Praise

"This is a heartwarming book, a labor of love, and doubly valuable for the insight it brings into the life of a warrior and to the country that the warrior defended. Anyone reading this book will see a superb slice of Americana that most of us would like to experience again today. Read this fine book, and you’ll see how a true hero lived and died for his country."

-- Walter J. Boyne, Colonel, USAF (Ret.), former director of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, member of the National Aviation Hall of Fame, best-selling author

"A heartfelt tribute to one of 34,000 mostly anonymous Americans who died defending freedom in South Korea. Unforgotten Hero ends with a gut-wrenching revelation that should be known by everyone who wears his country’s uniform."

-- Barrett Tillman, aviation author and military historian

"A great story told with great passion."

-- Robert Coram, author of American Patriot: The Life and Wars of Colonel Bud Day

"It has been said, 'there are fighter pilots, and pilots who fly fighters.' This is the story of a fighter pilot...a captivating account of a young man who had grown up during World War II and became a pilot only to perish during The Forgotten War."

-- David R. McLaren, co-author of MiG Alley: Sabres vs. MiGs Over Korea

"In Unforgotten Hero the author has accomplished an outstanding job of research to tell the story of an uncle he never knew in life. He has ensured that the memory of his uncle will endure on the pages of his book and in the minds of readers. He accurately portrayed what life was like in “Mike” flight and in the 36th Squadron at K-13 in 1953 Korea, and his description of young Jimmy’s early life and path to becoming a fighter pilot is inspirational."
 
-- G. Robert (Bob) Veazey, Sr.,
pilot in “Mike” Flight, 36th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, Suwon Air Base (K-13), Korea, August 1952 through April 1953

"At the conclusion of the movie 'The Bridges of Toko-ri', Michener portrays the Carrier Division Commander, RAdm George Tarrant, musing over the combat loss of his protégé: 'Where do we get such men?' This book provides an answer that you will find engaging. The accurate portrayal of life as an aviation cadet and the thrill of flying the T-6, T-28 and T-33 are hauntingly familiar to all of us who have ‘been there, done that'."

-- Richard A. Stratton, Captain, USN (Ret.), fighter pilot, Vietnam, former POW

"Jim Escalle's book is a 'must-read' for all American patriots who want to learn of the sufferings, sacrifices and sadness of our brave heroes. And this book also brings us all back to the mystery of the missing men from the Korean War: what happened to Jim's uncle - and the thousands of others left behind. A great book - and one we all have a duty to read."

-- John LeBoutillier, former congressman, New York

"If we don’t record our history, it will be lost forever. This is particularly true of the Korean War. Jim Escalle’s touching tribute to his uncle, Second Lieutenant Jimmy L. Escalle, records beautifully our role in the Korean War and one man’s ultimate sacrifice."

-- Jonna Doolittle Hoppes, author of Calculated Risk: The Extraordinary Life of Jimmy Doolittle – Aviation Pioneer and World War II Hero

"This is a wonderful story, beautifully written. Jim Escalle traces the story of his uncle from a farm childhood in the San Joaquin Valley, into jet combat half a world away in Korea. It’s a story unique to his uncle, but common to men all across America who have answered the call of duty. I finished the book feeling as if I’d known these people and lived this life. It’s a remarkable achievement."

-- Stephen P. Randolph, Colonel, USAF (Ret.), fighter pilot, Operation Desert Storm, instructor at National Defense University, author of Powerful and Brutal Weapons: Nixon, Kissinger, and the Easter Offensive

"Jim Escalle writes about his uncle's brief life and his exploits with accuracy that can come only from in-depth research. Jim captures the total character of his uncle – the bright student and the outstanding athlete who became an exceptional fighter pilot. Lieutenant Jim Escalle was an All-American boy who excelled in what he did and would have excelled in anything he elected to do."
 
-- Joe Noah, founder of Preddy Memorial Foundation, co-Author of George Preddy, Top Mustang Ace

"This book is recommended as a factual account of flying and dying in wartime, and the influence of politics on military decisions."

-- Harold E. “Hal” Fischer, Colonel, USAF (Ret.), Fighter pilot, Korea and Vietnam, Korean War double ace, 21 months as POW in China

"Unforgotten Hero brought back a flood of painful memories of my own quest to learn about my father, also an F-86 Sabre pilot 'missing in action' during the Korean War. Reading this book put me back into the roller coaster of emotions that I experienced, as my father’s fate was unraveled. I can only hope that some day the Escalle family is able to bring peace and closure in knowing the true fate of Second Lieutenant Jimmy L. Escalle, another American hero."

-- Danny G. Cope, son of U.S. Air Force Captain Troy Gordon Cope, featured in the 2007 NOVA documentary, Missing in MiG Alley

"Marvellous book! I couldn’t put it down until I finished reading it. Lieutenant Escalle’s life was parallel to mine in many ways."

-- Cecil G. Foster, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF (Ret.), fighter pilot, Korea and Vietnam, author of MiG Alley to Mu Ghia Pass: Memoirs of a Korean War Ace

"A monumental job of research. Jim Escalle’s description of events, cataloged by date and time in most instances, is most impressive. I believe he has captured the feel of life at the fighter bases in Korea, with all the excitement and sadness experienced by the pilots."

-- Alonzo J. Walter, Brigadier General, USAF, (Ret.), fighter pilot, Korea and Vietnam

"With great skill and clarity, Jim Escalle has brought us an absorbing narrative of his uncle, Lt. Jim Escalle, who flew the F-86 jet in the Korean War and ended up as MIA. This book should be must reading for anyone who wants to understand the vital roles played by U.S. fighter-bombers for stopping the forward movement of the numerically superior enemy ground forces southwards. This book is great reading."
 
-- Ken Rowe (aka No Kum-Sok), Korean War MiG-15 Pilot, author of A MiG-15 to Freedom

"Unforgotten Hero tells a story of not only one brave and devoted person, but encompasses those millions of heroes whose lives have culminated in the defense of our country. Without such dedicated loyalty, this United States would not remain a land of the free in this or any other war."

-- Walter D. “Dan” Druen, Lieutenant General, USAF (Ret.), fighter Pilot, Korea and Vietnam

"The competitive nature of a fighter pilot came about from the many challenges and decisions that Jim made as a young man; both on the athletic fields, and life in general growing up as his country was emerging from the depression era. This book is recommended to those of us who want to relive those exciting times. For others, it is an education on the events we faced as a nation in the early fifties."

-- James L. Thompson, Colonel, USAF (Ret.), fighter pilot, Korea and Vietnam

"Jim Escalle has written this very interesting story about his Uncle Jim that is both inspiring and is an extremely great read. I learned things about the Korean War that I did not previously know, and I fought in it. You will not regret reading it."

-- Howard C. “Scrappy” Johnson, Colonel, USAF (Ret.), fighter pilot, Korea and Vietnam, World Altitude Holder, 1958 (91,246 ft.), Collier Trophy winner, founder of Red River Valley Fighter Pilot’s Association, member of the Kentucky Aviation Hall of Fame, author of Scrappy: Memoir of a U.S. Fighter Pilot in Korea and Vietnam

"Jim Escalle has written a loving tribute to a brave American fighter pilot, who put it on the line for all of us."

-- Charles G. “Chick” Cleveland, Lieutenant General, USAF, (Ret.), fighter pilot, Korea and Vietnam, Korean War ace

"This is a story of an American who gave his all through service to his country. Good flying stories, but also a peek into the personal lives of folks that make this a great nation."

-- Clarence E. “Bud” Anderson, Colonel, USAF (Ret.), fighter pilot, World War II triple ace, author of To Fly and Fight: Memoirs of a Triple Ace

"This book captures the fun days of pilot training and the more tension filled days of combat in Korea. It brought back many memories of my time there flying in the sister squadron to Jim Escalle's. A good book, especially for those of us who followed a similar route to Korea. It really captures the atmosphere of flying fighter-bombers in the Korean War."

-- James A. McDivitt, Brigadier General, USAF (Ret.), fighter pilot, Korea, NASA Astronaut (Gemini, Apollo)

"This book will prove nostalgic reading to some, enlightening to many, but inspirational to all, to know that America has always provided, and will always provide, heroes for their country in time of need. Its citizens owe them an unending debt of gratitude."

-- Glenn L. Nordin, Colonel, USAF (Ret.), fighter pilot, Vietnam

"Jim Escalle's loving tribute to his Korean War MIA uncle, Lt. Jimmy L. Escalle, displays painstaking research not only into his uncle's life, but also into the torturous politics of the day."

-- Mark E. Berent, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF (Ret.), fighter pilot, Vietnam, author of Rolling Thunder

"To learn and feel what it is like to fulfill a life's dream of becoming a fighter pilot, I highly recommend reading this book. Other fighter pilots will easily relate to the life of Jim Escalle."

-- James R. Firebaugh, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF (Ret.), fighter pilot, Korea

"This is a compelling story about how an All-American youth, too young to take part in World War II, answered the call to arms to fight in Korea. During his high school years, Jim Escalle admired P-38 and P-51 fighter pilots only to find himself a few years later immersed in combat flying F-86 jet fighters. His young life ended during his forty-first combat mission, but his spirit, enthusiasm, and courage lives on in the hearts of his family, fellow pilots, and friends."

-- John P. “Deacon” Russell, Brigadier General, USAF (Ret.), fighter pilot, Korea and Vietnam

"As a product of 1940s American culture and a graduate of the USAF Aviation Cadet program, I experienced the exhilaration of the Nellis gunnery school and the excitement of flying combat missions in F-86 aircraft. I applaud Jim Escalle for adroitly capturing the essence of the time and places. His research is outstanding. If one wonders why the U.S. defended South Korea, he only has to look at Korea today and to have seen the pride of the South Korean troops that served in Vietnam."

-- Charles C. Nunnery, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF (Ret.), fighter pilot, Korea

“"This biography will be of great interest to all fighter pilots, particularly those from the Korean War era, since we all shared the same experiences that are so accurately described in this book. It will bring back many memories to all of us who flew the F-80s and F-86s in those first years of jet fighter aviation."

-- Norman F. Conant, Jr. Major, USAF (Ret.)

"A splendid account of one man’s journey through a tragically shortened, but abundantly packed life. Hats off to the author who began with a single small photo of Lt. Escalle and created a remarkably detailed and compelling portrait of an outstanding human being and one of our nation’s fallen heroes."

-- Alan C. Edmunds, Brigadier General, USAF (Ret.)