UNT Press

About et al.'s I’m Alive

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 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.