Aviation Machinist's Mate First Class Hodgson was a veteran of World War II. In Korea he served on the F9F-2 Panther jet fighter with Fighter Squadron 72 aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31). On 21 November 1951, he was inspecting a downed aircraft that was on a catapult, when the catapult was fired inadvertently killing him and injuring four other servicemen.

Hodgson was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Korean War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.