Private Dawson was a member of the 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. He was seriously Wounded in Action by the enemy in North Korea on 11 June 1953 and died of those wounds on 16 June 1953.

Dawson was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.