Was Act of Valor a True Story?

The Korean War is often referred to as 'The Forgotten War,' despite being the first UN war and featuring many American icons, including baseball legend Ted Williams, astronaut Neil Armstrong, and actress Marilyn Monroe. Hollywood has largely ignored this conflict in favor of more popular wars like World War II and Vietnam.

However, a new film called Devotion sheds light on the Korean War by telling the story of Tom Hudner, a naval aviator who received the Medal of Honor for his bravery during the war. The film is based on a 2015 biography by Adam Makos, who became close friends with Hudner after writing his book.

The story centers around Hudner's doomed deployment and an unlikely friendship he formed with Jesse Brown, a fellow naval aviator. The two pilots were part of the USS Leyte Gulf, which was supporting UN ground forces during the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir in December 1950.

During this battle, Brown suffered artillery damage to his F4U Corsair aircraft and crash-landed in a remote mountain valley. Hudner, who had been ordered to leave the area, defied orders and intentionally crash-landed his plane nearby to help Brown. Despite trying to free Brown from his aircraft for 45 minutes in subzero temperatures, Hudner was eventually forced to leave him behind due to the danger of nightfall.

The film Devotion highlights the bravery and sacrifice of Tom Hudner and Jesse Brown, as well as the larger story of the Korean War, which has been largely ignored by Hollywood. The movie is a testament to the importance of remembering and honoring the sacrifices made during this conflict.

Was act of valor a true story