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Memorial Day Miracle At 'The Wall' (tear jerker)
NPR ^
| 5/22/09
| NA
Posted on 05/22/2009 11:06:20 AM PDT by 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."
TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: npr; warrior
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To: Drango
OK, now I'm crying.
21
posted on
05/22/2009 12:15:11 PM PDT
by
PERKY2004
(Proud Military Wife ... please pray for my deployed husband (deployment #6 to Iraq))
To: Drango
22
posted on
05/22/2009 12:36:35 PM PDT
by
DTogo
(High time to bring back the Sons of Liberty !!)
To: Vision
"I'll be washing the Wall tomorrow morning..." Thank you for that -- and for all you do for us here on FR...
23
posted on
05/22/2009 5:10:40 PM PDT
by
TXnMA
("Allah": Satan's current alias...!!)
To: sasafras
Hey FRiend....I always get an error message when trying to play the video....
24
posted on
05/22/2009 5:25:22 PM PDT
by
Drango
(A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
To: JDoutrider
25
posted on
05/22/2009 5:52:24 PM PDT
by
knarf
(I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but they're true)
To: Drango
26
posted on
05/22/2009 5:52:27 PM PDT
by
RushIsMyTeddyBear
(Obama. Clear and Pres__ent Danger.)
To: sasafras
27
posted on
05/22/2009 6:41:24 PM PDT
by
rlmorel
("In the northern hemisphere, nations swirl to the left before going down the sewer." - glock rocks)
To: Drango
“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.
28
posted on
05/23/2009 3:11:23 PM PDT
by
sasafras
(TIME FOR A RESURGENCE - FREEDOM IS NOT FREE - NO MORE COMPLAINING - LET'S GET BUSY!)
To: oh8eleven; kalee; mad_as_he$$; TXnMA; Drango
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.
29
posted on
05/23/2009 5:20:23 PM PDT
by
Vision
(Obama is a jive turkey)
To: Vision
Very, very nice. Your gift is a fitting tribute to those who gave all.
30
posted on
05/23/2009 5:25:13 PM PDT
by
Drango
(A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
To: Drango
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.
31
posted on
05/23/2009 5:27:16 PM PDT
by
Professional Engineer
("A republic if you can keep it" responded Franklin. Sorry Dr. Franklin)
To: Vision
32
posted on
05/23/2009 5:38:33 PM PDT
by
kalee
(01/20/13 The end of an error.... Obama even worse than Carter.)
To: Vision
I'll be washing the Wall tomorrow morning This vet thanks you!
33
posted on
05/23/2009 5:48:03 PM PDT
by
Blackhawk
(God said it, I believe it, That settles it.)
To: Drango; 1stbn27; 2111USMC; 2nd Bn, 11th Mar; 68 grunt; A.A. Cunningham; ASOC; AirForceBrat23; ...
34
posted on
05/23/2009 5:52:13 PM PDT
by
freema
(MarineNiece,Daughter,Wife,Friend,Sister,Friend,Aunt,Friend,Mother,Friend,Cousin, FRiend)
To: Vision
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...
35
posted on
05/23/2009 6:28:09 PM PDT
by
TXnMA
("Allah": Satan's current alias...!!)
To: Vision
36
posted on
05/24/2009 5:35:50 AM PDT
by
oh8eleven
(RVN '67-'68)
To: Vision
Vision, I cannot thank you enough for being there an sharing with us.
We will never forget.
37
posted on
05/24/2009 6:06:49 AM PDT
by
mad_as_he$$
(Nemo me impune lacessit (Two terms for politicians, one in office, one in jail.))
To: Drango; ALOHA RONNIE
38
posted on
05/24/2009 6:07:28 AM PDT
by
mad_as_he$$
(Nemo me impune lacessit (Two terms for politicians, one in office, one in jail.))
To: freema
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.
39
posted on
05/24/2009 2:06:07 PM PDT
by
Marine_Uncle
(I still believe Duncan Hunter would have been the best solution... during this interim in time....)
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