As part of our commitment to community engagement, the American Heritage Museum will offer free admission to all residents of Hudson and Stow this weekend - December 6th and 7th. Hope you can make it!
Today, December 4th, 2025, marks the 75th anniversary of Captain Thomas J. Hudner Jr's valiant attempt to rescue Ensign Jesse L. Brown in the Chosin Reservoir.![]()
![]()
On December 4, 1950, Hudner, a native of Fall River, Massachusetts, and Brown, one of the first African-American U.S. naval aviators, were part of a flight of F4U Corsair fighter planes tasked with supporting U.S. Marine ground forces in Korea. During their mission, Ensign Brown's aircraft was struck by small arms fire, forcing him to crash-land in the Chosin Reservoir.![]()
![]()
Shortly after, Captain Hudner intentionally crash landed his own airplane in the reservoir and rushed to Brown's crash site to try and rescue him. Upon arriving at the now burning wreck, he found that Brown's legs were pinned in the cockpit. A rescue helicopter arrived shortly after and Hudner, accompanied by the pilot, tried for 45 minutes to free Brown to no avail. ![]()
![]()
Ensign Brown passed away shortly after from blood loss and exposure to extreme cold, and Hudner was forced to leave his body and evacuate by helicopter.![]()
![]()
Captain Hudner was awarded the Medal of Honor on April 13th, 1951, for his actions and met Brown's widow, Daisy, during the ceremony. The two would stay in contact for the next 50 years.![]()
![]()
The book "Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Brotherhood and Sacrifice " by Adam Makos details the entire ordeal, with a film adaptation which premiered in 2022.![]()
![]()
Today, we remember and honor Captain Hudner and Ensign Brown for their valiant service and sacrifices made in the pursuit of freedom.
The answer to the “What is it? Wednesday” question from November 26th is the hood ornament on our 1942 Buick! This car was one of the last produced at Buick's plant in Flint, Michigan in 1942. Buick was one of many companies who, after the United States entered WWII, stopped producing civilian goods and began the production of war goods.![]()
![]()
Stay tuned for the next “What is it? Wednesday” question tomorrow, December 3rd at 10:00 am EST!![]()
![]()
#americanheritagemuseum #whatisitwednesday
Their gift to us was freedom. On this Giving Tuesday, your gift ensures their stories are never forgotten.![]()
Give today: www.americanheritagemuseum.org/annualfund2025/![]()
![]()
At the American Heritage Museum, every field trip, veteran visit, and living-history weekend helps a new generation understand that freedom has a real weight—and a real cost. Your Giving Tuesday donation to our 2025–2026 Annual Fund keeps the doors open, the engines running, and the stories of service and sacrifice alive.![]()
![]()
Their gift to us was freedom. Your gift TODAY preserves their history.![]()
![]()
Make your Giving Tuesday gift now: www.americanheritagemuseum.org/annualfund2025/![]()
![]()
#GivingTuesday #AmericanHeritageMuseum #SupportHistory #neverforget #veterans #historymuseum
Meet the German Sd.Kfz 251!![]()
![]()
#AmericanHeritageMuseum #visitma #militaryhistory #historymuseum #WWII #ww2 #tworldwarii #worldwar2 #army #tanks #worldoftanks #tanknerd #germanarmor #sdkfz #halftrack
- This event has passed.
Speaker Series: D-Day and the Angels of Mercy
June 1, 2024 @ 2:00 pm, ending 3:30 pm
Free with standard museum admission
Angels of Mercy is the story of D-Day and a particular sub story of two brave combat medics who saved dozens of lives with fighting all around them. It also tells the story of Dr. Hirsh’s personal family connection to D-Day and why Operation Overlord means so much to him.
About the speaker:
Michael Hirsh, MD, FACS, FAAP is a native New Yorker who is a Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at the UMass Medical School and served as Surgeon-in-Chief of the UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center in Worcester, Ma. from 2009-2019. He was Division Chief of Pediatric Surgery and Associate Surgical Director of the Trauma Center and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. He continues to serve as the Pediatric Trauma Director and Co-Director of the Injury Free Coalition (IFC) of Worcester. He is Past President of the IFC National from 2009-2011. He formerly served as Principal Investigator of Injury Free Pittsburgh from 1993-2000.
Dr. Michael Hirsh is a distinguished figure in the medical community, renowned for his expertise in pediatric trauma and injury prevention. Serving as a pivotal member of the healthcare team at UMass Memorial Hospital, Dr. Hirsh has dedicated his career to advancing the field of pediatric medicine through his tireless commitment to patient care, research, and education. With a profound emphasis on community outreach and advocacy, he has championed initiatives aimed at safeguarding children from preventable injuries and enhancing overall well-being. Dr. Hirsh’s innovative contributions have not only revolutionized pediatric trauma care but have also inspired countless medical professionals and caregivers worldwide.
