Dean Elmer Hess was an American minister and United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel who was involved in the so-called "Kiddy Car Airlift," the documented rescue of 950 orphans and 80 orphanage staff from the path of the Chinese advance during the Korean War on December 20,1950.
10 Facts About Dean Hess
2.
Dean Hess is the subject of the autobiography Battle Hymn, published in 1956, which later served the basis for the 1957 film of the same name, where he was played by Rock Hudson.
3.
Dean Hess attended Marietta College, Ohio, graduating in the class of 1941.
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Dean Hess served as a combat pilot in France after the Normandy landings, and flew a total of 63 combat missions in P-47s.
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The Seoul orphanage in 1961, built with royalties Dean Hess received from his book Battle Hymn and the film adaptation.
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Dean Hess published his autobiography in 1956 and used the royalties to fund a new orphanage in Seoul.
7.
Dean Hess has received numerous other awards, including the Order of the White Elephant, a Presidential Citation, the Legion of Merit, Silver Star, Air Medal with 19 Clusters, and the Ohio Governor's Award.
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Rock Hudson 8.
Dean Hess was inducted into the Miami Valley Walk of Fame, and his actions are the subject of an exhibit at the National Museum of the US Air Force.
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In 2004 one critic, Dr George F Drake, took issue with Hess' portrayal of the Kiddy Car Airlift, claiming that Hess took more credit than deserved for the evacuation of the Korean orphans.
10.
Blaisdell did receive recognition in 2000 when he returned to Korea, where he was referred to as the "Schindler of Korea," credit which Dean Hess appeared to have agreed with, having in that same year acknowledged Blaisdell's contribution.