Paul Clyde Hudson, of Buckeye, Arizona, died in a plane crash while dumping fire retardant from a C-130 Hercules tanker aircraft on an out-of-control wildland fire in the Snowy Monaro area of southern New South Wales, Australia. Captain Ian H. McBeth and Flight Engineer Rick A. DeMorgan Jr. also died in the crash.
He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1999 and spent 20 years serving in the United States Marine Corps. He received many decorations during his career and retired as a lieutenant colonel in 2019. He held master’s degrees in business administration and information technology management from the Naval Postgraduate School.
Thank you for your service, Paul. We will be for ever grateful. Love, people of Australia.
– Sandra OI cannot begin to say how much I respect Lt. Hudson as a person. He was a marine, he was a fire fighter, he helped out other countries, he had a master’s degree, he worked in business, he was Lt. Colonel, and he died while doing a wild, crazy, out-of-hand job only a hero could do. I am so very honored to comment on his page. Lt. Hudson achieved everything I want to achieve with my life. I deeply respect Lt. Hudson, Captain McBeth, and Mr. DeMorgan.
– Jake Suggs