[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 29, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E407]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING THE CHRISTENING OF THE USS ``THOMAS HUDNER'', DDG-116

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SETH MOULTON

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 29, 2017

  Mr. MOULTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, along with Ms. Pingree of 
Maine, Mr. Poliquin of Maine, Ms. Tsongas of Massachusetts, and Ms. 
Frankel of Florida to celebrate the christening of the USS Thomas 
Hudner, DDG-116. This destroyer is named in honor of Captain Thomas J. 
Hudner Jr., a retired officer of the United States Navy and a former 
naval aviator.
   Born in Fall River, Massachusetts, Hudner attended the United States 
Naval Academy after graduating from Phillips Academy in Andover, 
Massachusetts. On December 4, 1950, Hudner and his wingman, Ensign 
Jesse L. Brown, were patrolling near the Chosin Reservoir in North 
Korea when Brown's Corsair was struck by ground fire. Hudner 
intentionally crash-landed his own aircraft on a snowy mountain to help 
Brown. Brown died of his injuries and Hudner was forced to evacuate.
   Hudner received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions in 
trying to save the life of his wingman and received numerous military 
decorations including the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star Medal. 
Following the incident, Hudner held positions aboard several U.S. Navy 
ships and with a number of aviation units, including a brief stint as 
Executive Officer of the USS Kitty Hawk during a tour in the Vietnam 
War. He retired from active duty in 1973. Since then, he has worked for 
various veterans' organizations throughout the United States.
   In May 2012, the Secretary of the Navy announced that an Arleigh 
Burke-class guided missile destroyer will be named USS Thomas Hudner. 
On Saturday, April 1, the Hudner family, the Brown family, veterans 
from across all branches, elected officials and the community of 
Phillips Academy will gather for the joyous occasion of the christening 
of the ship. It is a ship that embodies the spirit of Captain Hudner's 
school--non sibi, or not for self. He leads his life in that spirit 
from Fall River, to Andover, to the Chosin Reservoir and on to his 
continued service to the veterans community.
   Together with Ms. Pingree, Mr. Poliquin, Ms. Tsongas, and Ms. 
Frankel, we wish our very best to the Hudner and Brown families, and to 
the Philips Academy community in the days to come.

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