Dickie was born in a poverty-stricken home in northern Alabama to a teenage mother and absent father. Growing up living in his grandparent's house, he was filled grandfather's stories of traveling Europe and the rest of the world. Dickie knew someday that he too would see the world. Although a smart child, Dickie struggled in school and often played hooky to drink and smoke cigarettes. After school and on the weekends he worked under the table at a local mechanic shop.

In 2018, Dickie managed to graduate high school by the skin of his ass and immediately enlisted in the marine corps with hopes of seeing the world while repairing military vehicles. However, that dream was short-lived. After boot camp, Dickie was shipped off to mechanic's training and ended up in a fist fight with a fellow soldier over an argument Dickie doesn't even remember. Due to the fight being determined mutual, Dickie received an OTH discharge, but no jail time.

After being kicked out of the marines, Dickie scrounged up what little money he had and bought a one-way ticket to France. Dickie spent roughly two years back-packing around Europe making money by working on people's cars and doing other odd jobs. When the outbreak was just starting, Dickie was in southern Sweden working for cash as a mechanic. He decided the best course of action was to head north and toward Norway.