I'm Alive: A Young Fighter Pilot's Diary of the US Navy Air War in Vietnam, 1964-1965 Volume 25 - Hardcover

by Errol F. Reilly (Author), Kevin Callahan (Editor), Christopher P. Callahan (Editor)

I'm Alive is the compelling diary of Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) Errol F. Reilly, a 26-year-old Navy fighter pilot, written aboard the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea during his first Vietnam combat cruise. In writing that is colorful, perceptive, and, at times, both humorous and heartbreaking, Reilly chronicles his daily experiences "living, playing, and fighting" within the context of the Navy's fledgling air war.

Covering the period from December 1964 to October 1965, I'm Alive details an untested F-8 Crusader pilot's personal journey from "nugget" aviator to seasoned combat professional. Reilly's feelings quickly change from patriotic enthusiasm to frustrated disillusionment as he begins to experience the realities of Vietnam's deadly air warfare. His keen observations provide rare insights into the evolving strategies and tactics of the US Navy in Vietnam.

In candid diary entries and excerpts from personal letters written over the course of 118 combat missions, the author describes how his squadron mate, Bob Shumaker, became one of the Vietnam conflict's earliest and most famous prisoners of war. Reilly also illuminates failed US attacks, such as the futile strikes against the unyielding North Vietnamese bridge at Thanh Hoa, and highlights joyful successes, like the harrowing, coordinated rescue of a downed naval aviator in the Gulf of Tonkin. Throughout I'm Alive Reilly's playful sense of humor shines, as in his comical descriptions of shipboard practical jokes and the antics of aviators while far away from the battle lines.

Edited by his stepsons Kevin and Christopher Callahan, who provide historical introductions and explanatory notes to the diary entries, I'm Alive offers a bold, unfiltered narrative of the early stages of the Navy air war in Vietnam. It will appeal to enthusiasts and scholars of the Vietnam air war alike, and to anyone interested in fascinating personal accounts of friendship, war, and triumph over adversity.

Author Biography

KEVIN CALLAHAN served as an intelligence officer in the US Navy Reserves, completing a one-year tour in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010, and retiring as a captain after a twenty-seven-year career. He was also an associate professor in the University of North Texas Department of Educational Psychology and the executive director of UNT's autism center. He lives in Pensacola, Florida, with his wife Darlene.

CHRIS CALLAHAN is a retired US Navy Reserve captain. He served as the commanding officer of VR-61 at NAS Whidbey Island and as the deputy air wing commander of the Fleet Logistics Support Wing, Fort Worth. Chris logged more than 220 combat hours flying EP-3E aircraft in support of Operation Desert Shield / Desert Storm. He retired from United Airlines after thirty years and lives with his wife Cyndi in Ridgefield, Washington.