Allen Hudson was born on May 29, 1945, in Rochester, New York. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on August 12, 1965, and graduated from basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas, in September 1965. Airman Hudson next attended the Still Photographer Course with the 3427th Student Squadron at Lowry AFB, Colorado, from September 1965 to April 1966, followed by service as a Still Photographer with the 1373rd Mapping and Charting Squadron at Turner AFB, Georgia, from April 1966 to June 1967. A1C Hudson continued as a Photographer with the 1373rd Mapping and Charting Squadron when it moved from Turner AFB to Forbes AFB, Kansas, in July 1967, and remained there until deploying to Southeast Asia in August 1968. He next served as an Apprentice Still Photo Lab Specialist with the 45th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Phi Cat Air Base, South Vietnam, from August to October 1968, followed by service as an Apprentice Still Photo Lab Specialist with the 12th Reconnaissance Intelligence Technical Squadron at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam, from October 1968 to January 1969. His final active duty assignment was as an Apprentice Still Photo Lab Specialist with the 460th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron at Tan Son Nhut Air Base from January 1969 until he returned to the United States in August 1969. A1C Hudson was honorably discharged from the Air Force on August 12, 1969, and from the U.S. Air Force Reserve on August 11, 1971.