Charles Rolen Hudson was born 11 March 1925 to Joseph Leander Hudson and Blanche McBee. Siblings: Helen Hudson, Frances Hudson, J.L. Hudson, Mary Hudson
He enlisted on 20 July 1943 in Fort Oglethorpe, GA
Died of wounds 2 January 1945
Buried at Greenwood Cemetery, Knoxville, TN

501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion

The Knoxville Journal, January 24, 1945
Cpl. Charles R. “Soap” Hudson, former Knoxville High School tackle and All-Souther high school team choice, died of wounds received while serving with the 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne, Belgiumon New Years day, according to a War Department message received by his father, J.L. Hudson, 2721 Linden Avenue. He had been in the Army since July, 1943, shortly after being elected captain of the KHS Trojans. His sports career began with his discovery by the late Coach Wilson Collins, who uncovered such football notables as Bob Foxx, Johnny Butler and Bill Luttrell. Hudson played on the city softball team and had been offered a football scholarship at the University of Tennessee, when he was graduated from Knoxville High School. Since entering the service, he had continued his football activities and played company football while in France and wrote home of a game in Paris. While training at Fort Oglethorpe he had been chosen as “player of the week.”
Hudson’s death was a shock to the family as they had received a notice on Friday stating he had been “slightly wounded.” He had rejected an opportunity to go to officers’ candidate school in order to obtain overseas duty, and held the Expert Infantryman Badge. A member of Magnolia Avenue Methodist Church, he is survived by his father; three sisters, Mrs. Frances Weaver, Miss Mary Moore Hudson and Miss Helen Hudson; and a brother, Petty Officer (2c) J.L. Hudson, serving in the South Pacific.

  • Rank: Corporal
  • Date of birth:
  • 11 March 1925
  • Date of death: 2 January 1945
  • County: Knox
  • Hometown: Knoxville
  • Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
  • Division/Assignment: 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
  • Theater: Europe
  • Conflict: World War II
  • Awards: Purple Heart, Expert Infantryman Badge
  • Burial/Memorial Location: Greenwood Cemetery, Knoxville, TN
  • Location In Memorial: Pillar VIII, Top Panel
  • Contact us to sponsor Charles R. Hudson

Image Gallery

Click a thumbnail below to view at full size.


Submit more information on this veteran →