Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Vietnam War Bronze Star and Air Medal group of nine awarded to Staff Sergeant Willard S. Hudson, Tactical Communications Chief 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), the “Black Knights”

United States of America, Bronze Star, bronze, engraved ‘Willard S Hudson’, with oak leaf cluster emblem on riband; Air Medal, bronze, engraved ‘Willard S Hudson’, with oak leaf cluster emblem on riband; Army Commendation Medal, bronze, engraved ‘Willard S Hudson’; Army Good Conduct Medal, with five knots emblem on riband; Vietnam Service Medal, one silver and one bronze stars on riband; National Defense Service Medal, bronze; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, bronze; South Vietnam, Service Medal, 1 clasp, 1960, all with crimp brooches; Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm, generally very fine or better (9) £400-£500

Air Medal, 26 June 1970, Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion (Airmobile) 19th Artillery:
‘For meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight August 1969 to June 1970 in the Republic of Vietnam.’ (certificate dated 26th June 1970).

Air Medal second award – no details, probably similar for July to December 1970.

Bronze Star, 3rd July 1970, Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion (Airmobile) 19th Artillery:
‘For Meritorious Achievement in ground operations against hostile forces during the period August 1969 to August 1970 in the Republic of Vietnam.’

Bronze Star second award – no details, probably similar for September to December 1970.

Army Commendation Medal:
‘For Meritorious Achievement during the period April 1970 to June 1970 in the Republic of Vietnam.’

Silver and bronze stars to Vietnam Campaign Medal for six Campaigns: Vietnam Defense Campaign 1965-66; Tet Counter Offensive 1969; Vietnam Summer, Fall, 1969; Vietnam Winter, Spring, 1969-70; Sanctuary Counter Offensive 1970; Southwest Monsoon 1970.

Willard S. Hudson was born on 29 September 1941, in Apopka, Florida, and enlisted into the Army on 7 January 1964. He was posted to 39th Transport Battalion, Fort Benning, Georgia, and became a switchboard operator with 616, then 515 Transport Battalions, also at Fort Benning. Promoted to PFC at the end of January 1964. He served in Vietnam between 23 July 1965 and 10 November 1965, with 515th Transport Company, “Road Runners”, at Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. There, the 515th had the primary mission of transporting troops and cargo from port facilities to their final destination, often times the front lines themselves. Hudson was hospitalised in Vietnam for about a month in September, reason unknown. On 19 November 1965, he was at Fort Buckner, Okinawa, as Communications Specialist, where he gained artillery experience, becoming a Tactical Team Chief. In November 1966, he was posted to the Republic of Korea, as Tactical Communications Chief, where he remained until December 1967. In May, while in Korea, he was promoted to Sergeant and on 1 January 1968 he was in Germany where he remained until April 1969.

On 5 June 1969, he was back in Vietnam for his second tour, serving as Tactical Communications Chief, A Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalr. Division (Airmobile). Promoted to Staff Sergeant in August 1969, in October he joined the 1/13th Signal Battalion, in December, 1/5th Cavalry, and in May 1970, the 2/19th Artillery, all units of the 1st Cavalry Division. Hudson left Vietnam for the final time on 9 December 1970, and was posted to Germany on 1 February 1971.

On 3 February 1974, he joined 716th Military Police Company, at Fort Riley, Kansas, serving with various Military Police units at Fort Riley until the end of January 1976, when he was posted to Korea as Communications Chief, of the 2nd Military Police Company, 2nd Infantry Division. He was back at Fort Riley by mid-January 1978, where he remained in various security positions until he retired on 31 January 1981. He died on 12 September 1986, aged 45.

Sold with a file containing original award certificates for the Bronze Star, Air Medal and Army Commendation Medal, with original citations for the first two, together with service papers and other research.