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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- PEOPLE -- UNITED STATES --

Captain Thomas J. Hudner, Jr., USN, (1924-____)

Thomas J. Hudner, Jr., was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, on 31 August 1924. He attended 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 that unit during the Korean War, he crash-landed his own plane near the Chosin reservoir in a brave effort to rescue Ensign Jesse L. Brown, another VF-32 pilot whose plane had been shot down. For his heroism on that occasion, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Hudner was awarded the Medal of Honor.

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. During recent years, he has served as Massachusetts Commissioner for Veterans Affairs.

This page features photographs of Thomas J. Hudner, Jr.

For views of the ceremonies in which Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Thomas J. Hudner received the Medal of Honor, see: Captain Thomas J. Hudner, Jr. -- Medal of Honor Presentation.


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: 80-G-708180

Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Thomas J. Hudner, USN
,
of Fall River, Massachusetts

Portrait photograph, dated 3 April 1950.
He was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroically attempting to rescue Ensign Jesse L. Brown, who had been shot down by enemy fire near the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea, on 4 December 1950.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 50KB; 585 x 765 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: NH 97091

Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Thomas J. Hudner, USN


Photographed wearing the Medal of Honor, which he received for heroism during the Korean War.
Photograph is dated 29 November 1951.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 53KB; 600 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 97095

Captain Thomas J. Hudner, USN

Head, Aviation Technical Training, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations

Principal speaker at the launching of USS Jesse L. Brown (DE-1089), at Avondale Shipyards, Inc., New Orleans, Louisiania, 18 March 1972.
During the Korean War, then Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Hudner received the Medal of Honor (worn in this photograph) for heroically attempting to rescue Ensign Jesse L. Brown, the ship's namesake.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 106KB; 740 x 620 pixels

 
Photo #: USN 1151107

USS Jesse L. Brown (DE-1089)


Sponsor and others on the christening platform, during launching ceremonies at Avondale Shipyards, Westwego, Louisiana, 18 March 1972.
Those present are (from left to right):
Rear Admiral John W. Dolan, Jr., USN, Deputy Commander for Shipyard Management and Program Director for Shipyard Modernization, Naval Ship Systems Command;
Mrs. Gilbert W. Thorne, Ship's Sponsor;
Mr. Henry Z. Carter, President, Avondale Shipyards, Inc.;
Captain Thomas J. Hudner, USN, Head, Aviation Technical Training, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 510 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1151107.

 

For views of the ceremonies in which Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Thomas J. Hudner received the Medal of Honor, see: Captain Thomas J. Hudner, Jr. -- Medal of Honor Presentation.


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

Link added 21 June 2000