The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Captain (Armor) Claude Keyes Hudson, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 3 June 1969 while serving as the Commanding Officer of Troop G, 2d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date a combined friendly force was conducting a reconnaissance mission ten kilometers from An Loc when the lead elements suddenly were engaged by a North Vietnamese Army force using automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenades. Reacting immediately Captain Hudson formed his troop on line and led a vicious assault on the enemy emplacements. After successfully overrunning several positions, the tank’s communications were partially destroyed. Captain Hudson, with complete disregard for his own safety leaped from his vehicle and sprinted through the withering hail of hostile fire to the tank. Using hand and arm signals he continued to direct the attack organizing and deploying his forces. He continually remained in an exposed position while leading his men up the hill. The two hour fight resulted in twenty-four enemy killed in action and the recovery of a large quantity of material. Captain Hudson’s gallant and courageous leadership was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
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Awards Received
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Distinguished Service Cross
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Silver Star
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Distinguished Service Cross
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
Captain (Armor)Batallion:
2d SquadronRegiment:
11th Armored Cavalry RegimentAction Date:
June 7, 1969
Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 4344 (December 6, 1969)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain (Armor) Claude Keyes Hudson, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while Commanding Troop G, 2d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Captain Hudson distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 7 June 1969 while serving as troop commander on a mission to search out and raze an abandoned village which harbored enemy troop concentrations. As his unit’s vehicles moved southwest out of An Loc and neared the hamlet, communist forces initiated an uninterrupted barrage of automatic weapons and antitank grenade fire. Without a moments hesitation, Captain Hudson brought his troop on line and commenced to execute a frontal assault on the enemy emplacements. Standing on the rear of the deck of his track, he maneuvered about the bullet-swept field and directed the deployment of his men. As the armored force advanced, on of the platoons encountered fierce resistance and became stalled. Captain Hudson immediately directed his vehicle to the area and rallied his men to continue on line. For over four grueling hours, the troop thundered on, destroying hostile fortifications driving the enemy away. Throughout the battle, Captain Hudson remained exposed to vicious fire to control his troop as well as to guide a mechanized infantry unit that had been airlifted in to assist in the sweep. Captain Hudson’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
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Silver Star
Service:
United States ArmyRank:
Captain (Armor)Batallion:
2d SquadronRegiment:
11th Armored Cavalry RegimentAction Date:
April 18, 1969
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam, General Orders No. 2072 (August 19, 1969)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Armor) Claude Keyes Hudson, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 18 April 1969 while serving as the Commanding Officer of Troop G, 2d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Captain Hudson received a mission to proceed with his troop to the scene of an engagement involving an element of the squadron and a numerically superior force of North Vietnamese Army regulars. He led his troop through the extremely dense jungle arriving to see the friendly elements pinned down by intense barrages of small arms automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fire. Reacting instantly, Captain Hudson directed his platoon into a line formation and led a frontal assault on the enemy emplacements. While he was leading his men, hostile automatic weapons fire damaged the radio communications system. Ignoring the intense fire, he used arm and hand signals to direct his men as the continued to place suppressive fire against the heavily fortified positions. On several occasions during the assault he maneuvered his vehicle slightly ahead of the others so that he could give directions to his platoon leaders when the hand signals proved ineffective. Courageously he led his men as they overran the hostile positions and broke the enemy’s resistance. As the hostile troops started to retreat, Captain Hudson directed several flanking movements which trapped the force in the center resulting in 20 enemy killed in action and 6 captured. Captain Hudson’s valiant and heroic leadership was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.