BOSTON (AP) — A former U.S. Navy captain and pilot who received the Medal of Honor for his heroics during the Korean War has died. Thomas Hudner Jr. was 93.
Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services Secretary Francisco Urena announced Hudner's death Monday. Hudner was the former commissioner of the department.
Hudner was awarded the Medal of Honor during the Korean War in 1950 after his plane came under enemy fire and he crash-landed in an unsuccessful effort to save the life of his wingman and friend, Ensign Jesse Brown, the Navy's first black combat pilot.
DDG-116 will be named for him. He was able to attend the christening of the ship earlier this year.
Met him and his wife in an elevator at Tailhook several years ago. The Junior Officers with us in the el had no idea who he was. Like most of the MOH awardees I've talked to over the years a very modest man and a real hero.
Posted by: Rick Morgan | 11/14/2017 at 04:19 AM
Aren't they all...modest and unpretentious.
Posted by: SFC Dunlap 173d RVN | 11/14/2017 at 05:43 AM