It is my priviledge and honor to initiate the rememberance of my good friend and fellow Marine, L/Cpl Isaiah (Dickie)Hudson 12/09/1950 - 01/07/2008. Dickie and I met on the train to Parris Island in August of '68. We went thru PI, ITR and Weapons training together. We hooked up on leave too. Then it was on to Staging and the war. He was I assigned to C 1/26 as a machine gunner. He served with distinction. He was a good marine and a good friend. We lost contact for a number of years. I began a search for my buddies and found several and a few found me. In this search I went to Dickie's old neighborhood. I met some people who knew him. One guy, told me my friend had passed away in 99. It turned out that was Dickie's brother. I didn't know it at the time but God would not let me stop looking. A few months ago, I found his sister. She put us back in touch. He was living in Conneticut. He came down Thanksgiving and we had a grand reunion. He told me what he had been up to and I found out how sick he had been. Agent Orange poisoning was raging in his body.We all have our ills but he never complained. He told me he was dying but I went right into denial. I refused to believe I was going to lose contact again. I have been blessed in a big way, especially since my days in the Corps. Most of my difficulties from the war and the Corps are in my head. But God gave me some special blessings. I recently reconnected with some of the greatest guys in the world; my buddies from my earliest days in the Corps. Of these men, one is my good friend Dickie Hudson. God let us reconnect one last time before He called him home. At approximately 2125 hrs Weds., Dickie's sister called me to tell me of his death on Monday. Sadden as I was, I am glad that he is no longer suffering no longer in pain. He'll be missed but I got a lotta of memories to hold me over 'til we meet again in Heaven. God Bless you, Dickie. Stand at ease...your duty here is over. Job well done. Ooorah and Semper Fi Your brother in the Brotherhood of Warriors, L/Cpl R.Y.(Rick) Booker, USMC 1968 - 1971
