Since the unconscionably cruel terror attacks on innocent human beings on September 11, 2001, uncertainty, fear, and mistrust have insinuated themselves into the national psyche of Americans, an  intrinsically optimistic and trusting people. The messages published by the media only serve to fuel those emotions as the news more often than not spotlights what’s sensational and negative about the United States, leaving out much of what’s good and right.

The emotions and questions Americans are grappling with now are the very same ones that (then) Navy Commander Jerry Coffee faced 37 years ago when his own world changed drastically.  Yet through what he calls "the invincibility of the human spirit" he was able to focus on the positive, survive, and ultimately go beyond survival to emerge tougher and stonger than before.

On September 11th, when commercial jets crashed into the World Trade towers, Americans asked, “How could this happen in America? This happens in other countries, not here.”

On February 3, 1966, when his jet was shot out of the skies over north Vietnam, Jerry Coffee asked, “How could this happen to me? This happens to the other guy, not me.”

And like Americans today, Coffee was confronted with many powerful, thought-provoking questions during the 7 years, 9 days he was held in the filthy communist prisons of North Vietnam as a prisoner of war. In a place where unbearable torture, isolation, and deprivation were commonplace, Jerry Coffee came to terms with certain truths about survival, change, the human spirit, freedom, leadership, America, humor, purpose, and faith. Those truths which Jerry Coffee speaks of are universal today and still serve to give hope, encouragement, and inspiration to those who hear them.

He’s called a hero. He calls himself an ordinary man with an extraordinary experience.

He’s called a world renowned speaker. He calls himself a man with a purpose.

He’s been called Corporate America’s “gift to their audiences.” He calls speaking a privilege.