Captain Thomas J. Hudner Jr to be honored in Fall River to celebrate his legacy, dedication

A Fall River hero will be remembered this month in the building that bears his name.

A portrait of Thomas Hudner will be unveiled on October 19th at 5:30 p.m. at the Captain Thomas Hudner Jr. Memorial Building at Heritage State Park.

Hudner, who was born and raised in Fall River, was a naval aviator who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor on April 13, 1951, by President Harry S. Truman for risking his life above and beyond the call of duty during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War.

Hudner passed away on November 13, 2017, in Concord Massachusetts.

As told by the Commissioning Committee of the ship that bears his name, “on December 4, 1950, pilots from VF-32, including both Hudner and Brown, were flying a mission in support of the Marines who were in the midst of a fighting withdrawal from Chosin Reservoir. During the mission, Brown’s Corsair was hit by anti-aircraft fire, and he was forced to crash land. Violating a standing order not to attempt to land and aid downed pilots, Hudner purposely crash landed his own plane to provide aid to Brown. Even with an injury to his back caused by his crash landing, Hudner remained with Brown until a rescue helicopter arrived on the scene. Hudner worked with the helicopter pilot in the sub-zero, snow-laden area in an attempt to free Brown from the smoking wreckage of his aircraft.”

This honor will be several that Hudner has received in recent years.

The USS THOMAS HUDNER (DDG 116), the 66th ARLEIGH BURKE-class destroyer was named after Hudner in 2018.

In September of 2021, the building at Heritage State Park was dedicated in Hudner’s name.

At the end of 2022, the movie Devotion was released which tells the inspirational true story of Jesse Brown, the first Black aviator in Navy history and his fellow fighter pilot and friend, Hudner.

The unveiling will also celebrate Hudner’s legacy and dedication to our nation.