Hugh L. Dawson, Jr., was inducted into the U. S. Army on September 26, 1942 at Camp Forrest, Tennessee. He was a Platoon Sergeant for Company H of the 417th Infantry Regiment in the 76th Division.Hugh sailed from Boston, Massachusetts and landed in Plymouth, England. He then crossed the English Channel from Southampton to La Harve, France. Hugh served in Europe for one year, one month and 15 days.

He was a Combat Infantryman serving in the Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns. Hugh was wounded on February 27, 1945 near Trier, Germany.

His awards included the Purple Heart Medal, two Bronze Star medals and the Combat Infantry Badge. Hugh was honorably  discharged on December 17, 1945, at Fort McPherson, Atlanta, Georgia.