Thomas J. Hudner Jr. (1924–2017) was a United States Navy officer and naval aviator. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions in trying to save the life of his wingman, Ensign Jesse L. Brown, during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War. Born in Fall River, Massachusetts, Hudner attended Phillips Academy in Andover and the United States Naval Academy. Initially uninterested in aviation, he eventually took up flying and joined Fighter Squadron 32, flying the F4U Corsair at the outbreak of the Korean War. Arriving near Korea in October 1950, he flew support missions from the aircraft carrier USS Leyte. He later served in the Vietnam War. After retiring as a captain in 1973, he worked for various veterans' organizations in the United States. He is interred at Arlington National Cemetery. The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner is named for him.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_J._Hudner_Jr.

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1914:

World War I: German naval forces bombarded Papeete in French Polynesia and sank a French gunboat. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombardment_of_Papeete

1922:

After nine days, the great fire of Smyrna was extinguished (aftermath pictured), having caused at least ten thousand deaths. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burning_of_Smyrna

1975:

Sara Jane Moore attempted to assassinate U.S. president Gerald Ford, but failed due to unfamiliarity with her weapon. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sara_Jane_Moore

2014:

The NASA spacecraft MAVEN entered into orbit around Mars to study the planet's atmosphere. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAVEN

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

ghost: 1. (transitive) 2. (literary, poetic) 3. Of a disembodied soul: to appear (somewhere or to someone) in the form of an apparition; to haunt. 4. To imbue (something) with a ghost-like effect or hue. 5. (by extension, figurative) 6. To continuously cause (someone or something) trouble; specifically, to continuously be in the thoughts of (someone) in a disturbing manner; to perturb, to trouble. 7. (slang) To kill (someone). 8. (computing) [...] 9. (graphical user interface) To gray out (a visual element) to indicate that it is unavailable. 10. (Internet) To forcibly disconnect (an IRC user) who is using one's reserved nickname. 11. (chiefly social media, slang) To stop communicating with (someone) on social media, though text messages, etc., without explanation, especially as a way of ending a relationship; hence, to end a relationship with (someone) by stopping all communication without explanation. 12. (chiefly UK, law enforcement) To transfer (a prisoner) to another prison, usually without first informing the prisoner. 13. Synonym of ghostwrite (“to write (a literary work or speech), or produce (an artistic work)), in the place of someone”); also, to carry out (an artistic performance) in the place of someone. 14. (intransitive) 15. To appear suddenly or move like a disembodied soul; specifically (often sports); also (transitive, dated) followed by the dummy subject it: to move easily and quietly without anyone noticing; to slip. 16. Followed by for: synonym of ghostwrite (“to write a literary work or speech, or produce an artistic work, in the place of someone”); also, to carry out an artistic performance in the place of someone. 17. (nautical) Of a sailing vessel: to sail seemingly with very little or no wind. 18. (obsolete) Apparently only in the writings of the Dutch-English physician Gideon Harvey (c. 1636–1640 – c. 1700–1702): to die, to expire. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ghost

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Knowledge may give weight, but accomplishments give luster, and many more people see than weigh.   --Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Philip_Stanhope,_4th_Earl_of_Chesterfield