Memorial Day Miracle At 'The Wall' (tear jerker)

NPR ^ | 5/22/09 | NA

[Drango]

Allen Hoe, 62, served as a combat medic in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968.

His son, K. Nainoa Hoe, served as a first lieutenant infantry officer with the Army's 3rd Battalion in Mosul, Iraq. He died there on Jan. 22, 2005, at the age of 27.

On Memorial Day that year, Allen traveled to Washington, D.C., from his home in Honolulu for services being held at the Vietnam Memorial, often referred to as "the wall." Army nurses returning home from the war were being honored there that day.

"I thought it would be great to welcome these young trauma nurses with some special Hawaiian leis," Hoe says.

When he saw Maj. Paula Couglin walking up the path he said, "Here, this is a special gift from me to you."

Couglin lowered her head so Allen could place the lei on her and saw a button Allen had pinned to his chest. She put her finger on it and said, "I know him."

"How do you know him? He was my son," Hoe recalls saying.

"I was the trauma nurse at the crash unit where he died," Couglin said. "I will never forget that face." The two hugged and Couglin cried.

Allen could tell that Couglin was tense. "I want you to know that my son was a warrior," he told her. "He absolutely recognized all of the risks that were involved."

Couglin decided to tell Hoe something that had been bothering her. It was her job to prepare his son's body for a last viewing, but she couldn't get his eyes to close.

Hoe laughed.

"My son would sleep with his eyes partially open," he told her. "His men ... were never certain what they could do when the lieutenant was sleeping, because they never knew if he was sleeping or if he was just awake watching what they were doing."

Reflecting on the chance encounter, Hoe says, "It was one of those miracles at the wall. It was absolutely remarkable."

[PERKY2004]

OK, now I'm crying.

[DTogo]

Nainoa Hoe's last patrol

Mahalo, Lt. Hoe.

[TXnMA]

"I'll be washing the Wall tomorrow morning..."

Thank you for that -- and for all you do for us here on FR...

[Drango]

Hey FRiend....I always get an error message when trying to play the video....

[knarf]

Received by e-mail .. Glenn Beck narating

I don't care for the visual, so I closed my eyes and listened ... and cried.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

We will never forget. Never.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WvML4xAt0c&feature=related

[rlmorel]

Beautiful.

[sasafras]

“Hey FRiend....I always get an error message when trying to play the video....”

youtube was having problems - looks like it is fixed now if you want to try again.

[Vision]

The washing went well...beautiful morning.





You move everything left at the wall then rinse, scrub, and rinse the walls; then do the same for the granite in the walk way.









There were two groups. We then washed the woman's memorial while the other group did the 3 soldier statue. We left that area looking pretty good. Washed down the entire floor.




All done.







Freeper kalee asked me to stop by and say a prayer for...

Panel 44W - Line 28
"Tell him Kalee remembers."

THOMAS WARREN ROBERTS
SP4 - E4 - Army - Selective Service
25th Infantry Division

Length of service 1 years
His tour began on May 14, 1968
Casualty was on Sep 11, 1968
In TAY NINH, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
Body was recovered

...I did. And got a rub.









We will never forget.

[Drango]

Very, very nice. Your gift is a fitting tribute to those who gave all.

[Professional Engineer]

bttt

The Wall is a powerful place. Even now my monitor is blurry. I was fortunate to visit in 1992. A family member's name is in this photo.

[kalee]

Thank you.

[Blackhawk]

I'll be washing the Wall tomorrow morning

This vet thanks you!

[freema]

Ping

[TXnMA]

Thank you for your work and beautiful feedback.

That is one "menial" task that I would consider to be a high personal honor!

I have only seen the "moving wall" (at 2 am) -- but that was about as much emotional impact as I could handle...

[oh8eleven]

Thanks again ...

[mad_as_he$$]

Vision, I cannot thank you enough for being there an sharing with us.

We will never forget.

[mad_as_he$$]

ping, Brother.

[Marine_Uncle]

At least those that hate this Republic have not figured out how they can erase this day from memory. To many remember the reason for it.