Specialist E-4 Ronald Hudon / United States Army

Ronald Hudon was born in Nashua May 25, 1951. He attended Nashua schools, graduating from Nashua High School in 1969 and was drafted into the US Army in 1970. It was the height of the Vietnam War and Hudon wasn’t sure where Uncle Sam would be sending him.

Hudon left Nashua for boot camp at Fort Dix, NJ on the morning of January 11, 1971. Upon completion of boot camp, Hudon was shipped across the Atlantic to serve his entire tour of duty in Germany. He served as a Heavy Anti-Armor Crewman with the Combat Support Company, (CSC) 2nd Battalion, (2BN), 30th Infantry Division.

While on leave, Hudon returned to the US, and on April 15, 1972, married his high school sweetheart, Estelle Moreau.

Hudon received an honorable discharge from the Army on January 9, 1973. During his time in service, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal. (The National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) is a military decoration awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who serve honorably during periods of national emergency. The medal is given by the U.S. Department of Defense.) He remained on inactive reserve duty until January 10, 1977.

Upon his discharge, Hudon returned to Nashua, working as a machinist for Greenerd Press on Crown St. Later, he worked at, and retired from Hayden-Kirk Products in Hollis, NH, also as a machinist. He retired early at 61 due to bad eyesight. The home he shared with his family; wife Estelle, and children Sandra and Christopher, in the French Hill area of Nashua was situated on a sizeable piece of property, large enough for a substantial garden which was his main focus at home. The garden was even big enough to justify the purchase of a small John Deere garden-tractor which he loved to drive.

In his later years, Hudon’s general health was not good. Despite his many health issues, however, he never complained. In 2022, he caught covid which greatly aggravated his other maladies. He passed away on October 23, 2022. His wife, Estelle, had his body cremated. When asked where his remains were interred, she replied, “He’s right here with me, just like he’s always been. And I found the perfect vessel for his ashes – an urn with the John Deere tractor emblem on the outside. I’m sure he’s smiling down on me!”

US Service Personnel Profiles
By Gary Ledoux March 3, 2025