AWARDED DFC: 1
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  -
MODEL:  -

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism while participating in aerial flight. On 15 July 1967, Captain Hudson was serving as Co-pilot of his squadron's command and control helicopter. While flying over a dense jungle area, he monitored a call from a forward air controller who had seen an F-100 fighter plane shot down and was requesting any helicopter in the area to rescue the pilot. He immediately proceeded to the site of the downed aircraft and circled at tree-top level to observe the area and to determine the fighter pilot's exact location. When the downed pilot was spotted, Captain Hudson guided his aircraft into a nearby jungle clearing and almost immediately received intensive hostile fire from the tree line. With complete disregard for his personal safety, he remained on the ground until the downed pilot had boarded the helicopter, then took off from the clearing. As the aircraft lifted off, it took several hits which damaged the rotor blade. Despite the severe vibrations from the damaged blade, Captain Hudson calmly and skillfully flew the aircraft back to its base and landed it without further damage. His courage and determination under fire enabled him to extract the downed pilot and to return the damaged aircraft safely to his base. Captain Hudson's actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army.