Sunday, April 4, 2004 marked the 60^th birthday of my most excellent friend, Colonel William "Bear" Hudson [U.S. Army-Ret.].  Celebrations were held Saturday, Sunday, and Monday in his honor – and justly so.

Bear, as we all call him with great affection, is the finest example of gentlemanly comport it has ever been my pleasure, indeed my privilege, to know.  He is universally admired and respected.

In Asian cultures, a person’s 60^th birthday is particularly significant. For numerological reasons related to the traditional Chinese calendar, not only is it an individual’s 5^th-cycle birthday (based on the 12-year rotation through the signs of the Chinese zodiac), but for reasons I don’t need to bore you with here, it is first among equals in cycle birthdays.

Bear has had a colorful life.  A veteran of Vietnam, he served there in the artillery. After a variety of assignments spanning the globe, by-then Colonel Hudson served as military spokesperson for President Reagan’s Secretary of Defense, Casper Weinberger, upon the completion of which duty he took well-deserved retirement.

But that hardly meant he wanted to "hang up his hardware" and go fishing.  No, indeed!  Bear moved to Thailand in the early 1990’s, and has a fascinating life here, both personally and professionally.  After holding a variety of job postings, he landed a spot as chief of Asian operations for European Land Solutions, a company specializing in landmine removal, weapon decommissioning, etc.  As a former officer in the combat arms, he certainly is well-qualified on the hardware end of things for such a major assignment, and his extensive work with the media during his long Army career suits him eminently for the sales and public relations aspects such a position demands.  His lengthy command experience qualifies him for the management aspects of his post.  It is an immensely responsible job, one which Bear is performing well – and I speak as one who has met his most senior direct boss, who told me in a forthright manner how much he and the company value Bear’s unending, tireless efforts to forward company goals in Asia as we move further into The Pacific Century.

Of more importance to me, personally, than his work is his . . . well his humanity.  Bear in kind beyond words.  He also is a man of the deepest personal honor and integrity, a man for whom any of us are here should he ever find himself in an hour of need.  I join his many friends in saluting him for his kindness, honor, integrity, and plain human decency.

Bear, to speak to you directly now, thank you for inviting me to be part of the festivities associated with this most auspicious birthday – and thank you from the depths of my soul for being the wonderful, wonderful friend you are.

I look forward to celebrating Many Happy Returns with you, Sir.