he established metaphors between his POW experience and the challenges faced by business leaders.
  Executive Focus International, Inc
• These guys were tough cookies, and you definitely made a great impression on them. I was told even the "saltiest" guys were effected. Of course, throughout the meeting there were numerous reference to "packing your parachute." In Bob's closing comments, it was very dramatic. He said he promises to pack their parachutes... and then asked if they would all pack his. And they all cheered and said YES! It gives me goose bumps!!
  VA Productions Inc.
• His motivational message and emotional impact on our audience was exceptional. We believe that each and every one of our 300 plus attendees took a message with them that will be forever embedded in their hearts and minds. We will never think of the word "parachute" the same way again.
  Progressive Group Alliance
• You skilfully wove the challenges our company faces into your personal experience and, in doing so, bolstered our resolve to do what it takes to improve, to grow, and to prosper. Please accept my deepest appreciation for your significant contribution to our meeting, and more importantly, to our future.
  Clark & Reid

• 
  July 1973

  I'm No Hero: A POW Story As Told to Glen Dewerff