Joseph Kittinger is a icon in the Air Force as well as skydiving and balloon ranks. Well known for many, many years, he established himself as a man who was willing to take risks to further mankind in this area.
The video shown is not totally correct. He was supposed to have a small drag chute deploy about 15 seconds after jumping from the balloon. It deployed almost immediately and came close to killing him when it wrapped around his neck. That is why he was rolling around in the video, trying to unwrap it from his neck and body.
He then went on to fly over 500 missions over North Vietnam and was eventually shot down, ending the war after spending a year in the Hanoi Hilton, the famous POW camp in N. Vietnam. Part of the famous "triple nickle" (555 TAC) squadron flying F100 Super Saber aircraft.
After separating from the Air Force he went on to fly for "Rosie O'Grady's Flying Circus", and doing even more record setting balloon flights.
One of the reasons why America is what it is today is because of men like Joseph Kittinger. He is still active today and living in the Orlando area. If anyone wants to meet him, he is out and about in that area, going to Daedalus and QB meetings there as well as air shows. We need more like him...
Joe A
http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Explorers_Record_Setters_and_Daredevils/Kittinger/EX31.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Kittinger