Incredible story of valor and brotherhood from the Korean War coming to the big screen

| March 17, 2021

Ensign Jesse Brown, USN

The story of best friends and wingmen Ensign Jesse Brown, the first black naval aviator and the first black naval officer to die in the Korean War and then-Lieutenant (j.g.) Thomas Hudner. Flying F4U Corsairs over the Chosin Reservoir, Brown would be shot down. Hudner saw his comrade had crashed, wheels up, and was moving in his cockpit. As Hudner circled, he could see Brown’s plane catch fire, but Brown wasn’t getting out.

Hudner then crash landed his own plane to go to aid Brown. Finding Brown alive, but trapped, Hudner refused to leave his wingman. The small fire extinguisher exhausted, Hudner attempted to douse the flames with snow.

Hudner personally led the extrication attempt once the rescue helicopter arrived. Unable to free Brown, with his strength rapidly failing, Hudner was forced to leave behind his best friend.

Brown’s last words were to tell his wife he loved her. Hudner’s last words to him were “We’ll come back for you.” The latter promise was finally kept, decades later, as documented by Hondo here.

Hudner received the Medal of Honor for his bravery, while Ensign Brown received a posthumous Distinguished Flying Cross. If the story sounds familiar, we’ve discussed it before. AW1Ed did a Valor Friday segment on the men and Jonn posted when Captain Hudner passed and was interred at Arlington.

The story will now be coming to theaters. Military.com reports;

Hollywood hasn’t made a Korean War movie in decades, but one of the era’s most moving stories inspired a movie that’s now in production.

Based on Adam Makos’ bestselling book “Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice,” the movie chronicles the close friendship between Navy aviators Jesse Brown and Tom Hudner and their heroism during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.

Jonathan Majors, currently starring in “Da 5 Bloods” and “Lovecraft Country,” stars as Brown, and Glen Powell, soon to be seen as Hangman in “Top Gun: Maverick,” plays Hudner. The film is directed by J.D. Dillard and has been on location in Savannah, Georgia, this spring.

The two aviators were close friends before Brown was shot down on Dec. 4, 1950, while providing air cover for the Marines pinned down at Chosin Reservoir. Hudner was flying overhead and crashed his own plane in a rescue attempt to save Brown.

Brown didn’t survive that day, but Hudner later received the Medal of Honor for his actions as he tried to save his friend and fellow aviator.

“Devotion” is the working title for the movie, and it’s being produced by Black Label Media for Sony Pictures. Black Label knows how to make war movies and tell stories of heroism. Over the past few years, they’ve brought us the Afghanistan war movie “12 Strong,” firefighter drama “Only the Brave” and both “Sicario” movies.

I don’t know about Glen Powell, but Jonathan Majors is a solid choice. He should do Ensign Brown justice.

Category: Hollywood, Korea, Medal of Honor, Valor, We Remember

6 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
The Other Whitey

I fear the story will be “woke-ified” into some kind of leftist anti-American bullshit that pisses on the everything Brown and Hudner stood for.

I hope not, but that’s the trend these days.

UpNorth

I hope you’re wrong, TOW, but I fear you’re right.

KoB

^WORD^ Having worked with some Hollywood types on Historical Productions I have seen how they will twist the facts to suit the narrative that they want.

I prolly will not got to the theater to watch, but will be interested in seeing how they portray the stories of these Heroes on a DVD or such.

Ex-PH2

I just shake my head when I see real warriors like these, current or past, and then run into braggarts who can’t hold a candle to them.

USMC Steve

My understanding was that they were not permitted to find him, and that he is still there. Something to do with dangerous weather in that area or something like that. Most likely just Nork fuck fuck games though.

Mustang Major

Somewhat related, but some of the filming is taking place three doors down from my daughter’s house in Savannah, Ga.