Hudson received the Navy Cross, the United States military's second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat, while leading 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines during Battle of Iwo Jima in February 1945.

[1] Lewis C. Hudson was born on July 29, 1910, in Memphis, Tennessee, but his family later moved to Sherard, Mississippi, where he attended grammar school.

[2][1] Many of his classmates had distinguished careers and became general officers: John S. McCain Jr., Horacio Rivero Jr., Charles T. Booth, Lawson P. Ramage, Bernard F. Roeder, Frederick L. Wieseman, Frederick J. Becton, Charles B. Brooks Jr., Ernest B. Ellsworth, Wilmer E. Gallaher, Andrew J. Hill Jr., Harlan T. Johnson, Frederic S. Keeler, Edward J. O'Neill, Forsyth Massey, Berton A. Robbins, Jr., Kinlock C. Walpole, Nelson K. Brown, Austin R. Brunelli, Edward J. Dillon, Robert E. Fojt, Edward H. Forney, Bankson T. Holcomb Jr., Clifford H. Shuey or Samuel G.

Hudson was ordered to the staff of Marine Corps School, Quantico in September 1940 and appointed an instructor within first Officer Candidates Class.

Hudson was transferred to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina one month later and assumed command of 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment under Colonel Louis R. Jones.

[3] The main objective for 25th Marines was the capturing of the small off-shore islands, which should serve as artillery sites for fire support of advancing units.

The main objective of 4th Marine Division was the capture of Aslito airfield in the southern end of the island and advance north along the east coast.

[4] The 25th Marines were ordered back to Maui, Hawaii, on August 5 and spent the next five months with training and preparations for future combat deployment.

Hudson took part in the landing exercise in Ma‘alaea Bay on January 18, 1945, and then sailed with his unit for new mission – Iwo Jima.

By his personal example of fearlessness, he inspired his men to move forward in the attack despite heavy mortar, artillery, machine-gun and rifle fire, and to seize its sector of the initial beachhead, which consisted of the high ground adjacent to an airfield and a considerable area of a heavily fortified cliff line.

On February 20, when his battalion was subsequently pinned down again, Lieutenant Colonel Hudson repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire in order to supervise and coordinate the attack.

Although suffering painful wounds, he refused medical aid until all other casualties had been given treatment, continuing to supervise the attack until replaced by a new battalion commander, Lt.Col.

Hudson took part in the amphibious training for Pacific Fleet units until his departure in August 1947, when he was ordered for study to Army General and Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

While in this capacity, he was appointed president of the Mixed Armistice Commission of the United Nations and took part in the monitoring of ceasefire following the Syrian-Israeli and later Jordan-Israeli conflicts.

Hudson was ordered to the instruction at National War College in Washington, D.C., and also completed Special Weapons Project Orientation Course at Sandia Base, New Mexico.

After two years in Washington, Hudson was transferred back to Quantico in July 1953 and appointed president of the Marine Corps Tactics and Techniques Board.

Following a brief leave with family, he was ordered to Washington, D.C., and appointed assistant chief of staff for operations and training at Headquarters Marine Corps under Commandant Randolph M.

[1] His final assignment came in October 1960, when he was appointed deputy assistant chief of staff for G-3 Operations at Headquarters Marine Corps and served in this capacity until his retirement.

[1] Hudson died on July 24, 2001, and is buried at West Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery in Memphis together with his wife, Anna Marie Marking (1912–1997).