"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
-- 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.)