State Partnership Program

Video by Mary Cochran

U.S. Navy Capt. Thomas Jerome Hudner Burial Service at Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery

April 4, 2018 | 4:26

U.S. Navy Capt. Thomas Jerome Hudner Burial Service at Arlington National Cemetery

The U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard, The U.S. Navy Band, and The 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) Caisson Platoon participate in the full honors funeral of U.S. Navy Capt. Thomas J. Hudner in Section 54 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, Apr. 4, 2018.

Accepted into the Naval Academy in 1943, Hudner was commissioned as an officer in 1946 and became an aviation officer in 1949. On Dec. 4, 1950, Hudner and his squadron were providing air support to American troops during the battle of the Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War when one of Hudner’s squadron mates, Ensign Jesse L. Brown, was shot down by enemy anti-aircraft fire.

Seeing that Brown was still alive in the wreckage, Hudner decided to crash-land his own aircraft in an effort to render aid to his fellow aviator. Unfortunately, when Hudner made his way to Brown, he realized that Brown’s right leg was crushed under the damaged instrument panel of his aircraft. Hudner stayed with Brown, continuing to attempt to free him, until a U.S. helicopter arrived to help. Together for almost 45 minutes, Hudner and the helicopter pilot used an ax to hack away at the damaged plane but they could not free Brown. Even an attempt to amputate his leg was not successful.

As nightfall approached with the corresponding drop in temperature, Hudner and the helicopter pilot reached a grim decision to leave Brown behind since the pilot would be unable to fly in the dark. Brown was already near death and died shortly afterwards.

On April 13, 1951, Hudner Received the Medal of Honor for his actions at Chosin Reservoir. He served 27 years in the U.S. Navy.

(U.S. Army Video by Mary Smith / Arlington National Cemetery)