Overview
Thomas Jerome Hudner, Jr. (August 31, 1924 – November 13, 2017) was an officer and naval aviator in the United States Navy. He rose to the rank of captain and is best known for a single act of conspicuous gallantry during the Korean War that earned him the Medal of Honor.
Service and the Chosin action
While flying missions in December 1950 during the fighting around the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War, Hudner’s wingman, Ensign Jesse L. Brown, crash-landed behind enemy lines. Brown was the U.S. Navy's first African American naval aviator. Hudner deliberately crash-landed his own aircraft in an attempt to render aid and save Brown despite severe weather and hostile conditions.
Hudner's efforts included trying to free Brown from the wreckage and signaling for help while exposed to freezing cold and enemy fire. Brown succumbed to his injuries, but Hudner's decision to risk his life to attempt a rescue was widely recognized as an extraordinary act of courage.
Recognition and career
For his actions Hudner received the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest military decoration for valor, awarded for risking life above and beyond the call of duty. He continued his naval career after Korea, ultimately attaining the rank of captain and serving in various billets as a pilot and officer.
Legacy and notable facts
Hudner is remembered both for his wartime bravery and for his long association with naval aviation. Key points about him include:
- Birth and death: 1924–2017.
- Branch: United States Navy, naval aviator.
- Notable action: crash-landed to try to rescue Ensign Jesse L. Brown at Chosin Reservoir.
- Award: Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry.
Hudner’s story is often cited in discussions of personal sacrifice, leadership, and the bonds between aviators. His attempt to save Brown remains an enduring example of risk taken in the service of a comrade and is taught and commemorated in military histories of the Korean War.