Robert Dusty Dawson’s pack needed a solid heave and swing to wrest it from the seat of his car and onto his shoulders.

It weighed about 60 pounds, and just about every ounce was something of need. The pack will be his mobile home for the next two years as Dawson, a recently retired Army master sergeant, treks across the country to raise awareness for United States veterans starting Thursday, Oct. 1. He even has a title for it, “Freedom Walk USA.”

“My biggest thing is walking, raising awareness for Wounded Warriors and homeless veterans, doing community service,” said Dawson.

According to data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 49,933 veterans are homeless on any given night. The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans reported that in 2010, 12,700 veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn were homeless.

Dawson wants to finance the pilgrimage himself, so is not accepting donations. He will use his retirement to fulfill a long-held dream of walking across all 50 states. His reasons are simple. He is a veteran himself, and wanted to bring attention to the sacrifice and struggle by supporting the Wounded Warrior Project and the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.

“I’m not thinking about the cost,” he said, declining to give an estimate of his budget. “It’s not really a factor.”

He has turned all offers to finance his walk toward the two veterans assistance groups.

Word of the project was good news for the Whidbey Island Veterans Resource Center. Program Coordinator April Pomeroy said veterans’ needs continue to grow for improved access to quality health care, companionship, counseling and a host of other issues.

“I think it’s great,” she said of Dawson’s walk. “We need to raise awareness and also support veterans as well. Even if it helps just one person.”

“Any way we can support veterans, along with the spouses as well, is great,” she added.

Dawson, 47, calls both South Carolina and Washington home. The trip will begin in Freeland from his mother’s house. Putting one foot in front of the other, he plans to log about 15 miles per day, stopping in communities when he can to help out, even with something as seemingly mundane as using a claw to grab trash as he camps.

After serving the U.S. Army for 29 years, 25 of which were active duty during eight deployments, he retired earlier this month. Long before he donned his final pair of fatigues, Dawson had planned his cross-country walk. During his military career, he was transferred to plenty of bases and rarely had time to pull off the fastest route to do any sightseeing. Now, he’s taking the slow-going opportunity to see what America has in store, from parks and monuments to its people.

“Everything’s going to be equally important,” he said.

Two of his highlights, however, will come much later in his trip. Having never been to Washington, D.C., Dawson is looking forward to the monuments and is also anticipating visiting Ground Zero in New York.

His route can be tracked in real time via his account (R. Dusty Dawson) on mapmywalk.com. The path he has planned isn’t trying to set an efficiency record. Dawson will take his time, touring at least 100 miles in every state. Admittedly, he said, Rhode Island will be a challenge — it’s the smallest state in the union at about 37 miles long and 48 miles wide.

In total, he’s estimated 8,000 miles of walking in his impending journey.

The week before his start, Dawson walked from Freeland to Fort Casey to test out his equipment. The solar panels that charge his phone and a small speaker worked just fine, the tent stayed dry and the sleeping bag kept him warm. But, he quickly learned the need to shave weight when he can from his bag, which initially weighed 70 pounds. He cut it down to about 57 pounds, but would like to reduce it further by the time he sets out.

With all that weight, Dawson said he will wear a pair of Keen boots that are one size too big. That way, he said, his feet can swell as he plods along the highways and byways.

A couple of injuries sustained while enlisted to his foot and shoulder may bother him, he admitted. But it will be hardly a discomfort compared to what some fellow service members experience.

“There are guys who are missing limbs,” he said. “What I’m dealing with is nothing.”

The first section of his trip will begin in the early afternoon Thursday, Oct. 1. He will walk from his mom’s Freeland home to the Clinton Ferry Terminal, about 12 miles. Anyone who sees him along the way is encouraged to chat with him about his mission and journey.

“If you want to join in for a mile or two, that’s great,” he said.