The following story is part two of a three part series that illustrates the life of “Big PawPaw”. The story is told to us through the memories of his grandson and his family members. To read part one, please see “Big PawPaw”

Big PawPaw

My grandfather’s name was Henry, and we all called him “Big PawPaw.”  He was a brilliant giant of a man, six and a half feet tall, with broad shoulders, size 15 shoes, and hands so large that the palms could cover my entire face until I was 12 years old.  His sparkling sense of humor and wit were legendary. In 2003 PawPaw lost a long hard fight with cancer, and his lifetime is remembered through the eyes of his big family; a family that he loved dearly with his whole over-sized heart, and who loved him right back with bear hugs and admiration.  My mom, Mary Jane, was the 4^th child in the family, and I was the 11^th grandchild—my name is Justin and I’ve collected some true stories about Big PawPaw.

Part 2: The Parachute

Mary Jane (Daughter):  “PawPaw was too big to be a pilot in the war (WWII), and he rode in the belly of the plane.  It was his job to drop bombs on the Nazis.  He flew on lots of missions, but there was a dangerous oversight.  He was much too big for the straps on the parachute, and no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn’t manage to buckle the harness around his chest.  One day, before a new mission, the commanding officer ran through all of the equipment for the plane.  “Henry” he said, “What’s wrong with your harness?”  “It’s made for little people” he said.  “This is no joke. Go to the supply camp immediately and tell them that I demand they fix you up with a harness that fits.”  So PawPaw went to the supply camp and they specially outfitted him with an extra extra large harness for the parachute.  It fit nice and snug.  The next day, in the middle of their mission, his plane was shot down over enemy lines, in Nazi Germany.  He dove out the plane with a good-fitting parachute and a prayer.”