Devotion

It was 1950 and Korea was frozen,

  an epic battle Marines call Chosin.

The First Marine Division was there for a fight,

  but soon they noticed that somethin’ weren’t right.

Chinese to the front, Chinese to the rear,

  they gotta’ get out with all of their gear.

From Koto-Ri to safety the road is a mess,

  how they’ll get out is anyone’s guess.

It’s not a retreat, it’s a charge into hell,

  call in some Corsairs they’ll do it well.

Just out to sea was the carrier Leyte,

  soon Naval Air would be in the fray.

Hudner and Brown launched from the deck,

  not knowin’ whether their Corsairs would wreck.

Rockets and napalm and six fifty-cals,

  they’re wingmen and roomies, pretty tight pals.

Both would know who had their back,

  and it don’t matter that one of them’s Black.

Marines on the road were sloggin’ along,

  when they heard that Pratt-Whitney song.

The two found the foe on top of a hill,

  and let ‘em have it, went in for the kill.

The ratta-tat-tat made puffs in the snow,

  the napalm went off with a fiery glow.

The hissing rockets left a trail of smoke,

  they say war is hell and that ain’t no joke.

The Chinese retreat, the column moves on,

  hopin’ they make it to the next dawn.

Then Brown’s machine lets out a cough,

  somethin’is wrong, somethin’ is off.

Hudner hollers, “They musta’ got you!

  Your fuel is leakin’, you might be through!”

Brown looks around, he ain’t got no room,

  if he don’t get down, he’s gonna go boom.

He finds a clearin’ and bellies on in,

  Corsair is burnin’, Brown’s trapped within.

Hudner can see his friend move about,

  of his next move there can be no doubt.

He heads for the ground, puts his flaps down,

  he’s gonna’ rescue his trapped friend Brown.

Hudner is jarred, as the Corsair hits hard,

  courage unmarred, he’s savin’ his pard,

Slides thru the rocks, kicks up some snow,

  takes forever before he can slow.

Bleeding and battered, he pulls himself out,

  and rushes to Brown though the issue’s in doubt.

The wingman coughs and draws his last breath,

  held close by his friend he gives in to death.

Hudner, he knows the Chinese will come,

  it’s colder than hell and he’s gettin’ numb.

His old Forty-Five can’t keep him alive,

  if he don’t get help, he won’t survive.

Off in the distance he hears the bugle call,

  the Chinese are comin’ and he’s gonna’ fall.

Then comes the sound of a Navy chopper,

  then comes a Corsair, gull-wing bomb dropper.

Slipping and sliding, he makes his break,

  the Corsair’s Fifties make the Chinese quake.

He reaches the helo, pulls himself in,

  he’s finally out of the hell of Chosin.

One last salute for his wingman Brown,

  for such devotion his name is renown.

LDT Nov 11. ‘22 Veterans Day

Lieutenant, j.g. Thomas J. Hudner, Jr. (1924-2017) was a Naval aviator flying an F4U Corsair off the carrier Leyte. On December 4, 1950 his squadron was supporting the encircled First Marine Division as it fought its way out of a Chinese trap at the Chosin Reservoir. His attempt to rescue his friend, wingman and roommate Ensign Brown earned him the Medal of Honor.

Ensign Jessie L. Brown (1926-1950) was the Navy’s first African-American Naval Aviator. He was Hudner’s friend, wingman and roommate aboard the USS Leyte. He flew 20 combat missions in Korea and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal and Purple Heart. The Frigate USS Jesse L. Brown (FF-1089) honored his memory. His last words to Hudner were, “Tell Daisy that I love her.” Two-days after the crash, the site was napalmed by Navy pilots as they recited The Lord’s Prayer. Brown’s body was never recovered.

The epic story of Brown and Hudner is portrayed in the 2022 Movie Devotion. It opens in theaters on November 23, 2022.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: I am usually a stickler for historical accuracy, but I used some poetic license in this poem. On the day of the fatal mission, Hudner and Brown found no enemy targets. This was a week into the Chosin Battle and the Chinese troops had learned to hide from the Navy, Marine, Air Force and Australian planes that were attacking during the day. No biggie. The pair had dropped plenty of ordinance to protect the Marines on earlier flights.

Lastly, Hudner and the helicopter pilot had to leave before Brown died. They had put out the fire and spent 45 minutes trying to free Brown with a hatchet. They even considered amputating his leg to get him out. Nothing worked. The helicopter could not fly at night. It must have been gut-wrenching to leave their comrade after all of their efforts. I hope they leave that part out of the movie too.

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