If this can be termed “tribute,” then it is a tribute to one man’s courage. To the courage that it took to overcome a broken home; to the courage that took him before he had reached the age of twenty to the battlefields of World War II; and finally to the courage it took to become a guide and inspiration to others.
Leonard’s earliest childhood was in a disrupted home. When he was eleven he was sent to the Washington Children’s Home and at thirteen was adopted by the Hudson’s. He was active in high school, taking part in school plays, boxing, and reading endlessly.
As a member of the Mt. Vernon National Guard, he was mobilized in September 1940 and was soon sent overseas to the Philippines. It was overseas in the Battle of Leyte in 1944, where Leonard Hudson lay unattended for 48 hours with shrapnel in his right shoulder. Quiet with courage, Leonard waited until the corpsmen arrived to take him home to face his greatest battle. Back home the shrapnel wound became cancer. Leonard underwent operation after operation having his right arm and shoulder amputated. You wouldn’t have known that, as Leonard didn’t talk about those things. Facing this challenge head on, he went on to attend Western Washington University on the GI Bill to become a teacher.
A husband and father with three children, Leonard continued to go to classes and work, with a will and courage trumpeted by too many and possessed by too few.
Leonard learned to do more with his left hand than most do with both hands. He built toys for children, hobby horses for his own and others, learned to type, and carried on just as he had before. It didn’t stop there. He faced each day with courage and lived to the fullest.
In his studies he wrote “I shall not be a teacher, but a guide. I shall try to show the child the wisdom of relying on himself. I will try to show how to do a thing rather than tell.” He delighted in helping eager young minds grow, and in turn they loved him because he made their paths straighter.
In April 1949, Leonard passed into immortality, leaving behind a legacy of courage and faith that will never die.
Following his passing, Leonard’s students came together in honor and formed a scholarship fund in his memory. With the archives we have today, it was hard to tell how many years that fund remained active with the college, but the sentiment is both inspiring and enduring.
I never knew my Grandpa Leonard. It pains me more that my dad never had the opportunity to get to know his father. There is no doubt that Leonard would have been proud of the person his son has become.
In honor of my family, I re-instilled the Leonard Hudson Memorial Scholarship in 2014. It is awarded to graduating high school seniors who have shown qualities of leadership and courage. That first year, I was able to start with just one award. This year, I am humbled by the opportunity to help three young adults begin the next phase of their journey.
With your support and referrals, I am able to continue giving back to our local kids through the Leonard Hudson Memorial Fund. With the help of my father, the fund has now become an official non-profit 501 (c) (3) and is engaged our local community here and now.
Memorial day may come once a year, but for me, I am routinely inspired by Leonard’s story of triumph and courage in the face of adversity. It speaks volumes when a fallen hero from 70 years ago has such an impact still.
In a world that seems to rotate faster and faster each day, take a moment to remember the sacrifices made and realign your sights and actions with the future you want to see.
Jen Hudson
“God grant that courage like yours not be lost to the world.” – G.P. February 4, 1949
