Corporal Dickson was a member of the 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in North Korea on 22 July 1952 and returned to duty on 13 August 1952. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on 8 April 1953.

Dickson was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, 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.