Thomas J. Hudner Jr.: United States Navy Medal of Honor recipient
Thomas Jerome Hudner, Jr.
He is also a former naval aviator. He rose to the rank of captain. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions trying to save the life of his wingman, Ensign Jesse L. Brown. It was during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War.
| Thomas J. Hudner, Jr. | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Birth name | Thomas Jerome Hudner, Jr. |
| Nickname | "Lou" |
| Born | August 31, 1924 Fall River, Massachusetts |
| Died | November 13, 2017 (aged 93) Concord, Massachusetts |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/branch |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1946–1973 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit |
|
| Commands held | Training Squadron 24 |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Biography
He was born in Fall River, Massachusetts. He was a student at Phillips Academy and the United States Naval Academy. At first he was not interested in aviation, but later he learned to fly and joined Fighter Squadron 32. He flew a F4U Corsair at the start of the Korean War. Arriving near Korea in October 1950, he flew support missions from the USS Leyte.
On 4 December 1950 Hudner and Brown were among a group of pilots on patrol near the Chosin Reservoir. Brown's Corsair was shot by Chinese troops and crashed. In an attempt to save Brown from his burning aircraft, Hudner intentionally crash-landed his own aircraft on a snowy mountain in freezing temperatures to help Brown. In spite of these efforts, Brown died of his injuries and Hudner was forced to leave, having also been injured in the landing.
Later, Hudner served aboard several U.S. Navy ships and with a number of aviation units, including a short time as Executive Officer of the USS Kitty Hawk during the Vietnam War, before retiring in 1973. After retiring, he worked for veterans organizations in the United States. He lived in Concord, Massachusetts. The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner is named for him.
Hudner died at his home in Concord, Massachusetts on November 13, 2017 at the age of 93.
Medal of Honor citation
Hudner was one of 11 men awarded the Medal of Honor during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. He was the first of seven U.S. Navy servicemen, and the only Naval aviator, to be awarded the Medal of Honor in the Korean War.
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a pilot in Fighter Squadron 32, while attempting to rescue a squadron mate whose plane struck by antiaircraft fire and trailing smoke, was forced down behind enemy lines. Quickly maneuvering to circle the downed pilot and protect him from enemy troops infesting the area, Lt. (J.G.) Hudner risked his life to save the injured flier who was trapped alive in the burning wreckage. Fully aware of the extreme danger in landing on the rough mountainous terrain and the scant hope of escape or survival in subzero temperature, he put his plane down skillfully in a deliberate wheels-up landing in the presence of enemy troops. With his bare hands, he packed the fuselage with snow to keep the flames away from the pilot and struggled to pull him free. Unsuccessful in this, he returned to his crashed aircraft and radioed other airborne planes, requesting that a helicopter be dispatched with an ax and fire extinguisher. He then remained on the spot despite the continuing danger from enemy action and, with the assistance of the rescue pilot, renewed a desperate but unavailing battle against time, cold, and flames. Lt. (J.G.) Hudner's exceptionally valiant action and selfless devotion to a shipmate sustain and enhance the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
Related pages
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.
- Alexander, Bevin (2003), Korea: The First War We Lost, New York City, New York: Hippocrene Books, ISBN 978-0-7818-1019-7
- Appleman, Roy E. (1998), South to the Naktong, North to the Yalu: United States Army in the Korean War, Washington, D.C.: Department of the Army, ISBN 978-0-16-001918-0, archived from the original on 2019-10-18, retrieved 2013-01-08
- Collier, Peter; Del Calzo, Nick (2006), Medal of Honor: Portraits of Valor Beyond the Call of Duty, New York City, New York: Workman Publishing Company, ISBN 978-1-57965-462-7
- Dwight, Margaret L.; Sewell, George A. (2009), Mississippi Black History Makers, Oxford, Mississippi: University Press of Mississippi, ISBN 978-1-60473-390-7
- Ecker, Richard E. (2004), Battles of the Korean War: A Chronology, with Unit-by-Unit United States Casualty Figures & Medal of Honor Citations, Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, ISBN 978-0-7864-1980-7
- Fannin, Caroline M.; Gubert, Betty Kaplan; Sawyer, Miriam (2001), Distinguished African Americans in Aviation and Space Science, Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, ISBN 978-1-57356-246-1
- Malkasian, Carter (2001), The Korean War, Oxford, United Kingdom: Osprey Publishing, ISBN 978-1-84176-282-1
- Smith, Larry (2004), Beyond Glory: Medal of Honor Heroes in Their Own Words, New York City, New York: W. W. Norton & Company, ISBN 978-0-393-32562-1
- Taylor, Theodore (2007), Flight of Jesse Leroy Brown, Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, ISBN 978-1-59114-852-4
- Tillman, Barrett (2002), Above and Beyond: The Aviation Medals of Honor, Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution, ISBN 978-1-58834-056-6
- Varhola, Michael J. (2000), Fire and Ice: The Korean War, 1950–1953, Mason City, Iowa: Da Capo Press, ISBN 978-1-882810-44-4
- Williams, Albert E. (2003), Black Warriors: Unique Units and Individuals, Haverford, Pennsylvania: Infinity Publishing, ISBN 978-0-7414-1525-7
Online sources
- Sherman, Tanya (2011), Thomas J. Hudner Jr., Phillips Academy, archived from the original on 2012-04-05, retrieved 2013-01-08
- Steele, Jeanette (7 May 2012), "Ship named for living Korean War hero and Navy pilot", San Diego Union Tribune, retrieved 7 January 2013
- Gathering of Eagles Biography: Thomas J. Hudner Jr., Montgomery, Alabama: United States Air Force, 1989, archived from the original on 23 December 2011, retrieved 7 January 2013
- "Secretary of The Navy Announces DDG 116 to be Named Thomas Hudner", Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs), U.S. Department of Defense, 7 May 2012, retrieved 7 January 2013
- Captain Thomas J. Hudner, Jr., USN, United States Navy, 21 June 2000, archived from the original on 7 January 2015, retrieved 7 January 2013
- Korean Service Medal, United States Navy, archived from the original on 16 December 2014, retrieved 7 January 2013
Other websites
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