Peter Callaghan was born in 1946 on Long Island, New York. He enlisted in the Air Force Reserve on January 21, 1969, and entered Officer Training School on August 18, 1969, graduating with a commission as a 2d Lt in the U.S. Air Force on November 13, 1969. Lt Callaghan next completed Undergraduate Navigator Training in December 1970, followed by service as an F-4 Phantom II Weapon Systems Officer (WSO) with the 334th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, from December 1970 to April 1972, and then deployed to Southeast Asia from April 1972 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on June 21, 1972. After spending 281 days in captivity, Capt Callaghan was released during Operation Homecoming on March 28, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized to recover from his injuries at Westover AFB, Massachusetts, and then served as an instructor navigator with the 450th Flying Training Squadron and with the 323rd Flying Training Wing at Mather AFB, California, from September 1973 to June 1978. His next assignment was as a C-5 Galaxy navigator with the 75th Military Airlift Squadron at Travis AFB, California, from June 1978 to June 1979, followed by service as a C-5 navigator and Command Post Controller with the 60th Military Airlift Wing at Travis from June 1979 to May 1985. LtCol Callaghan next served as Commander of the 3554th Recruiting Squadron at Selfridge AFB, Michigan, from May 1985 to May 1987, and then as Deputy Commander of the 3504th Recruiting Group at Lackland AFB, Texas, from May 1987 to April 1988. His final assignment was as Chief of the Command Post at Randolph AFB, Texas, from April 1988 until his retirement from the Air Force on September 1, 1989.