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Come Up and Get Me: An Autobiography of Colonel Joseph Kittinger

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Come Up and Get Me: An Autobiography of Colonel Joseph Kittinger

In Come Up and Get Me, Joe Kittinger calls Col. John Paul Stapp the bravest man he ever met. The bravest man I have ever met is Joe Kittinger. "Col. Joe," Air Force test pilot, Air Force fighter pilot, Vietnam POW, balloonist extraordinaire, world's-record-holding parachutist, barnstormer, even alligator hunter! To say they don't make lives like this anymore is grossly understating the case. Joe's life and his devotion to flying began in what's become known as "the golden age" of aviation, a time when airplanes came with at least two wings, big piston engines, and big wooden propellers up front. It was a time when young boys dreamed of adventure and acted on those dreams. Joe left Florida for Air Force flight training with a couple years of college and a few private flights under his belt. Eventually he landed in test pilot work assisting Col. Stapp in developing high-altitude survival equipment and procedures, the stuff the U.S. would need to win the space race. That assignment led to Project Excelsior, Joe's record-breaking balloon ascent, parachute jump, and free fall, all records that still stand--though they might fall later this year with Joe's help. The summer of 1960 would have provided more than enough excitement for most men, but Joe hadn't yet experienced aerial combat and a strong sense of duty led him to Vietnam and command of the Triple-Nickel Tactical Fighter Squadron. Joe's command came to an end over North Vietnam courtesy of a Mig and a missile that landed Joe in the Hanoi Hilton for eleven months of torture, near starvation, and many other indignities that Joe probably felt too horrific to recount. Since his release, Col. Joe has lived the good life of a barnstormer and balloon pilot, continuing to set records racing and sailing across the Atlantic--the first to do it solo.

I first met Joe and Sherry Kittinger at the 1998 National Aviation Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony, the year after Joe had been inducted into the Hall and the year Joe presented his friend and mentor, Col. John Paul Stapp, for enshrinement. We have been friends since, so I had heard many of the stories told in Come Up and Get Me over the years and some beers. Nevertheless, Joe's humility and humor kept me moving through the pages of what is an incredibly engaging story, told by a man everyone will come to know as the bravest they've ever met.

In a word this book is "Epic" and if anything understated.

Lightly and tightly written with great humor moving succinctly through many momentous events, most worthy of their own book, it provides a portrait of the values and strengths that made our nation great. Qualities all but forgotten in our Me-Now self centered society.

Specifically;

The introductory account of Kittinger's early life on the river with his dad demonstrate the importance of male role models in the family. A major tragedy in our society today is that few boys have the opportunity to experience the agony and ecstasy of surviving on the water at night, especially in alligator infested swamp. Such experiences imprint us indelibly for life as demonstrated here.

On the surface Kittinger's story appears to be an account of super human courage.
Courage comes in several forms. "Blind Courage" generally underpinned by ego and pride and "Calculated Courage " underpinned by "Will" and "Skill". Kittinger's is clearly the latter. The will to study, dig and probe every eventuality and the skill to determine and execute the best possible course of action.

The "Determination" Kittinger displayed during his internment as a prisoner of war speaks volumes about his character.

The many aviation episodes also testify to the vital role "Passion" plays in achieving great things. Kittinger's extraordinary passion to fly for noble purposes(a very important distinction) propelled him well beyond the average self centered adventurer.

Kittinger's selfless "Generosity" in faithfully recognizing the contributions others, great and small, made to all of his achievements. Clearly displaying the value he places on "Intregity" in everything, both diminishing values in this age.

The critical role "Tenacity" plays in achieving great things. Never letting failure, even multiple times deterring him from reaching his goals.

"Generosity" in sharing almost everything he learned and achieved even if that lead to eclipsing his own accomplishments.

Frequent mention of "Prayer and Faith". Once again recognition that there is more involved in great achievements than our simple human resources.

I truly believe Kittinger's book is the exactly the sort of book that needs to be read by all and especially young people. Certainly a life and style to honor and emulate.

This is an extremelly personal look back by a man on his career and his accomplishments. COL Kittinger seems to be very honest and frank about his accomplishments as well as those arround him. He does not seem to be one to take cheap shots at rivals and he gives credit where credit is due! This book is not a technical and historical masterpiece on all of the projects he was involved in (like Manhigh, Stargazer, or Excelsior) but it is more like a fond memory with many insights.

One thing I liked about this book is Kittinger does not "name drop" and try to drag down others (like other pilots have done in thier books). I love how Kittinger praises Colonel Stapp for all of his accomplishments. He also gives credit to his teams which to me shows the true character of the man. I recommend this book to anyone interested in Aviation, Space and ballooning.

This is an excellent companion to go with "The Pre-Astronauts" as well as "Touching Space" as it offers a personal first person rememberance but Colonel Kittinger also speaks of his other experiences making this a very worthwhile read.

-Wilfred A. Roberge

I am fortunate to be a friend of Sherry and Joe Kittinger, so this review is a bit tainted. This book is not just a memoir, but a portal to Joe and the way he lives his life and touches the world and people around him. You see in this book his faith, his heart and his humanity. He is a confident individual who humbly shares what he has and who he is. A grown boy who continues to delight in new challenges and cool stuff. This book is not thick with self adulation; instead, it is meant to celebrate what life is about and can be about if you live it like Joe... with gusto! It paints an accurate portrait of a guy and his wife who look forward to the adventure that tomorrow brings. Read this book and find out why Joe is the luckiest guy in the sky!

Outstanding book about an often overlooked true American hero. Highly recommend it. Couldn't put it down.

Rob Schantz.

When one mentions the names Glenn, Carpenter, Armstrong, Shepard we all know who they are and for good reason but mention Kittinger, Stapp and Simons and no one knows who they are, and yet, these were the pioneers that put their lives on the line as they pushed to escape planet earth and become the early pioneers of space exploration. When you tell your friends that someone went to 20 miles above the earth in a balloon, fell in free fall at terminal velocity near the speed of sound, then used a largely untested parachute they look in disbelieve especially when you tell them that the person survived. This was just one of many of those great moments in Kittingers life.

I have read all of Craig Ryan's books and for the most part they are incredibly well written with enough detail to interest both the ordinary reader and the scientist. I also have a copy of "The Long, Lonely Leap" which Kittinger wrote with Martin Caidin in 1961. Kittinger has, for a number of years, been one of my heroes ever since I saw that famous picture on the front of USA Today many years ago. I still wonder how I could not have known about this man and we have to thank Craig Ryan for giving Kittingers achievements more visibility in the US history of Space.

So it was with great anticipation that I ordered this book because much of Kittingers later life and achievements were not too familiar to me and this book promised to complete that picture. In terms of courage, there are few that can match this man who seems to have a passion for volunteering for any "mission impossible" that includes going to Vietnam as a fighter pilot, getting shot down, captured and held prisoner. Kittinger doesn't stop there as the book describes many of the balloon records he still holds after he retired from the Military.

This is a great Biography but it seems like it's written by a test pilot, which Kittinger was, and there seems to be a lack of emotion in the book. It is a great factual account but I wanted to know about his real feelings, his marriage to his first wife and why it failed? How do his kids see him and what did he do to influence them in their lives? How does someone, who has to maintain a level of unemotional logic in his work, live in the family environment. Kittinger makes reference to his family many times and the regret of not being with them enough. The Biography suddenly states that his marriage broke up and was dissolved and moves on. Of course one could say "it's none of your business" as it's a personal issue but that's what good biography's are about. They help us understand the person. Ryan does the same thing in his account of the love affair between Simons and Otto Winzen's wife in his book "The pre Astronauts" Kittinger remembers the smallest details in terms of his work life but we don't get any insight into the Kittinger family. I guess many of the characters in his life are still alive and some things may need to be kept private but give us something!

Someone, and Craig Ryan is probably the right person, needs to write the screen play for the Kittinger story. It's a wonderful story of courage, human endurance and the unwillingness to accept the status quo.

I do recommend this book but it leaves me wanting to know more about the emotions of the man who "fell to earth".

gdollar

Joe Kittinger will be one of my biggest heros til the day I draw my last breath! it takes a man with great courage, and dedication to take a baloon up 19 miles into the atmosphere, with 200 pounds of gear strapped on, and then jump off of the "worlds highest step". And live to tell the tale. And then to go on to be a fighter pilot, and do 3 tours in Vietnam, and survive not only being shot down, but 11 months in the infamous Hanoi Hilton is truly miraculous. But his story and life don't stop there. He went on to make the first solo hot air baloon crossing of the Atlantic, as well as competing in, and winning numerous baloon races. I would be honored to one day shake this mans hand, and congratulate him on a life well lived. if you like to read about ordinary people, who do extraordinary things, then this is DEFINATELY the book for you! I guarantee you won't ever forget the name Joe Kittinger.

What a great book and rich history of the the Colonel, the Man who has been there and done that. Amusing and witty autobiography with great pictures and insight into the life of Joe Kittinger. This book tells me more and more about who Joe is and why he knows so much about life, flying, boats, psychological pressure, ballooning, parachuting, free-fall, family values and how to love the woman who supports your dreams. What a fascinating story that is well written and a true pleasure to read. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in what happened before there was a space program and how we got there. For anyone interested in the rich history of a time when people achieved what was thought impossible because they just did what it takes without accepting no as an answer. This is a story of a true American Hero and a life full of adventure.

Outstanding book about an outstanding man, a real hero of the Space Program and Pioneer of aviation. Kittenger led the way, he set records and made history on a routine basis. He was also a hard charging Fighter Pilot and Test Pilot that logged time in hundreds of different aircraft. The book is worth the read just for his Vietnam experiencies alone, he developed and flew B25 Gunships over "The Trail" and devestated the enemy forces with 10 each, forward-firing 50 BMG's. Flying 50 feet off the deck and screaming in on the Ho Chi Min Trail with guns blazing was just another day at the office for Col. Joe Kittenger. Later after those raids, he'd come back and dump a few tons of empty Pearl Beer Bottles on the same trails he'd lit up with machine gun fire and bombs, just to really screw with the enemie's heads. The jump from 25 miles in space is eadge of the seat stuff, but he did it, and changed the world of aviation and space exploration for the better for his efforts. We need more guys like this, but they are so very hard to replace. Thanks Col. Joe.

The book is great but working with Col Joe was the best thing that ever happen to me,, 1963 to 1967 ..I met while in the Air Force Commandos in Fla... He taught me how be GOOD PERSON and for that I will be ever greatfull''