More than 60 years ago, a family member’s advice ignited retired Capt. James Ginn Callaway’s decision to serve in the U.S. Navy.
“‘Before you settle down, whatever you’re going to do in life, you ought to go into the Navy for three years and see the world,’” said Callaway, recalling the words of an uncle. “So I took that advice. I went to (Officer Candidate School).”
Stepping inside the Coronado home Callaway built in the late 1980s, one might get lost admiring numerous art pieces that decorate the walls of the renovated living spaces originating from different parts of the world.
But facing the kitchen is one frame that succinctly captures more than half of Callaway’s life dedicated to his country. It contains more than a dozen service medals, including a Bronze Star with Combat “V,” which Callaway said he received for direct combat with the enemy.
Throughout his career, Callaway served on numerous destroyers as a damage control assistant, chief engineer and executive officer. He also commanded the Coastal River Division Eleven at Mare Island in California and Special Boat Unit Twenty-Two at New Orleans, Louisiana.
Totalling more than 48 years of service, Callaway was on active duty for 31 years followed by a 17-year civilian career in Navy Bachelor Housing.
This month, Callaway is among 90 WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, and terminally ill veterans participating in Honor Flight San Diego’s three-day trip to Washington, D.C., planning to visit the memorials built to honor their service, comrades and sacrifice.
“The Vietnam (memorial) will be the most special,” said Callaway, a U.S. Navy Vietnam War Veteran. “I’ve been there. I know a lot of the names, people that were under my command that got killed.”
Vietnam experience
Born in Huntington, West Virginia, Callaway graduated from the University of Michigan in 1964.
After completing his undergrad, a 21-year-old Callaway set out on Navy tours with the Flagship of the Middle East Force followed by “Operation Deep Freeze” during which he sailed between New Zealand and the South Pole.
After three years Callaway temporarily left the Navy and went on to receive a master’s degree from Ohio State University in 1968. That same year he returned to the Navy and training brought him to Coronado for the first time, where he learned Vietnamese.
Callaway deployed to Vietnam in 1968 with river patrol boats. The following year he became the first naval riverine advisor at a time when President Nixon was turning those operations over to the South Vietnamese military.
Inside his garage, Callaway reflected on the Vietnam combat experience while pointing out a painting of the river patrol boats, or PBRs, used in Mekong Delta, near Saigon.
“The boats that I was on were in a lot of combat down the rivers,” said Callaway.
“I’d be right in here someplace controlling what’s going on,” said Callaway. “You also wore a groin protector, you wore a flat vest, and you wore helmets – even in the heat when you were on patrol – for protection. … You’re sweating like crazy. You have to stay hydrated. At night, we would set ambushes on a canal or something. So you could see the Vietcong getting ready to come down from Cambodia.”
“I didn’t talk about it for years because I had a lot of people under me that got killed. I had to identify their bodies and write their parents and everything,” added Callaway. “But in Vietnam, we were in combat, and that’s what happened.”
“It’s not easy when you’re losing people, not on a daily basis, but quite a few times,” said Callaway. “There’s nothing romantic about war.”
Callaway said the Navy memorabilia are all important to him.
“They’re all sort of building stones, you’re not going to do the one thing unless you do the other and do it right, if you have a ship and you run in the ground, that’s the end of your career,” said Callaway.
Callaway credits his wife, Beverly, and family for their unwavering support throughout his years in the Navy.
“I have one of the best Navy wives ever,” said Callaway about his partner of over 50 years.
In 2023 Callaway was honored in the Avenue of Heroes, Coronado’s military service recognition program, following a friend’s nomination.
Today Callaway prioritizes health and community service alongside Beverly in Coronado where they chose to retire in 1995.
“We love Coronado,” said Callaway. “It fits our lifestyle extremely well.”
Every Tuesday Callaway, 83, meets up with friends, hops on the ferry and completes a two-or-three hour bike ride around the Bay, through Bonita and Imperial Beach, stopping for coffee at Cow-A-Bunga, before returning home.
The following morning, Callaway and other runners circuit over a several miles stretch at Balboa Park in San Diego.
Callaway, who did track in high school and attended Michigan on a track scholarship, has won national competitions and completed 50 marathons.
With an Oura Ring in one hand and a HidrateSpark smart water bottle in the other, Callaway said he plans to live to 106.
“I’m looking forward to (the Honor Flight San Diego trip) to be helpful to the other veterans that are there,” said Callaway.
This year marks the Honor Flight San Diego’s 15-year anniversary of having flown over 2,000 veterans. The trip Callaway will join on Friday, Sept. 26, marks the organization’s 31st mission and includes veterans aged 81 to 98.
“It is more than visiting memorials, it is also about the veterans having camaraderie, closure, and being truly honored,” said Holly Shaffner, the organization’s vice-chairman and director of public relations. “Some veterans say the trip was a life changer, life extender, and trip of a lifetime.”
The volunteer-based organization said private donors, organizations, American Legions, VFWs, and community events help raise funding for two trips every year. This allows veterans from every branch of service to travel at no cost in an effort to thank them for all they did for their country.
“One of (the) highlights of each flight is the homecoming when we arrive back to San Diego,” added Shaffner. “There will be 800-1,000 people dressed in red, white, blue and carrying American flags and signs to welcome our hero’s home! We say that they are getting the homecoming they didn’t receive after war and the homecoming they truly deserve.”
The homecoming is on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 1:15 p.m. at the Terminal 2 Baggage Claim. For more information visit: www.HonorFlightSanDiego.org.
