A Pilot & a POW Cling to Faith During Crisis: Tammie Jo Shults & Carlyle “Smitty” Harris
There is always light, even in the darkest times. Today’s guests faced the most unimaginable circumstances, but by clinging to faith, they survived and protected others. Southwest Airlines pilot Tammie Jo Shults saved the lives of 148 passengers when she safely landed a plane after an engine exploded mid-flight. In the middle of chaos, Tammie Jo’s conversation with God gave her peace during the crisis and helped reveal a solution to landing the plane. Retired Air Force pilot and former Vietnam POW Col. Smitty Harris spent years in prison teaching others a method of communication called the tap code, which helped boost morale and spread information among other prisoners. Smitty shares powerful stories of secret church services and moments that helped prisoners survive mentally, physically, and spiritually. Through the uncertainty of survival, Tammie Jo and Smitty realized that God will never forsake us—He will always provide a way.
Links, Products and Resources Mentioned:
Jesus Calling weekly prayer call
Becoming an Everyday Hero: Neal McCoy & Rodney D. Bullard
Nerves of Steel (Young Readers Edition) book
Jungle Pilot Book (Nate Saint)
Tap Code: The Epic Survival Tale of a Vietnam POW and the Secret Code That Changed Everything book
Tap Code, Chapter 1 on audiobook
Interview Quotes:
“Whenever I dreamed about what I wanted to do in life, I dreamed without fences.” - Capt. Tammie Jo Shults
“There are some times when we just have to take what's not fair and and work around it.” - Capt. Tammie Jo Shults
“He asks us to pray for people that don't treat us very well, because He'll deal with them. But dealing with us, in our own heart, in that situation, is really the first step to overcoming it.” - Capt. Tammie Jo Shults
“Hope doesn't have to change our circumstances to change us.” - Tammie Jo Shults
“Our communication [with the tap code] became so fast and so good, and we were interested in so many things, between each other and trying to find out information. . . . We talked about God, religion, and how important it was, especially now. It turned out that we were all Christian.” - Col. Carlyle “Smitty” Harris
“We used our time [as POWs] productively. We had classes in almost anything you'd want. There would be someone in that group—it was pretty educated group, everyone had at least a Bachelor's degree and [there were] quite a few Masters.” - Col. Carlyle “Smitty” Harris
“The hardest part about those eight years being away from my family was just that—being away from my family.” - Col. Carlyle “Smitty” Harris
“And I knew, even in the darkest times, when things were at thei
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