Recently, I was sitting in a restaurant in Kansas City.  A man about two tables away kept looking at me.  I didn't recognize him.  A few minutes into our meal he stood up and walked over to my table, looked down at me, pointed his finger in my face and said, "You're Captain Plumb."

I looked up and I said, "Yes, sir, I'm Captain Plumb."

He said, "You flew jet fighters in Vietnam.  You were on the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk.  You were shot down.  You parachuted into enemy hands and spent six years as a prisoner of war."

I said, "How in the world did you know all that?"

He replied, "Because I packed your parachute."

I was speechless.  I staggered to my feet and held out a very grateful hand of thanks.  This guy came up with just the proper words.  He grabbed my hand, he pumped my arm and said, "I guess it worked."

"Yes, sir, indeed it did," I said, "and I must tell you I've said a lot of prayers of thanks for your nimble fingers, but I never thought I'd have the opportunity to express my gratitude in person."

"Let me ask you a question," I said, "do you keep track of all the parachutes you pack?"

"No," he responded, "it's enough gratification for me just to know that I've served."

I didn't get much sleep that night.  I kept thinking about that man.  I kept wondering what he might have looked like in a Navy uniform -- a Dixie Cup hat, a bib in the back and bell-bottom trousers.  I wondered how many times I might have passed him on board the Kitty Hawk.  I wondered 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.  How many hours did he spend on that long wooden table in the bowels of that ship weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of those chutes?  I couldn't have cared less...until one day my parachute came along and he packed it for me.¹