Medal of Honor Monday: Thomas Jerome Hudner, Jr.

In the chilling December of 1950, as the Korean War reached one of its most brutal turning points, a young Navy pilot made a decision that would define the rest of his life—and forever link his name to one of the most extraordinary acts of heroism in US military aviation history.

A Mission into the Maelstrom

On December 4, 1950, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Thomas J. Hudner Jr. took off from the USS Leyte (CV-32) in an F4U Corsair alongside five other Navy pilots. Their mission: provide close air support to beleaguered US Marines fighting for their lives on the frozen, mountainous terrain of the Chosin Reservoir.

Below them, the temperature had plummeted to -36°F, and thousands of Chinese troops had encircled the 1st Marine Division.

What was supposed to be a short, strategic war had spiraled into a chaotic and bloody stalemate. For the men on the ground—and in the air—public disapproval back home meant little. Their only focus was survival, and maybe, just maybe, making it home for Christmas.

The Wingman Who Changed Everything

As the patrol flew over the icy terrain, Ensign Jesse L. Brown’s Corsair was hit by enemy fire. The aircraft lost power and crash-landed behind enemy lines on a snow-covered slope.

Hudner, watching from above, feared his wingman hadn’t survived—until he saw Brown open the canopy and wave. Relief quickly turned to dread: Brown was alive but pinned inside the smoking wreckage, bleeding, and exposed to both the elements and the advancing Chinese forces.

There was no time to wait.

“I’m going in,” Hudner radioed to the rest of his flight team before intentionally crash-landing his own Corsair beside Brown’s in the hostile terrain.

It was a decision that defied protocol, logic, and survival instinct—but one driven by something deeper: loyalty, courage, and brotherhood.

Landing hard on the frozen slope, Hudner rushed to Brown’s side. Flames had begun to creep up the wreckage, and he used his bare hands to throw snow into the fire, trying to keep it at bay. He worked feverishly to pull Brown from the cockpit, but the downed aviator’s legs were trapped beneath twisted metal.

When a rescue helicopter finally arrived, Hudner and the crew spent 45 desperate minutes hacking at the wreckage with an axe. At one point, they even considered amputating Brown’s legs to save his life—but the injuries were too severe, and the cold too unforgiving.

Jesse L. Brown, the US Navy’s first African American aviator, succumbed to his wounds on the mountainside.

Hudner stayed until the very end.

For his incredible valor, Thomas Hudner was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman in 1951. His citation recognized not only his bravery but the selflessness and unwavering commitment to a fellow serviceman—regardless of race, background, or rank.

“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 […] Hudner’s exceptionally valiant action and selfless devotion to a shipmate sustain and enhance the highest traditions of the US Naval Service.”

Brown’s legacy, too, has endured. A trailblazer in his own right, Brown broke barriers in the Navy and became a symbol of perseverance and progress. Hudner would spend the rest of his life honoring his fallen friend, ensuring Brown’s story was told and remembered.

In later interviews, Hudner reflected on the mission with humility: “It was just something I had to do.”

Life After Chosin

Hudner continued serving in the Navy for 22 more years, flying combat missions in Korea and serving aboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) during the Vietnam War.

He eventually became Massachusetts Commissioner of Veterans Services, advocating for those who, like him, had borne the weight of war.

Before his retirement in 1973, Hudner witnessed the commissioning of the USS Jesse L. Brown (DE/FF/FFT-1089), a Knox-class frigate.

In 2012, the Navy named an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer after him—the USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116)—and he attended its christening in 2017, just months before his death.

He was buried with full honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

Their extraordinary story has been captured in books, military histories, and most recently, the 2022 film Devotion, directed by J.D. Dillard. Based on the biography Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice by Adam Makos, the film brings to life the bond between Hudner and Brown, and the moment that turned a routine mission into legend.