Praise

This memoir is a raw and deeply moving account of childhood trauma, told with honesty and courage. The writing is unfiltered yet full of reflection and resilience, turning painful memories into a story of survival and growth. It’s a powerful read that offers comfort, perspective, and inspiration to anyone who has faced adversity.

Torque and Trauma is unlike any memoir I’ve read before. Chad Calahan writes with the grit of a veteran and the openness of someone who has lived through pain but refuses to let it define him. His story moves between the unforgiving pace of life on the flightline and the hidden battles that come with PTSD and unresolved childhood wounds. What struck me most was Calahan’s honesty. He doesn’t sugarcoat the toll of trauma, nor does he present healing as a simple or quick process. Instead, he shows the reality—the setbacks, the anger, and the courage it takes to keep moving forward. For men especially, who are so often told to stay silent about their struggles, his voice is both relatable and deeply necessary. This book is not just about the military or PTSD—it’s about resilience, facing the weight of the past, and daring to believe in the possibility of healing. Calahan’s willingness to be vulnerable gives others permission to do the same, and that is what makes Torque and Trauma such a meaningful read.

In this book, you will learn about Chad's story and how his experiences shaped him into the man he is today. It feels less like a memoir and more like an opportunity to sit down with him for a raw and honest conversation about life. The story is relatable to many, and sets a course to help the reader deal with personal trauma as you learn how Chad and his brother dealt with theirs. Definitely a must read, which will bring both laughter and tears.

In Torque & Trauma: Fixing More Than Machines, Chad Calahan—an Air Force veteran and former F-15 and F-22 Crew Chief—delivers a gripping, unflinching account of how childhood trauma and PTSD shaped his life far beyond the flightline. Drawing from two decades of military service and personal loss, Calahan explores the hidden toll of emotional wounds, especially among men taught to suppress their pain. His writing is direct and deeply personal, offering not just a memoir but a roadmap for healing.

What makes this book stand out is its dual lens: the mechanical precision of a technician and the emotional depth of a survivor. Calahan doesn’t just recount deployments or cockpit repairs—he dissects the internal machinery of trauma, showing how unresolved pain can torque the human spirit until it snaps. Yet through honesty, reflection, and resilience, he charts a path toward recovery.

This book is especially relevant for veterans, first responders, and anyone who’s ever felt broken but kept going. It’s not just about fixing machines—it’s about fixing ourselves. Calahan’s voice is one of strength, humility, and hope, and his story will stay with you long after the last page.

As the daughter of an Air Force Colonel, I feel like this book reflected my own household. I saw my father demonstrate strength paired with silence, duty making pain, and a search for purpose after he retired.

The military has a toxic culture of expecting men to push through, never bend, and never break but the author shows that real strength lies in vulnerability and the willingness to heal.

This book was both a validation of my upbringing and an invitation to to continue conversations about mental health and resilience in the military community and it reminds us that service is not just about what happens on the battlefield but to support ourselves and each other long after the mission ends.

This was really raw emotionally and I thought it was good. I related a lot to some of his childhood trauma but I definitely will giving this to my husband to read seeing as he’s a service member but still I’d recommend this for anyone who’d be interested in Chads story.

If you've ever felt like you had to be the strong one, this incredible memoir by Chad Calahan is the book you need to read right now. Calahan, a long time service member, takes you onto the flightline, but he quickly dives into the raw reality of childhood trauma, loss, and deployments. This isn't just a story about jets; it's a gut-punch honest look at confronting PTSD and learning that vulnerability is the real sign of strength. He lays bare the struggles many men face when they're told to "suck it up," offering a truly hopeful roadmap toward emotional healing. I strongly recommend this to every veteran, active-duty service member, or anyone who carries invisible scars from their past. Grab this book if you know the struggle of fixing everything but yourself. As someone who has family members that had been in the service, i wish they could have had a book like this when they were alive.

Amazing read spanning from the perspective of a child in a broken abusive home and his journey into adulthood and through a military career. Gives lots of examples of coping and healing mechanisms that can be used to overcome trauma to be happy and successful in life. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel and there is always good to be found in people and situations. Highly recommend this read!