Thomas J. Hudner, Jr.

Infobox Military Person
name=Thomas Jerome Hudner, Jr.
born= Birth date and age|1924|8|31
died=
placeofbirth=Fall River, Massachusetts
placeofdeath=
placeofburial=


caption=Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Thomas J. Hudner, 3 April 1950
nickname="Lou"
allegiance=flag|United States of America
branch=
serviceyears=1946 - 1973
rank=Captain
commands=Training Squadron 24 (VT-24)
unit=Fighter Squadron 32 (VF-32) USS "Kitty Hawk" (CVA-63)
battles=Korean War - Battle of Chosin Reservoir Vietnam War
awards=Medal of Honor
laterwork=
[
Gordon R. England during a 2007 ceremony in Washington, D.C.] Thomas Jerome Hudner, Jr. (born 31 August 1924), is a United States Navy officer who received America's highest military decoration – the Medal of Honor – for his actions in the Korean War.

Biography

Hudner attended the prestigious Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts before entering the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. Following service in surface ships and ashore, he attended flight school and was designated a Naval Aviator in August 1949. Later that year, he was assigned to Fighter Squadron 32 (VF-32) aboard USS "Leyte" (CV-32).

On 4 December 1950, while serving with VF-32 during the Korean War flying F4U-4 Corsair fighters in support of United Nations forces, he crash-landed his own plane near the Chosin reservoir in an effort to rescue Ensign Jesse L. Brown, another VF-32 pilot whose own F4U-4 Corsair had been shot down. He found Ensign Brown severely wounded and pinned in his cockpit by metal wreckage. Lt. Hudner worked bravely to free the injured pilot, despit severe cold, and having no tools at his disposal apart from a small hand ax. For his heroism on that occasion, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Hudner was awarded the Medal of Honor. Hudner was presented with the Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman on 13 April 1951, during a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden. His was the first Navy Medal of Honor awarded for actions in the Korean War.

Following his tour with VF-32, Thomas J. Hudner held a variety of training, operational and staff assignments. He commanded Training Squadron 24 (VT-24) in 1965-66 and then served as Executive Officer of USS "Kitty Hawk" (CVA-63). During the early 1970s, Captain Hudner was Head of Aviation Technical Training in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. He retired from the Navy in February 1973 with the rank of Captain.

After retiring, Hudner worked as a management consultant, and, from 1991 to 1999, served as Commissioner for the Massachusetts Department of Veterans' Services. He appeared in a 1999 miniseries documentary, "The Korean War: Fire and Ice", aired by the History Channel.

As of 2001, he was living in Concord, Massachusetts, with his wife, Georgea.

Medal of Honor citation

Lt. (J.G.) Hudner's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

: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.

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Korean War Medal of Honor recipients

References

*cite web
url=http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/mohkor2.htm
title=Korean War Medal of Honor Recipients
work=Medal of Honor Citations
publisher=U.S. Army Center of Military History
date=2005-09-26
accessdate=2006-09-30

*cite journal
last = Sherman
first = Tana
title = Thomas J. Hudner Jr.: Building blocks for gallantry, intrepidity
journal = Andover Bulletin
volume = 95
issue = 1
date = Fall 2001
url = http://www.andover.edu/publications/alumni_profiles/hudner_t_fal_01.htm
accessdate = 2006-09-30

*cite web
url=http://www.pbs.org/weta/americanvalor/stories/hudner.html
title=Thomas Hudner, Jr.
publisher=Public Broadcasting Service
work=American Valor
year=2003
accessdate=2006-09-30

*cite web
url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0399742/
title=Thomas J. Hudner
publisher=Internet Movie Database
accessdate=2006-09-30

*cite web
publisher = Naval Historical Center
title = US People - Hudner, Thomas J., Jr.
work = Online Library
date = 2000-06-21
url = http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-h/t-hudner.htm
accessdate = 2006-09-30

External links

* [http://www.pritzkermilitarylibrary.org/events/2007-02-22-thomasHudner.jsp Interview] at the Pritzker Military Library